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1981

Nebraska · year

Nebraska in 1981

Deaths 378Fatal crashes 321Per 100,000 —US deaths 49,301

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 1981.

In 1981, 378 people died in 321 fatal crashes in Nebraska.

The death toll fell 5% from 396 in 1980 to 378 in 1981.

Nebraska accounted for 0.8% of the 49,301 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

44.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

31% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1980 and the nation

MeasureNebraska 1981Nebraska 1980United States 1981
Deaths37839649,301
Fatal crashes32133744,000
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver44%39%41%

Counties in 1981

Every county with a fatal crash in 1981, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 76 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Douglas County546110.1441
Lancaster County23319.3203
Buffalo County151937.160
Lincoln County91545.061
Scotts Bluff County131439.253
Sarpy County13136.3106
Adams County101032.134
Cass County9932.762
Gage County8941.528
Dakota County6942.224
Fillmore County59163.312
Platte County7719.730
Red Willow County7767.216
Saunders County7729.947
Hall County5711.171
Dodge County6615.864
Garden County56332.64
Madison County4616.952
Saline County5533.927
Cuming County4555.918
Custer County4547.722
Hamilton County4552.319
Cheyenne County3552.122
Cedar County1–2560.526
Keith County1–2561.433
Dawes County4450.011
Dixon County4472.44
Otoe County4424.126
Stanton County4469.58
Thurston County4460.325
Colfax County3436.921
Knox County1–2448.212
Merrick County1–2451.027
Chase County3379.76
Cherry County3354.023
Dawson County3312.251
Johnson County3357.512
Morrill County3366.922
Hitchcock County1–23122.010
Butler County1–21–2—19
Dundy County1–21–2—4
Howard County1–21–2—9
Jefferson County1–21–2—14
Nemaha County1–21–2—15
Pierce County1–21–2—16
Polk County1–21–2—13
Richardson County1–21–2—14
Sheridan County1–21–2—19
Sherman County1–21–2—7
Pawnee County1–21–2—8
Antelope County1–21–2—22
Boone County1–21–2—6
Boyd County1–21–2—2
Brown County1–21–2—3
Burt County1–21–2—20
Clay County1–21–2—17
Deuel County1–21–2—11
Franklin County1–21–2—3
Furnas County1–21–2—3
Garfield County1–21–2—4
Gosper County1–21–2—8
Harlan County1–21–2—8
Holt County1–21–2—8
Kearney County1–21–2—16
Keya Paha County1–21–2—1
Kimball County1–21–2—25
McPherson County1–21–2—1
Nuckolls County1–21–2—3
Seward County1–21–2—48
Sioux County1–21–2—7
Thayer County1–21–2—11
Thomas County1–21–2—4
Valley County1–21–2—4
Washington County1–21–2—24
Wayne County1–21–2—18
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

12am5.1%
1am10.8%
2am4.1%
3am3.5%
4am1.6%
5am0.9%
6am3.8%
7am1.9%
8am2.2%
9am4.4%
10am1.6%
11am3.8%
12pm4.1%
1pm3.2%
2pm4.4%
3pm3.5%
4pm5.4%
5pm4.7%
6pm4.7%
7pm3.8%
8pm3.2%
9pm6%
10pm7%
11pm6.3%

Weekday

Sunday18%
Monday10%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday13%
Thursday10%
Friday15%
Saturday23%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Nebraska in 1981?

378 people in 321 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1981 file.

Which county in Nebraska had the most crash deaths in 1981?

Douglas County with 61 deaths in 54 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1981 compare with 1980 in Nebraska?

378 deaths against 396 in 1980 (+-5%). Nationally the 1981 total was 49,301.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1981 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.