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1980

Alabama · year

Alabama in 1980

Deaths 940Fatal crashes 835Per 100,000 —US deaths 51,091

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Final FARS file for 1980.

In 1980, 940 people died in 835 fatal crashes in Alabama.

The death toll fell 6% from 998 in 1979 to 940 in 1980.

Alabama accounted for 1.8% of the 51,091 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

29.9% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1979 and the nation

MeasureAlabama 1980Alabama 1979United States 1980
Deaths94099851,091
Fatal crashes83588545,284
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver30%28%40%

Counties in 1980

Every county with a fatal crash in 1980, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 67 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Jefferson County9310515.8959
Mobile County758019.4758
Baldwin County384216.1316
Madison County31358.3424
Montgomery County273013.3391
Morgan County232620.6182
Etowah County222322.3198
Houston County212119.2162
Tuscaloosa County19208.3381
Shelby County18208.5209
Jackson County162037.2147
Limestone County151916.0240
Marshall County151918.6185
Blount County131829.9152
Calhoun County161714.6208
Walker County161726.0195
Elmore County131718.7120
St. Clair County121717.5196
Lee County16168.5193
Lauderdale County141515.4146
Talladega County141417.2228
Clarke County121463.273
Cleburne County111488.065
Lowndes County913137.167
Covington County111231.886
Cullman County111213.0240
Geneva County51244.070
Chambers County111132.589
Russell County111118.7164
Franklin County101134.565
Winston County91146.169
Chilton County101021.2136
Dale County101020.090
Pickens County91054.046
Autauga County81016.3107
Macon County81055.192
Cherokee County9934.493
Colbert County9915.3132
Tallapoosa County7922.180
Randolph County6939.057
Choctaw County8866.451
DeKalb County7810.9174
Marion County7827.371
Monroe County6842.057
Clay County7749.233
Coffee County7712.4104
Dallas County7719.7127
Pike County7721.197
Greene County5798.274
Crenshaw County6645.835
Conecuh County5654.060
Henry County5633.128
Marengo County5632.461
Fayette County5531.541
Hale County5533.138
Sumter County4543.161
Barbour County4416.466
Butler County4421.9110
Escambia County4410.9108
Lamar County4429.538
Washington County4426.638
Bibb County3313.551
Bullock County3330.352
Coosa County3329.250
Perry County3338.927
Wilcox County3330.439
Lawrence County1–21–2—103

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am3.8%
1am4.1%
2am4.7%
3am3%
4am2.8%
5am2.6%
6am3%
7am3%
8am3%
9am2.4%
10am2.6%
11am2.4%
12pm3.6%
1pm3%
2pm4.7%
3pm5.4%
4pm6.6%
5pm6.8%
6pm4.9%
7pm5%
8pm6.2%
9pm5.5%
10pm5.5%
11pm5.3%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday12%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday13%
Thursday9%
Friday17%
Saturday21%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Alabama in 1980?

940 people in 835 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1980 file.

Which county in Alabama had the most crash deaths in 1980?

Jefferson County with 105 deaths in 93 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1980 compare with 1979 in Alabama?

940 deaths against 998 in 1979 (+-6%). Nationally the 1980 total was 51,091.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1980 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.