Fatal crashes in Alabama
In 2024, 962 people died in 895 fatal crashes on Alabama roads, 1.2% fewer than in 2023. That is about 3 deaths a day, and 2.5% of all road deaths in the United States.
Alabama ranks 14th of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in Alabama since 1975
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads in Alabama
I-65 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Alabama from 2015 to 2024: 432, with 491 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (19 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-65 | 432 | 491 | 123 | Jefferson, Mobile, Chilton |
| 2 | I-59 | 259 | 285 | 76 | Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, St. Clair |
| 3 | US 431 | 122 | 133 | 62 | Marshall, Calhoun, Russell |
| 4 | US 231 | 112 | 126 | 60 | Pike, Montgomery, St. Clair |
| 5 | US 31 | 104 | 115 | 53 | Limestone, Morgan, Escambia |
| 6 | State Highway 69 | 99 | 118 | 27 | Tuscaloosa, Cullman, Walker |
| 7 | I-20 | 97 | 111 | 30 | St. Clair, Cleburne, Jefferson |
| 8 | I-85 | 97 | 109 | 33 | Montgomery, Macon, Lee |
| 9 | I-10 | 93 | 105 | 28 | Mobile, Baldwin |
| 10 | State Highway 21 | 90 | 103 | 34 | Talladega, Calhoun, Monroe |
| 11 | US 80 | 71 | 77 | 37 | Dallas, Russell, Lowndes |
| 12 | State Highway 5 | 69 | 77 | 28 | Jefferson, Walker, Bibb |
| 13 | US 72 | 68 | 76 | 31 | Limestone, Jackson, Madison |
| 14 | State Highway 75 | 68 | 72 | 22 | Dekalb, Blount, Marshall |
| 15 | State Highway 14 | 66 | 72 | 20 | Elmore, Autauga, Dallas |
| 16 | I-22 | 62 | 69 | 22 | Walker, Marion, Jefferson |
| 17 | State Highway 79 | 60 | 64 | 15 | Jefferson, Blount, Jackson |
| 18 | US 280 | 60 | 64 | 28 | Shelby, Tallapoosa, Lee |
| 19 | US 82 | 59 | 71 | 30 | Tuscaloosa, Autauga, Pickens |
| 20 | State Highway 157 | 55 | 58 | 19 | Cullman, Lawrence, Lauderdale |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in Alabama
Jefferson County had the most fatal crashes in Alabama from 2015 to 2024: 904, with 959 deaths. 67 counties in Alabama recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson | 95 | 904 | 959 |
| 2 | Mobile | 66 | 691 | 758 |
| 3 | Madison | 43 | 402 | 424 |
| 4 | Montgomery | 41 | 366 | 391 |
| 5 | Tuscaloosa | 35 | 349 | 381 |
| 6 | Baldwin | 25 | 288 | 316 |
| 7 | Limestone | 21 | 220 | 240 |
| 8 | Cullman | 21 | 212 | 240 |
| 9 | Talladega | 25 | 209 | 228 |
| 10 | Shelby | 9 | 195 | 209 |
| 11 | Calhoun | 23 | 195 | 208 |
| 12 | Lee | 25 | 183 | 193 |
| 13 | Walker | 21 | 180 | 195 |
| 14 | St. Clair | 16 | 179 | 196 |
| 15 | Etowah | 19 | 176 | 198 |
| 16 | Morgan | 23 | 169 | 182 |
| 17 | Marshall | 12 | 166 | 185 |
| 18 | Dekalb | 20 | 164 | 174 |
| 19 | Houston | 10 | 152 | 162 |
| 20 | Russell | 8 | 149 | 164 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Alabama
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 390 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.9 percent, 338 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 189 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 116 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 178 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 323 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 213 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 117 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 162 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 161 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 242 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 243 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 197 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 90 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 167 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 154 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 258 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 273 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 168 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.0 percent, 89 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 171 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 144 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 194 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 264 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 191 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.1 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 197 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 249 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 282 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 231 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.6 percent, 144 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 182 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 164 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 263 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 292 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 343 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.4 percent, 302 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 177 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 125 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 232 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 297 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 390 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.5%
- Feb6.9%
- Mar8.0%
- Apr7.9%
- May9.1%
- Jun8.5%
- Jul8.5%
- Aug8.5%
- Sep8.6%
- Oct9.6%
- Nov8.2%
- Dec8.7%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Alabama: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Alabama | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 59% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 18% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 48% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 14% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 33% | 28% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Alabama roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 694 | 72% |
| Pedestrians | 128 | 13% |
| Motorcyclists | 127 | 13% |
| Cyclists | 10 | 1.0% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 3 | 0.3% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Alabama: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (6,408 in Alabama).
| Alabama | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 25% | 26% | about the same as the US share |
| Speeding | 27% | 27% | about the same as the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 58% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.9% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 10% | 16% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 3,442 | 39% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 3,233 | 37% |
| Pedestrian | 1,069 | 12% |
| Rollover | 627 | 7.1% |
| Other | 260 | 3.0% |
| Cyclist | 83 | 0.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 83 | 0.9% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Alabama
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (12,957 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 5,257 | 41% |
| Pickups | 2,688 | 21% |
| SUVs | 2,381 | 18% |
| Motorcycles | 920 | 7.1% |
| Truck-tractors | 847 | 6.5% |
| Other trucks | 456 | 3.5% |
| Vans | 382 | 2.9% |
| Buses | 26 | 0.2% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for Alabama
Every numbered road in Alabama with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Alabama numbers come from
Every figure on this page is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.