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1983

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 1983

Deaths 1,234Fatal crashes 1,083Per 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, 1,234 people died in 1,083 fatal crashes in North Carolina.

The death toll fell 5% from 1,303 in 1982 to 1,234 in 1983.

North Carolina accounted for 2.9% of the 42,589 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

46% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

36% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 198219831984 →All years

Compared with 1982 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 1983North Carolina 1982United States 1983
Deaths1,2341,30342,589
Fatal crashes1,0831,16837,976
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver46%48%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. 98 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Mecklenburg County60705.81,059
Guilford County42519.1649
Cumberland County454814.2501
Robeson County354739.6531
Forsyth County37399.8419
Davidson County323419.1306
Wake County31332.7772
Onslow County273315.5231
Catawba County243018.0237
Gaston County232811.6277
Randolph County212617.5261
Buncombe County23259.0347
Sampson County212541.4199
Harnett County212416.4293
Rockingham County192425.7155
Nash County222323.5232
Rowan County192315.0233
Columbus County182040.0204
Iredell County18209.7238
Cabarrus County18187.3235
Pitt County171810.0261
Union County16186.8232
Wilson County131822.5164
Johnston County17176.8341
Cleveland County161615.7208
McDowell County91533.170
Durham County12144.1296
Moore County131312.0183
Martin County121360.446
Halifax County111327.7152
Alamance County10137.1214
Wilkes County121218.1129
Haywood County111219.0108
Lee County111217.5135
Surry County111216.8141
Duplin County101223.7181
Stokes County91226.270
Henderson County11119.1123
Vance County111126.095
Northampton County101166.373
Craven County10109.6131
New Hanover County9104.1210
Rutherford County91015.2118
Beaufort County81022.471
Lincoln County81010.2127
Brunswick County895.4214
Chatham County7910.7141
Granville County7914.6138
Stanly County6913.495
Hertford County8841.761
Richmond County8819.1106
Alexander County6821.857
Bertie County6847.260
Carteret County6811.493
Scotland County6823.6120
Burke County777.9142
Currituck County7721.745
Franklin County778.8154
Hoke County7712.6138
Lenoir County7712.7129
Orange County774.6147
Warren County6736.771
Washington County6765.716
Caldwell County667.4123
Pender County668.6159
Wayne County665.0209
Bladen County5620.1108
Dare County5615.743
Person County5614.960
Yancey County5631.628
Greene County4629.036
Caswell County5522.455
Cherokee County5516.558
Edgecombe County5510.2118
Madison County5522.445
Jackson County3511.076
Ashe County4414.743
Jones County4442.326
Watauga County447.358
Chowan County3428.819
Pamlico County3431.923
Anson County3313.461
Davie County336.669
Gates County3329.134
Montgomery County3311.491
Pasquotank County337.263
Swain County3321.524
Macon County1–237.754
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Avery County1–21–2—24
Camden County1–21–2—9
Mitchell County1–21–2—18
Polk County1–21–2—35
Yadkin County1–21–2—91
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Perquimans County1–21–2—21
Transylvania County1–21–2—35
Tyrrell County1–21–2—11

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

12am4.5%
1am5.2%
2am3.9%
3am2.9%
4am1.7%
5am1.4%
6am2.6%
7am3%
8am1.7%
9am1.7%
10am3.4%
11am2.4%
12pm3.1%
1pm4.3%
2pm4.5%
3pm5.6%
4pm6.4%
5pm6.3%
6pm5.6%
7pm6.4%
8pm5.6%
9pm5.3%
10pm6.1%
11pm6.6%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday10%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday15%
Saturday23%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 1983?

1,234 people in 1,083 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1983 file.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 1983?

Mecklenburg County with 70 deaths in 60 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1983 compare with 1982 in North Carolina?

1,234 deaths against 1,303 in 1982 (+-5%). 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.