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1983

Pennsylvania · year

Pennsylvania in 1983

Deaths 1,721Fatal crashes 1,544Per 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, 1,721 people died in 1,544 fatal crashes in Pennsylvania.

The death toll fell 5% from 1,819 in 1982 to 1,721 in 1983.

Pennsylvania accounted for 4% of the 42,589 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

34.8% 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 1982 and the nation

MeasurePennsylvania 1983Pennsylvania 1982United States 1983
Deaths1,7211,81942,589
Fatal crashes1,5441,61137,976
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver35%32%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. 67 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Allegheny County13414611.9686
Philadelphia County971096.91,196
Bucks County808412.9513
Westmoreland County738423.9349
Montgomery County64718.1420
Chester County607112.7319
Berks County586414.6440
Luzerne County475416.3313
Lancaster County48498.7503
Lehigh County404912.7296
Butler County384321.6182
York County40408.5377
Erie County353914.6262
Delaware County34366.2264
Washington County313516.6234
Schuylkill County303524.2208
Monroe County273018.0221
Lackawanna County243013.8200
Dauphin County26289.6295
Adams County232624.1125
Mercer County192624.0135
Northampton County23257.7213
Cambria County192519.2108
Cumberland County22248.7199
Lycoming County212320.3139
Indiana County182327.7116
Franklin County212213.8207
Perry County192247.079
Fayette County202116.9212
Beaver County192112.7117
Venango County182040.471
Clarion County162054.360
Blair County161714.1123
Lebanon County151510.3190
Armstrong County131523.694
Somerset County141419.4112
Bedford County131429.490
Clearfield County131417.9138
McKean County91435.556
Carbon County131319.8106
Northumberland County131314.4103
Clinton County121334.369
Tioga County101331.968
Centre County12127.5129
Crawford County121214.6121
Susquehanna County111231.595
Huntingdon County101023.162
Snyder County101025.254
Warren County101026.855
Bradford County91016.8113
Jefferson County81023.157
Lawrence County8910.797
Wayne County8917.586
Mifflin County7919.656
Columbia County8812.179
Pike County7812.878
Potter County7743.830
Union County6716.647
Greene County5514.757
Wyoming County5519.438
Juniata County4521.442
Montour County3316.632
Sullivan County1–2350.611
Cameron County1–21–2—8
Forest County1–21–2—14
Fulton County1–21–2—44
Elk County1–21–2—37

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

12am6.9%
1am5.2%
2am7.1%
3am4%
4am1.9%
5am1.7%
6am2.1%
7am2.1%
8am1.5%
9am2.5%
10am2%
11am2.7%
12pm3.5%
1pm3.8%
2pm3.7%
3pm5.6%
4pm5.2%
5pm4.3%
6pm5.2%
7pm5.1%
8pm5.7%
9pm4.7%
10pm5.8%
11pm7.4%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday10%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday12%
Friday18%
Saturday22%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Pennsylvania in 1983?

1,721 people in 1,544 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1983 file.

Which county in Pennsylvania had the most crash deaths in 1983?

Allegheny County with 146 deaths in 134 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1983 compare with 1982 in Pennsylvania?

1,721 deaths against 1,819 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.