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1980

Louisiana · year

Louisiana in 1980

Deaths 1,219Fatal crashes 1,080Per 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, 1,219 people died in 1,080 fatal crashes in Louisiana.

The death toll was about level between 1979 (1,195) and 1980 (1,219).

Louisiana accounted for 2.4% of the 51,091 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

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

34% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Sunday was the most common day.

Compared with 1979 and the nation

MeasureLouisiana 1980Louisiana 1979United States 1980
Deaths1,2191,19551,091
Fatal crashes1,0801,05045,284
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver28%30%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. 64 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
East Baton Rouge Parish657416.3716
Orleans Parish627119.6549
Jefferson Parish576715.7322
Terrebonne Parish445149.1171
Calcasieu Parish434923.7381
Rapides Parish344737.3242
Lafayette Parish414517.7269
St. Tammany Parish364114.8317
Bossier Parish343929.7135
Iberia Parish313551.8134
Lafourche Parish303233.6215
Natchitoches Parish223288.995
St. Charles Parish243161.573
Caddo Parish232611.6398
St. Landry Parish232429.7197
Acadia Parish222442.4156
St. Mary Parish222349.181
Ouachita Parish202213.9276
St. John the Baptist Parish202255.4104
Vermilion Parish212136.486
St. Martin Parish202141.0123
Ascension Parish202015.0237
Avoyelles Parish181846.987
Tangipahoa Parish181812.9319
Evangeline Parish171856.773
St. Bernard Parish171840.250
Washington Parish151737.7110
Vernon Parish141737.177
Allen Parish121775.657
Livingston Parish151610.5274
Webster Parish151645.586
Assumption Parish151574.852
West Baton Rouge Parish131449.3100
Morehouse Parish121458.957
Jefferson Davis Parish131341.497
Iberville Parish121343.796
Pointe Coupee Parish111365.578
Sabine Parish101150.661
Cameron Parish1010213.812
Beauregard Parish91027.364
Plaquemines Parish91044.933
Red River Parish710138.227
Union Parish9943.744
Claiborne Parish8966.531
Lincoln Parish8918.769
Catahoula Parish6784.522
Concordia Parish6633.748
De Soto Parish6622.075
East Carroll Parish5687.113
East Feliciana Parish5631.474
St. James Parish5631.457
West Feliciana Parish5639.622
Bienville Parish5540.338
Grant Parish5522.666
Madison Parish5555.048
Winn Parish5537.345
Franklin Parish4526.252
Richland Parish4420.471
LaSalle Parish3427.231
Tensas Parish34104.114
Jackson Parish3320.336
St. Helena Parish1–21–2—60
Caldwell Parish1–21–2—27
West Carroll Parish1–21–2—14

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

12am6.6%
1am6.1%
2am4.9%
3am4%
4am3.6%
5am2.5%
6am3.3%
7am1.9%
8am1.5%
9am2.3%
10am2.9%
11am1.9%
12pm2.3%
1pm3%
2pm3.9%
3pm5.6%
4pm5.1%
5pm4.5%
6pm5.3%
7pm6.4%
8pm4.6%
9pm4.6%
10pm6.3%
11pm7%

Weekday

Sunday19%
Monday11%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday10%
Thursday13%
Friday17%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Louisiana in 1980?

1,219 people in 1,080 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1980 file.

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

East Baton Rouge Parish with 74 deaths in 65 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1980 compare with 1979 in Louisiana?

1,219 deaths against 1,195 in 1979 (+2%). 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.