COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Smyth County: higher-rate fatality band
Smyth County (VA) is in the higher per-capita third: 30.8/100k (#366 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 41
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 9
- Latest Year Deaths
- Near average count
- 30.8
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Stable
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Smyth County ranks #366 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (30.8/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Smyth County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Smyth County sits in the higher-rate third at 30.8 per 100k (#366 of 2,328), #16 of 105 in VA.
- #366 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #1,655 of 3,137
- by total FARS fatalities
- #16 of 105
- in VA by rate
- Stable
- fatality trend
FARS county milepost
Milepost SMYTH-173 · Smyth 30.8/100k · #366 of 2,328
Smyth County · 30.8/100k · stable
- VOL 30.8/100k
- AVG #366 of 2,328
- YOY 41 book
- RATE Stable
- RANK 39 crash
- BOOK +70.7% vs VA
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 → · Virginia state profile →
How does Smyth County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Smyth County is 71% 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 Virginia, Smyth County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 18.0 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Smyth County's rate and the state average is 12.8 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Clarke County, at 32.3 per 100,000 (a difference of 1.5). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Sussex County (83.7), Madison County (63.7), Charlotte County (61.8), Halifax County (59.8), Nelson County (54.4), Dinwiddie County (52.9), Buchanan County (47.2), Campbell County (39.8), Wythe County (39.1), Brunswick County (38.1), Accomack County (36.1), Patrick County (34.3), Mecklenburg County (32.6), Clarke County (32.3).
Smyth County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
31 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 16% 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 Smyth County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Smyth County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Virginia statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for VA
- 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 VA counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Smyth County, Virginia?
Smyth County recorded 41 total traffic fatalities across 39 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 9 fatalities. The county averages approximately 4.6 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Smyth County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Smyth County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Virginia may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Smyth County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Smyth County is stable. Fatality counts have remained relatively consistent over the data period.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Smyth County?
Smyth County has a fatality rate of 30.8 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 Smyth County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Smyth County ranks #366 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #16 of 105 rated counties in VA, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Smyth County compare to the rest of Virginia?
Smyth County's per-capita rate of 30.8 per 100,000 residents is above the Virginia county average of 18.0. Visit the Virginia state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Smyth 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.