COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Sanders County: higher-rate fatality band
Sanders County (MT) is in the higher per-capita third: 29.2/100k (#422 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 35
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 4
- Latest Year Deaths
- Low count
- 29.2
- Per 100k Residents
- Above average
- Stable
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Sanders County ranks #422 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (29.2/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Sanders County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Sanders County sits in the higher-rate third at 29.2 per 100k (#422 of 2,328), #5 of 19 in MT.
- #422 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #1,833 of 3,137
- by total FARS fatalities
- #5 of 19
- in MT by rate
- Stable
- fatality trend
NHTSA county milepost
Milepost SANDERS-89 · Sanders 29.2/100k · #422 of 2,328
Sanders County · 29.2/100k · stable
- VS-ST 29.2/100k
- CRASH #422 of 2,328
- FARS 35 book
- NHTSA Stable
- MILE 33 crash
- POST +19.8% vs MT
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 → · Montana state profile →
How does Sanders County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Sanders County is 20% deadlier 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 Montana, Sanders County ranks 5 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 24.4 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Sanders County's rate and the state average is 4.8 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Roosevelt County, at 29.1 per 100,000 (a difference of 0.1). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Big Horn County (70.6), Carbon County (61.3), Lincoln County (41.1), Park County (33.5), Roosevelt County (29.1), Lake County (24.0), Jefferson County (23.0), Glacier County (22.0), Flathead County (20.2), Missoula County (18.9), Yellowstone County (15.8), Ravalli County (14.7), Gallatin County (13.4), Hill County (12.3).
Sanders County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
29 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 18% 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 Sanders County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Sanders County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Montana statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for MT
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with SLetter index including MT counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Sanders County, Montana?
Sanders County recorded 35 total traffic fatalities across 33 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 4 fatalities. The county averages approximately 3.9 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Sanders County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Sanders County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Montana may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Sanders County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Sanders County is stable. Fatality counts have remained relatively consistent over the data period.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Sanders County?
Sanders County has a fatality rate of 29.2 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Sanders County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Sanders County ranks #422 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #5 of 19 rated counties in MT, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Sanders County compare to the rest of Montana?
Sanders County's per-capita rate of 29.2 per 100,000 residents is above the Montana county average of 24.4. Visit the Montana state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Sanders 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.