Fatal crashes in Delaware
In 2024, 126 people died in 121 fatal crashes on Delaware roads, 6.7% fewer than in 2023. That is 0.3% of all road deaths in the United States.
Delaware ranks 44th of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and joint 24th by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in Delaware since 1975
Road deaths in Delaware peaked in 2022 at 162; 2024's 126 is 22% below that. The lowest year was 2011 with 99. 2024 is 2% above 2000 and 3% above 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 126 | 121 | -6.7% |
| 2023 | 135 | 128 | -16.7% |
| 2022 | 162 | 143 | +19.1% |
| 2021 | 136 | 132 | +17.2% |
| 2020 | 116 | 104 | -12.1% |
| 2019 | 132 | 122 | +18.9% |
| 2018 | 111 | 104 | -6.7% |
| 2017 | 119 | 112 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 119 | 116 | -9.2% |
| 2015 | 131 | 127 | +5.6% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 124 | 109 | +25.3% |
| 2013 | 99 | 94 | -13.2% |
| 2012 | 114 | 108 | +15.2% |
| 2011 | 99 | 94 | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 101 | 92 | -12.9% |
| 2009 | 116 | 101 | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 121 | 105 | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 117 | 105 | -20.9% |
| 2006 | 148 | 133 | +11.3% |
| 2005 | 133 | 117 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 134 | 125 | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 142 | 133 | +14.5% |
| 2002 | 124 | 114 | -8.8% |
| 2001 | 136 | 117 | +10.6% |
| 2000 | 123 | 116 | +23.0% |
| 1999 | 100 | 91 | -13.0% |
| 1998 | 115 | 106 | -19.6% |
| 1997 | 143 | 120 | +23.3% |
| 1996 | 116 | 105 | -4.1% |
| 1995 | 121 | 112 | +8.0% |
| 1994 | 112 | 105 | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 110 | 103 | -21.4% |
| 1992 | 140 | 118 | +37.3% |
| 1991 | 102 | 90 | -26.1% |
| 1990 | 138 | 121 | +19.0% |
| 1989 | 116 | 108 | -27.5% |
| 1988 | 160 | 143 | +9.6% |
| 1987 | 146 | 131 | +7.4% |
| 1986 | 136 | 119 | +30.8% |
| 1985 | 104 | 94 | -20.0% |
| 1984 | 130 | 118 | +18.2% |
| 1983 | 110 | 98 | -9.8% |
| 1982 | 122 | 115 | +9.9% |
| 1981 | 111 | 103 | -27.5% |
| 1980 | 153 | 135 | +29.7% |
| 1979 | 118 | 109 | -5.6% |
| 1978 | 125 | 112 | +5.0% |
| 1977 | 119 | 103 | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 116 | 104 | -4.9% |
| 1975 | 122 | 105 | No data |
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads and most dangerous highways in Delaware
US 13 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Delaware from 2015 to 2024: 159, with 171 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 53% of all fatal crashes in Delaware from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 6 US routes, 12 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (5 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in Delaware, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 13 | 159 | 171 | 62 | New Castle, Kent, Sussex |
| 2 | State Highway 1 | 98 | 109 | 28 | Sussex, Kent, New Castle |
| 3 | I-95 | 48 | 52 | 13 | New Castle |
| 4 | US 113 | 41 | 43 | 12 | Sussex, Kent |
| 5 | US 40 | 36 | 37 | 12 | New Castle |
| 6 | State Highway 4 | 30 | 30 | 14 | New Castle, Sussex |
| 7 | I-495 | 24 | 29 | 13 | New Castle |
| 8 | State Highway 9 | 24 | 26 | 9 | New Castle, Kent, Sussex |
| 9 | State Highway 24 | 22 | 24 | 5 | Sussex |
| 10 | State Highway 2 | 21 | 22 | 4 | New Castle |
| 11 | US 9 | 20 | 23 | 6 | Sussex |
| 12 | State Highway 273 | 17 | 20 | 5 | New Castle |
| 13 | State Highway 5 | 14 | 15 | 5 | Sussex |
| 14 | State Highway 7 | 14 | 14 | 4 | New Castle |
| 15 | State Highway 15 | 13 | 13 | 2 | Kent, New Castle |
| 16 | State Highway 8 | 13 | 13 | 3 | Kent |
| 17 | State Highway 30 | 12 | 12 | 2 | Sussex, New Castle |
| 18 | State Highway 10 | 11 | 11 | 4 | Kent |
| 19 | US 13B | 11 | 11 | 0 | New Castle |
| 20 | US 202 | 11 | 11 | 1 | New Castle |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every numbered road in Delaware as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/delaware/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in Delaware
New Castle County had the most fatal crashes in Delaware from 2015 to 2024: 580, with 623 deaths. New Castle, Sussex and Kent counties together held 100% of fatal crashes in Delaware from 2015 to 2024. 3 counties in Delaware recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 3 with the most are listed, with deaths per 100,000 residents where the county had 10 or more deaths in 2024.
