Fatal Roads

States › Kentucky › 1976

1976

Kentucky · year

Kentucky in 1976

Deaths 854Fatal crashes 748Per 100,000 —US deaths 45,523

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 1976.

In 1976, 854 people died in 748 fatal crashes in Kentucky.

The death toll was about level between 1975 (863) and 1976 (854).

Kentucky accounted for 1.9% of the 45,523 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

29% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

Compared with 1975 and the nation

MeasureKentucky 1976Kentucky 1975United States 1976
Deaths85486345,523
Fatal crashes74875139,747
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver29%23%20%

Counties in 1976

Every county with a fatal crash in 1976, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 116 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Jefferson County879411.81,088
Fayette County313310.0369
Hopkins County162453.180
McCracken County191928.1127
Kenton County161810.3108
Hardin County141816.0199
Christian County141622.5120
Bullitt County141517.5116
Barren County121532.995
Boone County14149.7119
Muhlenberg County111445.968
Campbell County131313.888
Grayson County121348.086
Henderson County121329.478
Whitley County111334.985
Daviess County101312.4121
Harlan County111247.954
Johnson County111254.333
Warren County10128.1178
Lincoln County91248.260
Laurel County111117.4132
Pulaski County111116.5136
Madison County101111.0109
Shelby County91121.967
Hancock County611122.017
Trigg County61175.643
Calloway County101025.758
Pike County91018.0162
Floyd County81029.0104
Marshall County8928.484
Union County8968.328
Breathitt County7970.349
Lawrence County7957.037
Webster County6970.030
Knott County5967.030
Letcher County8839.748
Boyd County7816.741
Caldwell County7863.437
Mason County7847.234
Woodford County7828.956
Mercer County7729.842
Nelson County7714.4112
Logan County6724.653
Magoffin County6763.034
Simpson County6734.446
Jessamine County5712.465
Allen County6627.253
Bell County6626.058
Butler County6647.842
Carter County6623.056
Clark County6615.967
Rockcastle County6637.057
Perry County5622.483
Adair County3631.245
Breckinridge County5523.654
Jackson County5537.437
Meade County5516.478
Wayne County5525.548
Bourbon County4524.659
Boyle County4515.942
Gallatin County4556.833
Nicholas County3564.024
Pendleton County3533.721
Monroe County1–2544.812
Carlisle County4483.714
Greenup County4411.334
Leslie County4441.127
Metcalfe County4437.920
Ohio County4416.758
Todd County4431.444
Carroll County3436.033
Elliott County3455.114
Harrison County3420.523
Martin County3437.417
Rowan County3416.241
Fleming County1–2425.717
Bath County3323.233
Clay County3315.356
Edmonson County3323.724
Garrard County3316.630
Graves County338.175
Hart County3315.155
Knox County3310.153
Marion County3315.152
Oldham County334.359
Owen County3326.228
Russell County3316.332
Trimble County3334.924
Wolfe County3347.140
Taylor County1–2311.254
Anderson County1–21–2—29
Ballard County1–21–2—33
Casey County1–21–2—31
Clinton County1–21–2—29
Grant County1–21–2—50
Hickman County1–21–2—10
Larue County1–21–2—43
Lyon County1–21–2—33
McCreary County1–21–2—46
Montgomery County1–21–2—64
Morgan County1–21–2—25
Owsley County1–21–2—15
Scott County1–21–2—85
Spencer County1–21–2—24
Washington County1–21–2—33
Bracken County1–21–2—19
Crittenden County1–21–2—25
Franklin County1–21–2—51
Fulton County1–21–2—13
Green County1–21–2—31
Henry County1–21–2—41
Lee County1–21–2—16
Lewis County1–21–2—47
Livingston County1–21–2—20
McLean County1–21–2—18
Powell County1–21–2—41

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

12am6.2%
1am5.9%
2am2.7%
3am1.5%
4am2%
5am1.9%
6am3%
7am2.1%
8am3.2%
9am2.7%
10am3.1%
11am3.4%
12pm5.1%
1pm3.8%
2pm4.3%
3pm5.2%
4pm5.9%
5pm5.8%
6pm5.5%
7pm6.7%
8pm3.8%
9pm5.8%
10pm6.2%
11pm4.4%

Weekday

Sunday18%
Monday10%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday9%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday21%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kentucky in 1976?

854 people in 748 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1976 file.

Which county in Kentucky had the most crash deaths in 1976?

Jefferson County with 94 deaths in 87 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1976 compare with 1975 in Kentucky?

854 deaths against 863 in 1975 (+-1%). Nationally the 1976 total was 45,523.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1976 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.