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1975

New Mexico · year

New Mexico in 1975

Deaths 555Fatal crashes 466Per 100,000 —US deaths 44,525

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 1975.

In 1975, 555 people died in 466 fatal crashes in New Mexico.

New Mexico accounted for 1.2% of the 44,525 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

1.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

34% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1974 and the nation

MeasureNew Mexico 1975—United States 1975
Deaths555—44,525
Fatal crashes466—39,161
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver1%—19%

Counties in 1975

Every county with a fatal crash in 1975, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 31 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
McKinley County6283120.4278
Bernalillo County697511.21,043
San Juan County404940.6285
Valencia County313543.399
Santa Fe County222817.7201
Rio Arriba County212357.6116
Otero County202231.695
Doña Ana County15198.3237
Sandoval County171811.4157
San Miguel County141764.358
Chaves County151625.1113
Taos County141646.480
Lincoln County131574.950
Quay County815178.550
Lea County141418.6194
Socorro County91275.294
Eddy County101117.9148
Guadalupe County1011250.987
Luna County81038.695
Roosevelt County81053.445
Catron County610263.515
Grant County7829.056
Hidalgo County67176.542
Curry County5714.859
Colfax County5648.844
Mora County55122.137
Union County55127.411
Sierra County3435.137
De Baca County1–21–2—14
Los Alamos County1–21–2—8
Torrance County1–21–2—103

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

12am6.7%
1am6.9%
2am5.6%
3am2.8%
4am2.4%
5am1.5%
6am2.4%
7am2.4%
8am2.6%
9am2.6%
10am2.2%
11am2.6%
12pm3.9%
1pm4.3%
2pm2.6%
3pm3.9%
4pm5.8%
5pm4.9%
6pm6.2%
7pm6.7%
8pm5.8%
9pm4.9%
10pm4.1%
11pm6.5%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday11%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday11%
Thursday10%
Friday18%
Saturday23%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in New Mexico in 1975?

555 people in 466 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1975 file.

Which county in New Mexico had the most crash deaths in 1975?

McKinley County with 83 deaths in 62 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1975 compare with 1974 in New Mexico?

1975 is the first year in FARS; no earlier comparison exists.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1975 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.