Fatal Roads

States › South Dakota › 1983

1983

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 1983

Deaths 175Fatal crashes 147Per 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, 175 people died in 147 fatal crashes in South Dakota.

The death toll rose 18% from 148 in 1982 to 175 in 1983.

South Dakota accounted for 0.4% of the 42,589 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

45.6% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

30% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

← 198219831984 →All years

Compared with 1982 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 1983South Dakota 1982United States 1983
Deaths17514842,589
Fatal crashes14712937,976
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver46%54%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. 56 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Pennington County171916.4141
Oglala Lakota County41182.375
Lawrence County9931.280
Union County7846.018
Custer County5775.031
Minnehaha County662.9149
Dewey County36112.79
Bennett County55152.010
Lyman County55134.421
Hutchinson County4567.425
Ziebach County45206.82
Brown County3410.726
Butte County3436.718
Fall River County3454.425
Lincoln County345.356
Corson County3380.114
Davison County3315.113
Jackson County33109.630
Roberts County3329.230
Yankton County3312.838
Deuel County1–2369.28
Lake County1–2327.310
Meade County1–239.743
Walworth County1–2356.911
Marshall County1–2368.38
Brule County1–21–2—6
Codington County1–21–2—31
Day County1–21–2—6
Gregory County1–21–2—8
McCook County1–21–2—16
Mellette County1–21–2—4
Moody County1–21–2—14
Perkins County1–21–2—2
Stanley County1–21–2—5
Todd County1–21–2—4
Turner County1–21–2—19
Potter County1–21–2—4
Aurora County1–21–2—15
Beadle County1–21–2—22
Bon Homme County1–21–2—16
Brookings County1–21–2—24
Buffalo County1–21–2—14
Charles Mix County1–21–2—27
Clark County1–21–2—5
Clay County1–21–2—12
Edmunds County1–21–2—12
Faulk County1–21–2—6
Grant County1–21–2—18
Hamlin County1–21–2—8
Hanson County1–21–2—20
Harding County1–21–2—10
Hughes County1–21–2—11
Kingsbury County1–21–2—9
Spink County1–21–2—8
Sully County1–21–2—4
Tripp County1–21–2—13

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

12am2.1%
1am5.6%
2am4.9%
3am3.5%
4am1.4%
5am0.7%
6am2.8%
7am2.8%
8am2.1%
9am4.2%
10am6.3%
11am3.5%
12pm7%
1pm2.8%
2pm5.6%
3pm4.2%
4pm3.5%
5pm7%
6pm4.9%
7pm6.3%
8pm4.9%
9pm2.1%
10pm4.2%
11pm7.7%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday16%
Tuesday9%
Wednesday7%
Thursday17%
Friday17%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 1983?

175 people in 147 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1983 file.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 1983?

Pennington County with 19 deaths in 17 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1983 compare with 1982 in South Dakota?

175 deaths against 148 in 1982 (+18%). 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.