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1985

Alabama · year

Alabama in 1985

Deaths 882Fatal crashes 777Per 100,000 —US deaths 43,825

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 1985.

In 1985, 882 people died in 777 fatal crashes in Alabama.

The death toll fell 5% from 932 in 1984 to 882 in 1985.

Alabama accounted for 2% of the 43,825 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

34.4% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

Compared with 1984 and the nation

MeasureAlabama 1985Alabama 1984United States 1985
Deaths88293243,825
Fatal crashes77782039,196
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver34%41%40%

Counties in 1985

Every county with a fatal crash in 1985, 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 County808512.8959
Mobile County586515.8758
Madison County33378.7424
Montgomery County323515.5391
Baldwin County243011.5316
Tuscaloosa County272912.0381
Cullman County242931.3240
Houston County202119.2162
Calhoun County182017.2208
Shelby County17208.5209
Jackson County161833.5147
Etowah County171716.5198
Talladega County151720.9228
Lee County14179.0193
St. Clair County141717.5196
Coffee County151628.4104
Tallapoosa County111639.380
Morgan County131411.1182
Walker County131421.5195
Limestone County121411.8240
Chilton County111327.5136
Marion County111344.371
Clarke County101358.773
Barbour County91353.466
Russell County91322.1164
Blount County111118.3152
Colbert County101017.0132
Elmore County101011.0120
Lawrence County101029.8103
Franklin County91031.465
Lauderdale County91010.3146
Randolph County91043.457
Pike County81030.297
DeKalb County71013.7174
Cleburne County51062.965
Dallas County9925.3127
Choctaw County8974.751
Marengo County7948.661
Chambers County7823.789
Escambia County7821.8108
Hale County7852.938
Bibb County7731.451
Dale County7714.090
Lowndes County7773.867
Washington County7746.638
Wilcox County7771.039
Autauga County6711.4107
Butler County6738.3110
Covington County6615.986
Crenshaw County6645.835
Macon County6633.092
Geneva County5622.070
Henry County5633.128
Pickens County4632.446
Conecuh County3654.060
Clay County5535.133
Marshall County554.9185
Sumter County5543.161
Coosa County3548.650
Bullock County4440.452
Fayette County4425.241
Greene County3342.174
Perry County3338.927
Cherokee County1–2311.593
Winston County1–2312.669
Monroe County1–21–2—57
Lamar County1–21–2—38

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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday10%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday11%
Friday18%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Alabama in 1985?

882 people in 777 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1985 file.

Which county in Alabama had the most crash deaths in 1985?

Jefferson County with 85 deaths in 80 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1985 compare with 1984 in Alabama?

882 deaths against 932 in 1984 (+-5%). Nationally the 1985 total was 43,825.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1985 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.