COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Gaston County: larger FARS fatality book
Gaston County (NC) holds a larger FARS book (200, #314 of 3,137) with 26 latest-year deaths.
- 200
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 26
- Latest Year Deaths
- High count
- 11.0
- Per 100k Residents
- Below average
- Increasing
- Trend
Larger fatality book
Gaston County ranks #314 of 3,137 by total FARS fatalities (200 across 2016-2023) - top-third book size.
Gaston County in the larger-book third
According to NHTSA FARS, Gaston County carries a top-third fatality book (200 across 2016-2023, #314 of 3,137) at 11.0/100k.
- #1,657 of 2,328
- lower-rate third
- #314 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #73 of 94
- in NC by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
FARS milepost strip
Milepost GASTON-71 · Gaston 11.0/100k · #1,657 of 2,328
Gaston County · 11.0/100k · increasing
- NHTSA 11.0/100k
- MILE #1,657 of 2,328
- POST 200 book
- BAND Increasing
- VOL 194 crash
- AVG -41.4% vs NC
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · North Carolina state profile →
How does Gaston County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Gaston County is 41% safer than the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in North Carolina, Gaston County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 18.8 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Gaston County's rate and the state average is 7.8 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Edgecombe County, at 28.7 per 100,000 (a difference of 17.7). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Robeson County (55.4), Scotland County (52.4), Montgomery County (49.8), Bertie County (47.3), Halifax County (44.4), Sampson County (41.9), Duplin County (38.4), Warren County (37.2), Alexander County (32.9), Anson County (32.0), Columbus County (31.9), Bladen County (30.5), Gates County (29.0, limited data), Edgecombe County (28.7).
Gaston County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
11 Lower than most a lower per-capita rate than 71% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Gaston County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Gaston County vs other counties by rate Per-100k fatality comparison
- North Carolina statewide fatality data All counties in this state
- Deadliest states for driving Context for NC
- State fatality changes Year-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. counties Alphabetical county index
- All state profiles 51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparison Route-level lookup tool
- National statistics download FARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality data Methodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road risk Rate denominator explained
- Counties starting with G Letter index including NC counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Gaston County, North Carolina?
Gaston County recorded 200 total traffic fatalities across 194 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 26 fatalities. The county averages approximately 22.2 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Gaston County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (194 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Gaston County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for North Carolina may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Gaston County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Gaston County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Gaston County?
Gaston County has a fatality rate of 11.0 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Gaston County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Gaston County ranks #1,657 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #73 of 94 rated counties in NC, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Gaston County compare to the rest of North Carolina?
Gaston County's per-capita rate of 11.0 per 100,000 residents is below the North Carolina county average of 18.8. Visit the North Carolina state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Gaston County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.