Per resident, Sussex County has the highest rate in Delaware: 16.2 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 13.0 for the state as a whole. Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents are hatched rather than shaded: a few crashes on a highway through a small county make a rate that says more about its population than its roads.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | Deaths per 100,000100K, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Castle County | 58 | 580 | 623 | 10.4 |
| 2 | Sussex County | 33 | 366 | 389 | 12.9 |
| 3 | Kent County | 30 | 263 | 275 | 15.6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/delaware/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in Delaware
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 65 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.2 percent, 51 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 31 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.7 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 35 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 43 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.6 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 37 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 47 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 29 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.1 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 45 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 64 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.2 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 49 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 65 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.8%
- Feb6.5%
- Mar6.9%
- Apr7.2%
- May9.3%
- Jun7.7%
- Jul9.3%
- Aug8.6%
- Sep11.3%
- Oct10.0%
- Nov8.0%
- Dec8.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Delaware: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
41% of fatal crashes in Delaware from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, below the US share of 43%; 32% happened at or near an intersection, above the US share of 25%; 38% in the dark on unlit roads, above the US share of 28%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Delaware | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 41% | 43% | below the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 32% | 25% | above the US share |
| In daylight | 41% | 46% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 14% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 38% | 28% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Delaware roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 52% of the 126 people killed on Delaware roads in 2024; pedestrians 22% (28), motorcyclists 18% (22), cyclists 4.0% (5).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 66 | 52% |
| Pedestrians | 28 | 22% |
| Motorcyclists | 22 | 18% |
| Cyclists | 5 | 4.0% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 5 | 4.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Delaware: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 25% of fatal crashes in Delaware from 2015 to 2024, below the US share of 26%; speeding in 29%, above the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 7.1%, about the US share; a driver recorded as distracted in 6.6%, below the US share of 8.7%; 47% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the US share of 49%.
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (698 in Delaware).
| Delaware | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 25% | 26% | below the US share |
| Speeding | 29% | 27% | above the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.6% | 8.7% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 47% | 49% | below the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.1% | 6.5% | about the same as the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 16% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 24%, a pedestrian in 23%, a cyclist in 3.6%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 514 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 286 | 24% |
| Pedestrian | 279 | 23% |
| Cyclist | 43 | 3.6% |
| Other | 40 | 3.3% |
| Rollover | 32 | 2.6% |
| Parked vehicle | 15 | 1.2% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Delaware
Cars were 45% of the 1,834 vehicles in fatal crashes in Delaware from 2015 to 2024, SUVs 21%, pickups 12%, motorcycles 9.7%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 833 | 45% |
| SUVs | 389 | 21% |
| Pickups | 221 | 12% |
| Motorcycles | 177 | 9.7% |
| Other trucks | 74 | 4.0% |
| Vans | 69 | 3.8% |
| Truck-tractors | 55 | 3.0% |
| Buses | 16 | 0.9% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in Delaware per resident and per mile driven
| Delaware | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 12.0 | 11.5 | about the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 13.0 | 11.8 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.27 | 1.19 | above the US rate |
Population 1,051,917 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 9,937 million vehicle-miles (FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, table VM-2). The only figures on this page not counted from FARS.
Questions about fatal crashes in Delaware
- How many people died in car accidents in Delaware in 2024?
- 126 people died in 121 fatal crashes on Delaware roads in 2024, 6.7% fewer than in 2023. That is 12 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.5 across the United States. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Delaware?
- US 13 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Delaware from 2015 to 2024: 159, with 171 deaths. State Highway 1 was second with 98.
- Which county in Delaware has the most fatal crashes?
- New Castle County, with 580 fatal crashes and 623 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 58 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in Delaware happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 65 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Delaware involved a drinking driver?
- 302 of 1,209 fatal crashes in Delaware from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 25%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for Delaware
Every county in Delaware with 30 or more fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, roads, hour and weekday, and deaths per 100,000 residents.
- New Castle County 580
- Sussex County 366
- Kent County 263
Road pages for Delaware
Every numbered road in Delaware with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Delaware numbers come from
Every figure on this page except the rates is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I-35", "I 35" and "I-35/PURPLE HEART TRL" are the same road); frontage roads and ramps ("I35 FRONTAGE") are left out of road counts. Totals from the state highway department and news reports can differ by a few: they count from the state's own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked and revised once a year. Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". Rates per resident and per mile use Census Bureau population estimates and FHWA vehicle-miles, the only figures not counted from FARS. The full method.