COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Meade County, South Dakota
Road fatality data for Meade County (SD). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 30
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 5
- Latest Year Deaths
- 10.7
- Per 100k Residents
- Increasing
- Trend
The verdict
Meade County's fatality rate of 10.7 per 100,000 residents leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure.
- 72%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- 10.6/100k
- South Dakota county average
- Increasing
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
Meade County, South Dakota recorded 30 total road fatalities across 29 reported crashes during the 2016-2023 reporting window, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The most recent year covered by the data logged 5 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 3.3 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 10.7 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.
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Meade County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the South Dakota state page, which aggregates county-level case files into statewide totals. Either way, the underlying records are drawn from a census of fatal crashes, not a statistical sample, so the counts are actual deaths rather than estimates.
The directional trend for Meade County is increasing, which means annual fatalities have risen across the reporting period and may warrant closer attention from local transportation and enforcement agencies. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Meade County's 30-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
30
Latest Year
5
Avg Annual
3.3
Rate per 100K
10.7
Trend
↑ Increasing
How does Meade County compare?
Average annual road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Meade County is About the same as the comparison
Average annual 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.
Among the 15 rated counties in South Dakota, Meade County ranks 6 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 10.6 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Meade County's rate and the state average is 0.1 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Pennington County, at 10.9 per 100,000 (a difference of 0.2). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Roberts County (26.5), Lawrence County (24.2), Butte County (14.7), Yankton County (12.8), Pennington County (10.9), Lake County (10.0), Codington County (9.3), Union County (9.3), Beadle County (8.2), Lincoln County (6.7), Minnehaha County (6.6), Brown County (6.4), Brookings County (6.1), Clay County (5.8).
Meade 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 Among the safer counties a lower per-capita rate than 72% of 2,392 rated counties
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, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-06-03
Meade County's rate vs. the South Dakota state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Meade County, South Dakota?
Meade County recorded 30 total traffic fatalities across 29 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 5 fatalities. The county averages approximately 3.3 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Meade County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Meade County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for South Dakota may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Meade County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Meade 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 Meade County?
Meade County has a fatality rate of 10.7 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.
How does Meade County compare to the rest of South Dakota?
Meade County's per-capita rate of 10.7 per 100,000 residents is above the South Dakota county average of 10.6. Visit the South Dakota state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Meade 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.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) This information is for research and informational purposes only
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainRoadSafety is computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no number is typed in by an editor. County figures are computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.