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1984

Massachusetts in 1984

Deaths 666Fatal crashes 608Per 100,000 —US deaths 44,257

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 1984.

In 1984, 666 people died in 608 fatal crashes in Massachusetts.

The death toll was about level between 1983 (651) and 1984 (666).

Massachusetts accounted for 1.5% of the 44,257 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

40.6% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

35% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Sunday was the most common day.

← 198319841985 →All years

Compared with 1983 and the nation

Measure	Massachusetts 1984	Massachusetts 1983	United States 1984
Deaths	666	651	44,257
Fatal crashes	608	605	39,631
Deaths per 100,000 residents	—	—	—
Crashes with a drinking driver	41%	38%	41%

Counties in 1984

Every county with a fatal crash in 1984, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 13 counties listed.

County	Fatal crashes	Deaths	Per 100,000	Deaths 2015–2024
Middlesex County	115	130	7.8	513
Worcester County	84	91	10.3	533
Plymouth County	73	76	14.0	370
Norfolk County	61	69	9.3	368
Bristol County	58	62	10.5	429
Hampden County	49	53	11.4	418
Essex County	47	52	6.3	332
Suffolk County	40	41	5.2	271
Berkshire County	25	33	25.6	122
Barnstable County	28	29	12.5	138
Franklin County	12	13	18.3	71
Hampshire County	12	13	7.9	84
Dukes County	1–2	1–2	—	10

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

12am7.1%

1am10.5%

2am6.7%

3am3.6%

4am1.5%

5am1.3%

6am1.2%

7am1.6%

8am1.5%

9am1.5%

10am2%

11am3%

12pm2.1%

1pm2.8%

2pm3.6%

3pm3%

4pm5.4%

5pm6.6%

6pm4.6%

7pm4.8%

8pm5.8%

9pm6.7%

10pm6.1%

11pm7.1%

Weekday

Sunday18%

Monday14%

Tuesday11%

Wednesday9%

Thursday13%

Friday16%

Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Massachusetts in 1984?

666 people in 608 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1984 file.

Which county in Massachusetts had the most crash deaths in 1984?

Middlesex County with 130 deaths in 115 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1984 compare with 1983 in Massachusetts?

666 deaths against 651 in 1983 (+2%). Nationally the 1984 total was 44,257.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1984 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.