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1983

Kentucky · year

Kentucky in 1983

Deaths 778Fatal crashes 690Per 100,000 —US deaths 42,589

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 1983.

In 1983, 778 people died in 690 fatal crashes in Kentucky.

The death toll fell 5% from 822 in 1982 to 778 in 1983.

Kentucky accounted for 1.8% of the 42,589 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

44.8% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

Compared with 1982 and the nation

MeasureKentucky 1983Kentucky 1982United States 1983
Deaths77882242,589
Fatal crashes69072637,976
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver45%46%41%

Counties in 1983

Every county with a fatal crash in 1983, 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 County9810413.11,088
Fayette County22237.0369
Pike County182341.5162
Kenton County181810.3108
Boone County141812.5119
Hopkins County141533.280
Pulaski County141522.4136
Christian County131521.1120
Madison County141414.1109
Hardin County121412.4199
Floyd County121337.6104
Daviess County121211.5121
Graves County101232.675
Warren County9128.1178
Bell County81252.158
Bullitt County101112.8116
Muhlenberg County91032.868
Edmonson County71079.124
Breathitt County51078.149
Clay County9945.956
Knox County9930.353
Knott County8967.030
Lewis County7969.947
Rowan County7936.541
Boyd County8816.741
Nelson County8816.4112
Campbell County788.588
Calloway County6820.558
Franklin County6815.351
Hart County6840.255
McCracken County6811.8127
Union County6860.728
Grayson County7725.986
Harlan County7727.954
Carter County6726.856
Woodford County6725.256
McCreary County5741.646
Rockcastle County5743.157
Shelby County5714.067
Spencer County5733.624
Henderson County6613.678
Letcher County6629.848
Livingston County6668.120
Marshall County6618.984
Perry County6622.483
Powell County6646.441
Taylor County6622.454
Ohio County5625.158
Bath County3646.333
Grant County5519.450
Lincoln County5520.160
Mercer County5521.342
Morgan County5535.025
Oldham County557.159
Adair County4526.045
Barren County4511.095
Caldwell County4539.637
Greenup County4514.234
Monroe County4544.812
Ballard County3565.633
Whitley County3513.485
Bourbon County4419.759
Breckinridge County4418.854
Henry County4424.741
Marion County4420.252
Martin County4437.417
Meade County4413.178
Pendleton County4426.921
Washington County4432.633
Clark County3410.667
Clinton County3443.629
Lee County1–2454.716
Allen County3313.653
Anderson County3312.129
Boyle County339.642
Bracken County3335.319
Elliott County3341.314
Gallatin County3334.133
Garrard County3316.630
Jessamine County335.365
Leslie County3330.827
Logan County3310.553
Mason County3317.734
Metcalfe County3328.420
Russell County3316.332
Scott County334.985
Todd County3323.544
Carlisle County1–2362.814
Carroll County1–2327.033
Menifee County1–2347.322
Casey County1–21–2—31
Cumberland County1–21–2—17
Fleming County1–21–2—17
Fulton County1–21–2—13
Green County1–21–2—31
Johnson County1–21–2—33
Lawrence County1–21–2—37
McLean County1–21–2—18
Magoffin County1–21–2—34
Montgomery County1–21–2—64
Owen County1–21–2—28
Trigg County1–21–2—43
Wayne County1–21–2—48
Webster County1–21–2—30
Crittenden County1–21–2—25
Hancock County1–21–2—17
Harrison County1–21–2—23
Hickman County1–21–2—10
Jackson County1–21–2—37
Larue County1–21–2—43
Laurel County1–21–2—132
Lyon County1–21–2—33
Nicholas County1–21–2—24
Simpson County1–21–2—46
Trimble County1–21–2—24
Wolfe County1–21–2—40

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

12am6.3%
1am6%
2am4.5%
3am2%
4am2.8%
5am1.5%
6am2.5%
7am1.9%
8am3.2%
9am3.5%
10am3.8%
11am2.5%
12pm3.1%
1pm3.5%
2pm4.8%
3pm5.5%
4pm5.4%
5pm6.3%
6pm5.8%
7pm4.5%
8pm3.6%
9pm7%
10pm5%
11pm5.1%

Weekday

Sunday12%
Monday11%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday11%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday23%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kentucky in 1983?

778 people in 690 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1983 file.

Which county in Kentucky had the most crash deaths in 1983?

Jefferson County with 104 deaths in 98 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1983 compare with 1982 in Kentucky?

778 deaths against 822 in 1982 (+-5%). Nationally the 1983 total was 42,589.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1983 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.