COUNTY FATALITY DATA

Knox County, Kentucky

Road fatality data for Knox County (KY). Data period: 2016-2023.

41
Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
4
Latest Year Deaths
15.4
Per 100k Residents
Increasing
Trend

The verdict

Knox County's fatality rate of 15.4 per 100,000 residents places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure.

46%
of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
18.7/100k
Kentucky county average
Increasing
fatality trend

What the Data Shows

Knox County, Kentucky recorded 41 total road fatalities across 39 reported crashes during the 2016-2023 reporting window, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The most recent year covered by the data logged 4 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 4.6 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 15.4 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.

Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Knox County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the Kentucky state page, which aggregates county-level case files into statewide totals. Either way, the underlying records are drawn from a census of fatal crashes, not a statistical sample, so the counts are actual deaths rather than estimates.

The directional trend for Knox County is increasing, which means annual fatalities have risen across the reporting period and may warrant closer attention from local transportation and enforcement agencies. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Knox County's 41-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.

Total Fatalities

41

Latest Year

4

Avg Annual

4.6

Rate per 100K

15.4

Trend

↑ Increasing

How does Knox County compare?

Average annual road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.

Knox County
15.4 per 100k
Kentucky county average
18.7 per 100k

Knox County is 18% safer than the comparison

Average annual road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents.

Among the 15 rated counties in Kentucky, Knox County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 18.7 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure. The gap between Knox County's rate and the state average is 3.3 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Bourbon County, at 25.8 per 100,000 (a difference of 10.4). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Breathitt County (37.1), Perry County (31.7), Lewis County (31.6), Rockcastle County (31.5), Grayson County (30.2), Todd County (29.6), Jackson County (29.0), Trigg County (28.5), Butler County (27.5), McCreary County (27.0), Hart County (26.9), Powell County (26.2), Floyd County (25.9), Bourbon County (25.8).

Knox County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county

Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population

15 46th percentile a lower per-capita rate than 46% of 2,392 rated counties

Knox County 0 60 rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-06-03

Knox County's rate vs. the Kentucky state average

030Kentucky avg19/100k15.4/100k
Knox County's rate vs. the Kentucky state average

Frequently Asked Questions

How many traffic fatalities occurred in Knox County, Kentucky?

Knox County recorded 41 total traffic fatalities across 39 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 4 fatalities. The county averages approximately 4.6 fatalities per year.

What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Knox County?

Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Knox County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Kentucky may provide additional context.

Is the trend of road fatalities in Knox County increasing or decreasing?

The trend in Knox County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.

What is the fatality rate per capita in Knox County?

Knox County has a fatality rate of 15.4 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.

How does Knox County compare to the rest of Kentucky?

Knox County's per-capita rate of 15.4 per 100,000 residents is below the Kentucky county average of 18.7. Visit the Kentucky state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.

Where does the road fatality data for Knox County come from?

All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) This information is for research and informational purposes only

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Every figure on PlainRoadSafety is computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no number is typed in by an editor. County figures are computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.