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1982

Colorado · year

Colorado in 1982

Deaths 668Fatal crashes 598Per 100,000 —US deaths 43,945

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 1982.

In 1982, 668 people died in 598 fatal crashes in Colorado.

The death toll fell 12% from 756 in 1981 to 668 in 1982.

Colorado accounted for 1.5% of the 43,945 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

54.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

35% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1981 and the nation

MeasureColorado 1982Colorado 1981United States 1982
Deaths66875643,945
Fatal crashes59867539,092
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver54%56%41%

Counties in 1982

Every county with a fatal crash in 1982, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 59 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Denver County65689.3608
Jefferson County50559.5478
El Paso County47516.8721
Boulder County384012.1255
Weld County374010.8569
Pueblo County323923.0290
Adams County30366.6635
Arapahoe County33355.2501
Mesa County232918.0181
Larimer County25277.2352
La Plata County172035.297
Douglas County17184.6207
Garfield County151523.7101
Eagle County121425.851
Fremont County81326.077
Routt County101143.641
Logan County81048.255
Morgan County9929.778
Montezuma County8933.552
Gunnison County7846.245
Summit County7825.941
Moffat County6753.323
Park County6738.253
Elbert County6620.439
Baca County55148.523
Prowers County5541.824
San Juan County55609.09
Las Animas County4534.434
Rio Grande County4544.921
Teller County4520.127
Pitkin County3530.018
Lincoln County4471.539
Yuma County1–2439.823
Cheyenne County33175.220
Clear Creek County3333.132
Costilla County3381.424
Grand County3318.631
Huerfano County3342.936
Alamosa County1–2318.031
Montrose County1–236.761
Bent County1–21–2—12
Custer County1–21–2—17
Delta County1–21–2—51
Otero County1–21–2—31
Rio Blanco County1–21–2—18
Saguache County1–21–2—33
San Miguel County1–21–2—20
Washington County1–21–2—34
Archuleta County1–21–2—28
Phillips County1–21–2—9
Chaffee County1–21–2—38
Conejos County1–21–2—15
Gilpin County1–21–2—8
Jackson County1–21–2—21
Kiowa County1–21–2—7
Kit Carson County1–21–2—38
Lake County1–21–2—13
Ouray County1–21–2—23
Sedgwick County1–21–2—15

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

12am8%
1am4.9%
2am5.9%
3am2.5%
4am1.5%
5am2.3%
6am1.5%
7am3.2%
8am1.7%
9am2.2%
10am3.5%
11am2%
12pm3.9%
1pm3.7%
2pm3.5%
3pm4.7%
4pm5.4%
5pm4.9%
6pm6.2%
7pm5%
8pm5.2%
9pm5.9%
10pm5.4%
11pm7.2%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday9%
Tuesday15%
Wednesday15%
Thursday13%
Friday14%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Colorado in 1982?

668 people in 598 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1982 file.

Which county in Colorado had the most crash deaths in 1982?

Denver County with 68 deaths in 65 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1982 compare with 1981 in Colorado?

668 deaths against 756 in 1981 (+-12%). Nationally the 1982 total was 43,945.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1982 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.