Fatal Roads

States › Nebraska › 1978

1978

Nebraska · year

Nebraska in 1978

Deaths 340Fatal crashes 290Per 100,000 —US deaths 50,331

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 1978.

In 1978, 340 people died in 290 fatal crashes in Nebraska.

The death toll was about level between 1977 (345) and 1978 (340).

Nebraska accounted for 0.7% of the 50,331 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

36.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

Compared with 1977 and the nation

MeasureNebraska 1978Nebraska 1977United States 1978
Deaths34034550,331
Fatal crashes29028844,433
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver36%41%36%

Counties in 1978

Every county with a fatal crash in 1978, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 72 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Douglas County49569.3441
Lancaster County23288.4203
Dodge County121437.064
Cass County81243.662
Hall County91015.971
Adams County8928.834
Saunders County6938.547
Sarpy County783.9106
Merrick County48102.127
Buffalo County7713.760
Scotts Bluff County7719.653
Dakota County6732.824
Polk County67132.913
Butler County5782.919
Hamilton County5773.219
Thomas County1–26946.44
Dawson County5520.451
Madison County4514.152
Thurston County4575.325
York County4534.843
Cheyenne County4441.722
Pierce County4454.516
Red Willow County4438.416
Saline County4427.127
Cuming County3444.718
Johnson County3476.612
Platte County3411.330
Wayne County1–2440.518
Boone County3356.06
Box Butte County3328.025
Brown County33104.33
Burt County3344.620
Cedar County3336.326
Chase County3379.76
Custer County3328.622
Keith County3336.833
Lincoln County339.061
Nemaha County3342.615
Richardson County3339.114
Sheridan County3360.919
Deuel County1–23158.611
Antelope County1–21–2—22
Dixon County1–21–2—4
Gage County1–21–2—28
Gosper County1–21–2—8
Greeley County1–21–2—3
Hitchcock County1–21–2—10
Holt County1–21–2—8
Nuckolls County1–21–2—3
Otoe County1–21–2—26
Phelps County1–21–2—20
Seward County1–21–2—48
Sherman County1–21–2—7
Valley County1–21–2—4
Dundy County1–21–2—4
Jefferson County1–21–2—14
Thayer County1–21–2—11
Blaine County1–21–2—3
Boyd County1–21–2—2
Cherry County1–21–2—23
Clay County1–21–2—17
Colfax County1–21–2—21
Dawes County1–21–2—11
Fillmore County1–21–2—12
Frontier County1–21–2—5
Grant County1–21–2—2
Harlan County1–21–2—8
Howard County1–21–2—9
Kimball County1–21–2—25
Knox County1–21–2—12
Sioux County1–21–2—7
Washington 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

12am6.6%
1am7.3%
2am4.5%
3am2.1%
4am0%
5am1%
6am2.1%
7am3.1%
8am3.1%
9am2.1%
10am2.4%
11am1.7%
12pm2.8%
1pm2.4%
2pm4.2%
3pm5.2%
4pm4.5%
5pm9.1%
6pm5.9%
7pm7.7%
8pm4.2%
9pm4.5%
10pm7%
11pm6.3%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday12%
Tuesday9%
Wednesday12%
Thursday14%
Friday19%
Saturday17%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Nebraska in 1978?

340 people in 290 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1978 file.

Which county in Nebraska had the most crash deaths in 1978?

Douglas County with 56 deaths in 49 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1978 compare with 1977 in Nebraska?

340 deaths against 345 in 1977 (+-1%). Nationally the 1978 total was 50,331.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1978 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.