COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Madison County, Nebraska
Road fatality data for Madison County (NE). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 42
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 4
- Latest Year Deaths
- 11.2
- Per 100k Residents
- Decreasing
- Trend
The verdict
According to NHTSA FARS, Madison County ranks #1,638 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #14 of 25 rated counties in NE. Madison County's fatality rate of 11.2 per 100,000 residents leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure.
- #1,638 of 2,328
- national by fatality rate
- #14 of 25
- in NE by rate
- 70%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- Decreasing
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
Madison County, Nebraska recorded 42 total road fatalities across 36 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 4.7 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 11.2 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Madison County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the Nebraska 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 Madison County is decreasing, which suggests that road-design improvements, enforcement, or emergency-response changes are reducing the death toll. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Madison County's 42-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
42
Latest Year
4
Avg Annual
4.7
Rate per 100K
11.2
Trend
↓ Decreasing
How does Madison County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Madison County is 37% safer than the comparison
2023 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 and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in Nebraska, Madison County ranks 14 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 17.7 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Madison County's rate and the state average is 6.5 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Otoe County, at 12.2 per 100,000 (a difference of 1.0). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Box Butte County (65.5), Colfax County (37.9), Custer County (37.8), Cass County (32.8), Saunders County (29.8), Washington County (28.4), Dakota County (28.2), Lincoln County (21.0), Buffalo County (15.8), Hall County (14.5), York County (13.9), Dawson County (12.5), Otoe County (12.2), Holt County (9.9).
Madison County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
11 Among the safer counties a lower per-capita rate than 70% of 2,328 rated counties
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 · 2026-08-09
Madison County's rate vs. the Nebraska state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Madison County, Nebraska?
Madison County recorded 42 total traffic fatalities across 36 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 4 fatalities. The county averages approximately 4.7 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Madison County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Madison County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Nebraska may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Madison County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Madison County is decreasing. This suggests road safety improvements are having a positive effect in the county.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Madison County?
Madison County has a fatality rate of 11.2 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Madison County rank for road fatality rate?
According to NHTSA FARS, Madison County ranks #1,638 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #14 of 25 rated counties in NE, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Madison County compare to the rest of Nebraska?
Madison County's per-capita rate of 11.2 per 100,000 residents is below the Nebraska county average of 17.7. Visit the Nebraska state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Madison 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) This information is for research and informational purposes only
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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.