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1981

District of Columbia in 1981

Deaths 49Fatal crashes 46Per 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, 49 people died in 46 fatal crashes in District of Columbia.

The death toll rose 20% from 41 in 1980 to 49 in 1981.

District of Columbia accounted for 0.1% of the 49,301 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

28.3% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

28% of the crashes happened between 6am to noon; Saturday was the most common day.

← 198019811982 →All years

Compared with 1980 and the nation

Measure	District of Columbia 1981	District of Columbia 1980	United States 1981
Deaths	49	41	49,301
Fatal crashes	46	38	44,000
Deaths per 100,000 residents	—	—	—
Crashes with a drinking driver	28%	32%	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. 1 counties listed.

County	Fatal crashes	Deaths	Per 100,000	Deaths 2015–2024
District of Columbia	46	49	7.0	335

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

12am2.2%

1am6.5%

2am4.3%

3am6.5%

4am2.2%

5am4.3%

6am4.3%

7am4.3%

8am0%

9am4.3%

10am8.7%

11am6.5%

12pm2.2%

1pm0%

2pm0%

3pm6.5%

4pm4.3%

5pm4.3%

6pm4.3%

7pm4.3%

8pm0%

9pm6.5%

10pm6.5%

11pm6.5%

Weekday

Sunday11%

Monday13%

Tuesday11%

Wednesday17%

Thursday17%

Friday11%

Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in District of Columbia in 1981?

49 people in 46 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1981 file.

Which county in District of Columbia had the most crash deaths in 1981?

District of Columbia with 49 deaths in 46 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1981 compare with 1980 in District of Columbia?

49 deaths against 41 in 1980 (+20%). 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.