Fatal Roads

States › Kentucky › 2017

2017

Kentucky · year

Kentucky in 2017

Deaths 782Fatal crashes 721Per 100,000 17.6US deaths 37,473

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 2017.

In 2017, 782 people died in 721 fatal crashes in Kentucky, 17.6 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.5 nationally.

The death toll fell 6% from 834 in 2016 to 782 in 2017.

Kentucky accounted for 2.1% of the 37,473 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

25.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on other principal arterial roads (22%).

33% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Thursday was the most common day.

← 201620172018 →All years

Compared with 2016 and the nation

MeasureKentucky 2017Kentucky 2016United States 2017
Deaths78283437,473
Fatal crashes72176334,560
Deaths per 100,000 residents17.618.811.5
Crashes with a drinking driver25%25%27%

Counties in 2017

Every county with a fatal crash in 2017, 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 County10410713.51,088
Fayette County343510.6369
Warren County202617.6178
Boone County181913.2119
Laurel County171828.4132
Kenton County12179.7108
Hardin County141614.2199
Nelson County91428.7112
Muhlenberg County121239.368
Pike County111221.6162
McCracken County111116.3127
Marshall County111134.784
Christian County101115.5120
Floyd County101131.9104
Grayson County101140.686
Bell County81147.758
Bullitt County101011.7116
Lincoln County91040.160
Madison County91010.0109
Meade County91032.878
Campbell County81010.688
Franklin County81019.151
Barren County9919.795
Carter County9934.556
Daviess County998.6121
Graves County9924.475
Pulaski County9913.5136
Rockcastle County8955.557
Boyle County8825.542
Clark County8821.267
Allen County7731.853
Breckinridge County7733.054
Greenup County7719.834
Whitley County7718.885
Bourbon County6734.459
Jackson County6752.437
McCreary County6741.646
Perry County6726.283
Rowan County6728.441
Breathitt County6646.949
Lawrence County6638.037
Marion County6630.252
Trigg County6641.243
Adair County5631.245
Boyd County5612.641
Gallatin County5668.133
Calloway County5512.858
Casey County5531.431
Knox County5516.953
Magoffin County5545.034
Mercer County5521.342
Montgomery County5517.464
Oldham County557.159
Scott County558.185
Anderson County4520.129
Spencer County4524.024
Lyon County3555.133
Butler County4431.942
Crittenden County4444.525
Letcher County4419.948
Logan County4414.153
Mason County4423.634
Menifee County4463.122
Ohio County4416.758
Shelby County448.067
Washington County4432.633
Harrison County3420.523
Hopkins County348.880
Leslie County3441.127
Owen County3435.028
Webster County3431.130
Caldwell County3323.837
Carroll County3327.033
Cumberland County3349.617
Grant County3311.750
Green County3326.031
Hart County3315.155
Jessamine County335.365
Johnson County3313.633
Lewis County3323.347
Nicholas County3338.424
Simpson County3314.746
Taylor County3311.254
Union County3322.828
Hancock County1–2333.317
Larue County1–2319.843
Pendleton County1–2320.221
Wolfe County1–2347.140
Ballard County1–21–2—33
Bath County1–21–2—33
Carlisle County1–21–2—14
Clay County1–21–2—56
Clinton County1–21–2—29
Edmonson County1–21–2—24
Elliott County1–21–2—14
Estill County1–21–2—16
Fulton County1–21–2—13
Henderson County1–21–2—78
Livingston County1–21–2—20
McLean County1–21–2—18
Russell County1–21–2—32
Woodford County1–21–2—56
Powell County1–21–2—41
Bracken County1–21–2—19
Fleming County1–21–2—17
Garrard County1–21–2—30
Harlan County1–21–2—54
Henry County1–21–2—41
Hickman County1–21–2—10
Knott County1–21–2—30
Lee County1–21–2—16
Martin County1–21–2—17
Monroe County1–21–2—12
Morgan County1–21–2—25
Todd County1–21–2—44
Trimble County1–21–2—24

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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday14%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday15%
Thursday17%
Friday14%
Saturday15%

Road type

Other principal arterial22%
Minor arterial21%
Major collector19%
Local17%
Interstate10%
Minor collector9%
Other freeways and expressways2%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kentucky in 2017?

782 people in 721 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2017 file, or 17.6 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Kentucky had the most crash deaths in 2017?

Jefferson County with 107 deaths in 104 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2017 compare with 2016 in Kentucky?

782 deaths against 834 in 2016 (+-6%). Nationally the 2017 total was 37,473.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2017 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.