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2003

Kentucky · year

Kentucky in 2003

Deaths 928Fatal crashes 845Per 100,000 22.5US deaths 42,884

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 2003.

In 2003, 928 people died in 845 fatal crashes in Kentucky, 22.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 14.8 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2002 (915) and 2003 (928).

Kentucky accounted for 2.2% of the 42,884 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

28.3% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

36% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 2002 and the nation

MeasureKentucky 2003Kentucky 2002United States 2003
Deaths92891542,884
Fatal crashes84581038,477
Deaths per 100,000 residents22.522.414.8
Crashes with a drinking driver28%31%35%

Counties in 2003

Every county with a fatal crash in 2003, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 111 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Jefferson County788110.21,088
Fayette County29309.1369
Pike County242952.3162
Pulaski County202334.4136
Warren County212214.9178
Hardin County182118.6199
Whitley County151951.085
Laurel County161828.4132
Floyd County161646.3104
Christian County151622.5120
McCracken County151623.7127
Carter County131557.556
Shelby County131529.967
Montgomery County111448.764
Graves County131335.375
Perry County121348.683
Allen County111359.053
Boone County11139.0119
Letcher County121259.648
Clay County111261.256
Scott County101219.485
Barren County111124.195
Kenton County11116.3108
Madison County111111.0109
Marshall County111134.784
Muhlenberg County101136.168
Bell County81147.758
Franklin County101019.151
Campbell County91010.688
Daviess County9109.6121
Harlan County91039.954
Henderson County91022.678
Breathitt County9970.349
Leslie County9992.527
Knox County8930.353
Boyd County7918.841
Jackson County7967.437
Boyle County8825.542
Clark County8821.267
Clinton County8887.129
Grayson County8829.686
Bullitt County789.3116
Logan County7828.153
Mason County5847.234
Simpson County4839.346
Calloway County7718.058
Carroll County7763.033
Hart County7735.155
Nelson County7714.4112
Hopkins County6715.580
Jessamine County6712.465
Johnson County6731.733
Oldham County679.959
McCreary County5741.646
Union County5753.128
Adair County6631.245
Bourbon County6629.559
Lewis County6646.647
Lincoln County6624.160
Martin County6656.117
Meade County6619.778
Ohio County6625.158
Wayne County6630.648
Henry County5637.041
Knott County5644.630
Larue County5639.743
Marion County5630.252
Greenup County5514.234
Woodford County5518.056
Livingston County4556.720
Rockcastle County4530.857
Todd County4539.244
Trigg County4534.343
Breckinridge County4418.854
Estill County4428.616
Grant County4415.650
Lawrence County4425.337
Magoffin County4436.034
Metcalfe County4437.920
Powell County4430.941
Rowan County4416.241
Trimble County4446.624
Bracken County3447.119
Casey County3425.131
Gallatin County3445.433
Lee County3454.716
Taylor County3414.954
Bath County3323.233
Hickman County3368.310
McLean County3332.918
Mercer County3312.842
Monroe County3326.912
Pendleton County3320.221
Spencer County3314.424
Webster County3323.330
Wolfe County3347.140
Washington County1–2324.533
Butler County1–21–2—42
Crittenden County1–21–2—25
Fulton County1–21–2—13
Garrard County1–21–2—30
Green County1–21–2—31
Morgan County1–21–2—25
Owen County1–21–2—28
Owsley County1–21–2—15
Caldwell County1–21–2—37
Carlisle County1–21–2—14
Cumberland County1–21–2—17
Fleming County1–21–2—17
Harrison County1–21–2—23
Russell County1–21–2—32

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

12am3.4%
1am2.7%
2am1.8%
3am1.9%
4am1.8%
5am1.9%
6am3.6%
7am3.1%
8am3.9%
9am3%
10am4.1%
11am5%
12pm5.6%
1pm5.5%
2pm6%
3pm7.2%
4pm5.2%
5pm6.4%
6pm5.1%
7pm5.9%
8pm4.7%
9pm4.6%
10pm5.3%
11pm2.3%

Weekday

Sunday13%
Monday15%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday15%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kentucky in 2003?

928 people in 845 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2003 file, or 22.5 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Kentucky had the most crash deaths in 2003?

Jefferson County with 81 deaths in 78 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2003 compare with 2002 in Kentucky?

928 deaths against 915 in 2002 (+1%). Nationally the 2003 total was 42,884.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2003 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.