Fatal Roads

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2017

Alabama · year

Alabama in 2017

Deaths 948Fatal crashes 864Per 100,000 19.4US deaths 37,473

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 2017.

In 2017, 948 people died in 864 fatal crashes in Alabama, 19.4 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.5 nationally.

The death toll fell 12% from 1,083 in 2016 to 948 in 2017.

Alabama accounted for 2.5% of the 37,473 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

24.8% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on other principal arterial roads (26%).

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

Compared with 2016 and the nation

MeasureAlabama 2017Alabama 2016United States 2017
Deaths9481,08337,473
Fatal crashes86497934,560
Deaths per 100,000 residents19.422.311.5
Crashes with a drinking driver25%28%27%

Counties in 2017

Every county with a fatal crash in 2017, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 66 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Jefferson County798312.5959
Mobile County717518.2758
Madison County35378.7424
Tuscaloosa County353715.3381
Talladega County252632.0228
Baldwin County24269.9316
Etowah County202524.2198
Shelby County232410.2209
Cullman County212425.9240
Limestone County222319.3240
Blount County172338.2152
DeKalb County192230.1174
Calhoun County212118.0208
Walker County212132.2195
Colbert County172034.0132
Morgan County172015.9182
Montgomery County19198.4391
St. Clair County161919.6196
Jackson County151731.6147
Houston County151513.7162
Lauderdale County151515.4146
Lee County15158.0193
Russell County151525.5164
Macon County101582.692
Autauga County141422.8107
Marshall County141413.7185
Butler County121476.7110
Escambia County91335.5108
Covington County91231.886
Lowndes County912126.567
Chilton County111123.3136
Dallas County111130.9127
Dale County81122.090
Pike County81133.297
Cherokee County91038.393
Geneva County7933.070
Franklin County8825.165
Winston County8833.569
Sumter County7868.961
Bibb County6835.951
Fayette County6850.441
Coffee County7712.4104
Lawrence County6720.9103
Marion County6723.971
Barbour County6624.666
Coosa County6658.350
Elmore County666.6120
Greene County6684.274
Hale County6639.738
Monroe County6631.557
Washington County6640.038
Bullock County5660.652
Choctaw County5649.851
Marengo County5632.461
Chambers County5514.889
Clarke County5522.673
Randolph County5521.757
Tallapoosa County5512.380
Wilcox County5550.739
Conecuh County4545.060
Henry County4527.628
Lamar County4429.538
Crenshaw County3322.935
Cleburne County1–2318.965
Perry County1–21–2—27
Clay County1–21–2—33

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

12am4.9%
1am3.7%
2am3.3%
3am2.6%
4am3.4%
5am4.2%
6am2.3%
7am4%
8am2.4%
9am2.9%
10am1.7%
11am4%
12pm4.1%
1pm3.5%
2pm6.3%
3pm3.4%
4pm6.4%
5pm5.5%
6pm6.4%
7pm5.7%
8pm6.6%
9pm4.4%
10pm4.1%
11pm4.4%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday11%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday11%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday16%

Road type

Other principal arterial26%
Minor arterial24%
Major collector21%
Interstate13%
Local11%
Minor collector4%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Alabama in 2017?

948 people in 864 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2017 file, or 19.4 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Alabama had the most crash deaths in 2017?

Jefferson County with 83 deaths in 79 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2017 compare with 2016 in Alabama?

948 deaths against 1,083 in 2016 (+-12%). Nationally the 2017 total was 37,473.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2017 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.