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1980

Connecticut in 1980

Deaths 575Fatal crashes 520Per 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, 575 people died in 520 fatal crashes in Connecticut.

The death toll was about level between 1979 (568) and 1980 (575).

Connecticut accounted for 1.1% of the 51,091 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

50.6% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

37% of the crashes happened between midnight to 6am; Saturday was the most common day.

← 197919801981 →All years

Compared with 1979 and the nation

Measure	Connecticut 1980	Connecticut 1979	United States 1980
Deaths	575	568	51,091
Fatal crashes	520	514	45,284
Deaths per 100,000 residents	—	—	—
Crashes with a drinking driver	51%	50%	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. 8 counties listed.

County	Fatal crashes	Deaths	Per 100,000	Deaths 2015–2024
Hartford County	121	135	15.2	721
Fairfield County	112	124	13.2	516
New Haven County	107	117	13.7	810
New London County	54	58	21.9	281
Middlesex County	35	39	24.1	149
Tolland County	32	37	24.6	143
Litchfield County	30	32	17.8	204
Windham County	25	27	23.2	159

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

12am9.8%

1am10.8%

2am7.7%

3am5%

4am1.9%

5am1.9%

6am1.2%

7am1.5%

8am1%

9am0.4%

10am2.7%

11am1.9%

12pm3.1%

1pm2.1%

2pm3.1%

3pm3.5%

4pm4.2%

5pm5.8%

6pm5.8%

7pm4.6%

8pm3.3%

9pm3.7%

10pm7.5%

11pm7.7%

Weekday

Sunday18%

Monday8%

Tuesday10%

Wednesday10%

Thursday11%

Friday19%

Saturday25%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Connecticut in 1980?

575 people in 520 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1980 file.

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

Hartford County with 135 deaths in 121 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1980 compare with 1979 in Connecticut?

575 deaths against 568 in 1979 (+1%). 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.