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1980

Nebraska · year

Nebraska in 1980

Deaths 396Fatal crashes 337Per 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, 396 people died in 337 fatal crashes in Nebraska.

The death toll rose 20% from 330 in 1979 to 396 in 1980.

Nebraska accounted for 0.8% of the 51,091 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

38.9% 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

MeasureNebraska 1980Nebraska 1979United States 1980
Deaths39633051,091
Fatal crashes33727745,284
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver39%41%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. 77 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Douglas County50538.8441
Lancaster County17185.4203
Sarpy County13167.8106
Lincoln County131545.061
Hall County131422.371
Scotts Bluff County101336.453
Cass County81347.362
Seward County61267.548
Platte County81131.030
York County91069.643
Custer County61095.422
Dawson County9936.751
Gage County6941.528
Madison County7822.552
Cuming County5889.418
Burt County77104.120
Dodge County6615.864
Saunders County5625.647
Adams County4619.234
Dawes County3675.011
Buffalo County559.860
Cherry County5590.023
Colfax County5546.221
Brown County45173.83
Cheyenne County4552.122
Dixon County4590.54
Red Willow County4548.016
Clay County3581.917
Holt County4439.58
Jefferson County4456.114
Sheridan County4481.219
Blaine County34881.13
Otoe County3424.126
Box Butte County3328.025
Butler County3335.519
Cedar County3336.326
Dakota County3314.124
Howard County3345.69
Johnson County3357.512
Saline County3320.427
Stanton County3352.18
Thayer County3361.611
Wayne County3330.418
Greeley County1–23136.53
Thurston County1–2345.225
Washington County1–2314.124
Polk County1–2356.913
Chase County1–21–2—6
Gosper County1–21–2—8
Grant County1–21–2—2
Hamilton County1–21–2—19
Kearney County1–21–2—16
Keith County1–21–2—33
Keya Paha County1–21–2—1
Knox County1–21–2—12
Merrick County1–21–2—27
Morrill County1–21–2—22
Nance County1–21–2—6
Pierce County1–21–2—16
Richardson County1–21–2—14
Boyd County1–21–2—2
Antelope County1–21–2—22
Boone County1–21–2—6
Fillmore County1–21–2—12
Franklin County1–21–2—3
Furnas County1–21–2—3
Garfield County1–21–2—4
Harlan County1–21–2—8
Kimball County1–21–2—25
Loup County1–21–2—4
McPherson County1–21–2—1
Nemaha County1–21–2—15
Nuckolls County1–21–2—3
Phelps County1–21–2—20
Sherman County1–21–2—7
Sioux County1–21–2—7
Webster County1–21–2—9

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%
1am7.9%
2am5.4%
3am2.4%
4am3%
5am2.7%
6am1.8%
7am2.7%
8am3%
9am1.2%
10am1.8%
11am3%
12pm2.7%
1pm3%
2pm4.2%
3pm4.8%
4pm6%
5pm3.9%
6pm3.3%
7pm6.6%
8pm5.4%
9pm5.7%
10pm6%
11pm6.6%

Weekday

Sunday21%
Monday11%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday12%
Thursday12%
Friday14%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Nebraska in 1980?

396 people in 337 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1980 file.

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

Douglas County with 53 deaths in 50 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1980 compare with 1979 in Nebraska?

396 deaths against 330 in 1979 (+20%). 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.