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1981

Pennsylvania · year

Pennsylvania in 1981

Deaths 2,029Fatal crashes 1,820Per 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, 2,029 people died in 1,820 fatal crashes in Pennsylvania.

The death toll was about level between 1980 (2,089) and 1981 (2,029).

Pennsylvania accounted for 4.1% of the 49,301 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

58% 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.

← 198019811982 →All years

Compared with 1980 and the nation

MeasurePennsylvania 1981Pennsylvania 1980United States 1981
Deaths2,0292,08949,301
Fatal crashes1,8201,88244,000
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver58%55%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. 67 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Allegheny County13414912.1686
Philadelphia County1301439.11,196
Montgomery County80849.6420
Chester County727813.9319
Bucks County647711.8513
Lancaster County596711.9503
Luzerne County596319.0313
Westmoreland County586217.7349
Erie County515821.7262
York County535511.7377
Lehigh County495313.7296
Delaware County47508.5264
Dauphin County435017.1295
Berks County444610.5440
Washington County314220.0234
Beaver County373923.6117
Fayette County353931.5212
Northampton County353811.8213
Lackawanna County313817.5200
Butler County333517.6182
Monroe County313420.4221
Cumberland County313211.6199
Lycoming County243127.4139
Franklin County303018.8207
Northumberland County273033.3103
Schuylkill County292920.1208
Lebanon County242617.9190
Mercer County232624.0135
Crawford County222631.7121
Blair County202420.0123
Indiana County232327.7116
Clearfield County222329.4138
Somerset County192230.5112
Bradford County162236.9113
Columbia County192131.879
Tioga County152151.668
Cambria County172015.4108
Centre County181911.9129
Adams County141816.7125
McKean County141640.556
Mifflin County141634.856
Wayne County141631.186
Susquehanna County121642.095
Elk County151549.837
Jefferson County81534.657
Huntingdon County121432.362
Pike County131320.878
Venango County131326.371
Clinton County121334.369
Carbon County111218.3106
Lawrence County101214.297
Bedford County91225.290
Armstrong County111117.394
Clarion County111129.860
Perry County101123.579
Union County8921.347
Warren County7924.155
Snyder County8820.254
Wyoming County6831.038
Potter County6743.830
Greene County6617.757
Montour County6633.132
Fulton County5534.644
Juniata County1–2417.142
Cameron County3369.08
Sullivan County3350.611
Forest County1–21–2—14

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

12am6.4%
1am6.9%
2am7.2%
3am5.3%
4am2.7%
5am1.6%
6am1.8%
7am2.8%
8am2%
9am1.4%
10am1.5%
11am2.3%
12pm2.8%
1pm3%
2pm4%
3pm4.6%
4pm4.6%
5pm5.3%
6pm4.9%
7pm5%
8pm5.7%
9pm5.2%
10pm5.4%
11pm7.9%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday10%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday11%
Thursday13%
Friday17%
Saturday22%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Pennsylvania in 1981?

2,029 people in 1,820 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1981 file.

Which county in Pennsylvania had the most crash deaths in 1981?

Allegheny County with 149 deaths in 134 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1981 compare with 1980 in Pennsylvania?

2,029 deaths against 2,089 in 1980 (+-3%). 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.