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1989

Alabama · year

Alabama in 1989

Deaths 1,029Fatal crashes 918Per 100,000 —US deaths 45,582

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 1989.

In 1989, 1,029 people died in 918 fatal crashes in Alabama.

The death toll was about level between 1988 (1,024) and 1989 (1,029).

Alabama accounted for 2.3% of the 45,582 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

43.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

31% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1988 and the nation

MeasureAlabama 1989Alabama 1988United States 1989
Deaths1,0291,02445,582
Fatal crashes91892240,741
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver43%40%39%

Counties in 1989

Every county with a fatal crash in 1989, 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 County11312819.3959
Mobile County475112.4758
Madison County38399.2424
Tuscaloosa County333614.9381
Montgomery County303214.2391
Talladega County242935.6228
Calhoun County262824.0208
Shelby County242811.9209
Marshall County222524.5185
Walker County212335.2195
Morgan County182318.2182
Russell County192237.4164
Etowah County202120.3198
Lee County192111.2193
Cullman County182122.7240
Baldwin County18207.6316
Jackson County172037.2147
Butler County1419104.1110
St. Clair County181818.6196
Covington County161847.786
Houston County161816.5162
Lauderdale County161717.4146
Limestone County151714.3240
DeKalb County161621.9174
Escambia County141643.7108
Elmore County151516.5120
Marion County131551.271
Tallapoosa County111434.480
Colbert County111322.1132
Washington County111386.638
Conecuh County1212108.060
Barbour County101249.366
Cherokee County91245.993
Choctaw County101191.351
Lawrence County101132.8103
Chambers County81132.589
Blount County101016.6152
Autauga County9914.6107
Chilton County9919.0136
Hale County8959.538
Randolph County8939.057
Geneva County7933.070
Macon County7949.692
Perry County88103.627
Lamar County5751.738
Lowndes County5773.867
Dallas County6616.9127
Henry County6633.128
Coosa County5658.350
Dale County5612.090
Monroe County5631.557
Pike County5618.197
Bibb County5522.551
Clarke County5522.673
Fayette County5531.541
Pickens County5527.046
Bullock County4550.552
Coffee County458.9104
Cleburne County4425.165
Franklin County4412.565
Greene County4456.174
Marengo County4421.661
Wilcox County4440.539
Winston County4416.869
Crenshaw County1–2430.535
Clay County1–21–2—33
Sumter County1–21–2—61

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

12am4.8%
1am3.5%
2am3.6%
3am2.7%
4am2.2%
5am3.6%
6am2.5%
7am4.5%
8am2.6%
9am2.6%
10am2.9%
11am3.3%
12pm3.3%
1pm3.1%
2pm5.5%
3pm8%
4pm5%
5pm6.2%
6pm5.1%
7pm4.9%
8pm4.8%
9pm4.5%
10pm5.8%
11pm5.1%

Weekday

Sunday13%
Monday12%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday10%
Thursday12%
Friday20%
Saturday22%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Alabama in 1989?

1,029 people in 918 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1989 file.

Which county in Alabama had the most crash deaths in 1989?

Jefferson County with 128 deaths in 113 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1989 compare with 1988 in Alabama?

1,029 deaths against 1,024 in 1988 (0%). Nationally the 1989 total was 45,582.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1989 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.