NHTSA FARS 2020–2024 · Census population
Most Dangerous Counties in Rhode Island
Quick answer: Providence County recorded the most road deaths in Rhode Island from 2020 to 2024 (184), while Washington County had the highest death rate, 8.7 per 100,000 residents a year against 5.5 for the state as a whole.
Per 100,000 residents a year · counties with 10,000+ people
Highest death rate
| # | County | Deaths per 100k / year | Deaths 2020–2024 | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington County | 8.7 | 57 | 130,344 |
| 2 | Providence County | 5.5 | 184 | 664,854 |
| 3 | Kent County | 5 | 43 | 171,456 |
| 4 | Newport County | 3.8 | 16 | 84,657 |
| 5 | Bristol County | 2 | 5 | 50,490 |
5 counties · click a heading to sort
Every county in Rhode Island
| County | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Per 100k / yr | Pedestrians | At night | Alcohol | 2020→2024 | Deadliest roads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 184 | 176 | 5.5 | 21% | 52% | 39% | I-95, SR-122, SR-114 | |
| Washington County | 57 | 56 | 8.7 | 11% | 34% | 41% | I-95, US-1, SR-138 | |
| Kent County | 43 | 41 | 5 | 14% | 49% | 27% | I-95, SR-117, US-1 | |
| Newport County | 16 | 16 | 3.8 | 12% | 44% | 31% | SR-138, SR-114, SR-138A | |
| Bristol County | 5 | 4 | 2 | 40% | 50% | 50% |
Deaths = people killed in crashes in the county, 2020–2024. Pedestrians = share of deaths who were on foot. At night = share of fatal crashes in the dark. Alcohol = share of fatal crashes where police reported a driver had been drinking. Rate = yearly average deaths ÷ average population × 100,000. Source: NHTSA FARS, U.S. Census Bureau.
More for Rhode Island: deadliest highways and roads · Rhode Island accidents today · get a police report · every state
Questions
Dangerous counties — FAQ
What is the most dangerous county in Rhode Island for driving?
Providence County recorded the most road deaths in Rhode Island from 2020 to 2024 (184), while Washington County had the highest death rate, 8.7 per 100,000 residents a year against 5.5 for the state as a whole. Big counties lead on counts because more people drive there; the rate shows the risk for each resident.
How many people died on Rhode Island roads from 2020 to 2024?
305 people, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, about 61 a year.
Where does this ranking come from?
Every fatal crash in NHTSA's FARS census for 2020–2024, placed in the county where it happened, divided by the county's average population from the U.S. Census Bureau. Rates are only ranked for counties with at least 10,000 residents.