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1983

New Mexico · year

New Mexico in 1983

Deaths 531Fatal crashes 467Per 100,000 —US deaths 42,589

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 1983.

In 1983, 531 people died in 467 fatal crashes in New Mexico.

The death toll fell 8% from 577 in 1982 to 531 in 1983.

New Mexico accounted for 1.2% of the 42,589 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

44.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

41% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1982 and the nation

MeasureNew Mexico 1983New Mexico 1982United States 1983
Deaths53157742,589
Fatal crashes46748937,976
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver44%51%41%

Counties in 1983

Every county with a fatal crash in 1983, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 32 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Bernalillo County667310.91,043
San Juan County516553.8285
McKinley County414666.7278
Santa Fe County353622.8201
Doña Ana County293214.0237
Chaves County182336.1113
Rio Arriba County172255.1116
Guadalupe County1519433.387
Eddy County151829.3148
Lea County161722.6194
Cibola County151660.0141
Lincoln County141679.950
Valencia County141619.899
Socorro County121381.494
Sandoval County12127.6157
Otero County111217.295
Curry County111123.359
Quay County911130.950
Colfax County101081.344
Taos County8823.280
Torrance County7850.0103
Sierra County6761.537
Grant County6621.856
Luna County5519.395
San Miguel County5518.958
Catron County35131.815
Union County35127.411
Roosevelt County3421.445
Los Alamos County3315.28
Mora County3373.237
De Baca County1–21–2—14
Hidalgo County1–21–2—42

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

12am3.2%
1am3.5%
2am6%
3am2.8%
4am3.5%
5am1.7%
6am2.8%
7am3%
8am3%
9am1.9%
10am1.3%
11am2.6%
12pm3.2%
1pm2.4%
2pm4.3%
3pm3.9%
4pm4.3%
5pm5.8%
6pm4.5%
7pm7.1%
8pm7.6%
9pm9.1%
10pm5.6%
11pm6.7%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday9%
Tuesday9%
Wednesday11%
Thursday12%
Friday20%
Saturday22%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in New Mexico in 1983?

531 people in 467 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1983 file.

Which county in New Mexico had the most crash deaths in 1983?

Bernalillo County with 73 deaths in 66 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1983 compare with 1982 in New Mexico?

531 deaths against 577 in 1982 (+-8%). Nationally the 1983 total was 42,589.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1983 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.