COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Washtenaw County: lower-rate fatality band
Washtenaw County (MI) is in the lower per-capita third: 6.0/100k (#2,141 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 220
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 22
- Latest Year Deaths
- High count
- 6.0
- Per 100k Residents
- Well below average
- Increasing
- Trend
Lower per-capita fatality band
Washtenaw County ranks #2,141 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (6.0/100k) - bottom-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Washtenaw County in the lower-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Washtenaw County sits in the lower-rate third at 6.0 per 100k (#2,141 of 2,328), #64 of 74 in MI.
- #2,141 of 2,328
- lower-rate third
- #280 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #64 of 74
- in MI by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
NHTSA FARS milepost
Milepost WASHTENAW-16 · Washtenaw 6.0/100k · #2,141 of 2,328
Washtenaw County · 6.0/100k · increasing
- VOL 6.0/100k
- AVG #2,141 of 2,328
- YOY 220 book
- RATE Increasing
- RANK near Chester
- BOOK -60.2% vs MI
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 → · Michigan state profile →
Washtenaw County rate neighbourhood
Deaths per 100,000 residents vs nearest nationwide rate peers (pop ≥250k).
- Washtenaw
Washtenaw County
6 per 100k
- Chester
Chester County
6 per 100k
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
6 per 100k
- Sonoma
Sonoma County
6 per 100k
- Will
Will County
6 per 100k
What this shows Washtenaw County sits among nearest nationwide per-capita peers.
How does Washtenaw County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Washtenaw County is 60% 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 Michigan, Washtenaw County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 15.1 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Washtenaw County's rate and the state average is 9.1 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Calhoun County, at 19.5 per 100,000 (a difference of 13.5). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Mackinac County (55.3), Roscommon County (50.3), Arenac County (39.6), Benzie County (32.5), Wexford County (29.3), Clare County (28.7), Sanilac County (27.2), Lake County (23.6, limited data), Manistee County (23.5), Kalkaska County (21.6), Missaukee County (19.6, limited data), Newaygo County (19.6), Calhoun County (19.5), Lenawee County (19.5).
Washtenaw County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
6 Among the safer counties a lower per-capita rate than 92% 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
Counties with similar FARS profiles
Two cross-state peer sets for Washtenaw County. Same-state rate comparisons stay in the chart above; these neighborhoods are nearest other-state counties with population at least 250,000.
Similar per-capita fatality rate
Nearest counties by deaths per 100,000 residents (6.0 here), outside Michigan.
Similar fatality volume
Nearest counties by recorded FARS deaths (220 here), excluding the rate-peer set.
More road safety data related to Washtenaw County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Washtenaw County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Michigan statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for MI
- 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 WLetter index including MI counties
- CHESTER County, PA fatalitiesSimilar nationwide FARS profile
- MONTGOMERY County, PA fatalitiesSimilar nationwide FARS profile
- SONOMA County, CA fatalitiesSimilar nationwide FARS profile
- WILL County, IL fatalitiesSimilar nationwide FARS profile
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Washtenaw County, Michigan?
Washtenaw County recorded 220 total traffic fatalities across 202 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 22 fatalities. The county averages approximately 24.4 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Washtenaw County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (202 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Washtenaw County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Michigan may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Washtenaw County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Washtenaw 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 Washtenaw County?
Washtenaw County has a fatality rate of 6.0 per 100,000 residents, which puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Washtenaw County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Washtenaw County ranks #2,141 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #64 of 74 rated counties in MI, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Washtenaw County compare to the rest of Michigan?
Washtenaw County's per-capita rate of 6.0 per 100,000 residents is below the Michigan county average of 15.1. Visit the Michigan state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Washtenaw 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.