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1976

Virginia · year

Virginia in 1976

Deaths 1,000Fatal crashes 882Per 100,000 —US deaths 45,523

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 1976.

In 1976, 1,000 people died in 882 fatal crashes in Virginia.

The death toll was about level between 1975 (993) and 1976 (1,000).

Virginia accounted for 2.2% of the 45,523 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

10.5% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

40% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1975 and the nation

MeasureVirginia 1976Virginia 1975United States 1976
Deaths1,00099345,523
Fatal crashes88286739,747
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver11%9%20%

Counties in 1976

Every county with a fatal crash in 1976, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 116 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Fairfax County58706.0447
Virginia Beach city33347.5271
Richmond city313314.1205
Prince William County27295.8238
Norfolk city282812.1203
Henrico County21267.7294
Chesterfield County19215.4292
Augusta County172025.4160
Stafford County181911.2108
Montgomery County141919.288
Pittsylvania County181830.3162
Hanover County161815.6164
York County131825.273
Newport News city15158.2167
Halifax County141544.894
Pulaski County131544.746
Fauquier County101519.8142
Chesapeake city14145.5177
Wythe County131449.881
Spotsylvania County10149.2170
Smyth County91448.052
Caroline County121338.888
Mecklenburg County111342.299
Carroll County111241.064
Frederick County101212.2128
Rockingham County101213.7124
Hampton city11118.0129
Rockbridge County101149.268
Henry County91122.3125
Amherst County101031.645
Arlington County9104.245
Roanoke County91010.384
Wise County91028.645
Gloucester County81024.956
Washington County81018.586
Roanoke city999.289
Albemarle County897.7134
Alleghany County8961.527
Buchanan County8948.347
Campbell County7916.3109
Lee County7941.335
New Kent County7933.158
Greensville County5980.737
Sussex County8874.474
Botetourt County7823.471
Franklin County7814.4125
Prince George County7818.483
Brunswick County5850.867
Bedford County778.5127
Culpeper County6712.571
Isle of Wight County6717.166
Scott County6732.743
Suffolk city676.8110
Louisa County4716.695
Essex County6656.229
James City County667.273
Madison County6642.130
Orange County6615.467
Russell County6623.665
Tazewell County6615.459
Lynchburg city667.546
Portsmouth city666.288
Prince Edward County5626.950
Danville city5614.348
Salem city5623.27
Westmoreland County3631.230
Accomack County5515.065
Amelia County5536.535
Dickenson County5537.317
Loudoun County551.1133
Page County5521.145
Alexandria city553.149
Rappahannock County4566.913
Southampton County4527.952
King William County3526.032
Dinwiddie County4414.094
King George County4413.952
Nelson County4427.160
Nottoway County4425.649
Warren County449.442
Bristol city4424.57
Charlotte County3435.544
Goochland County3414.255
Patrick County3423.136
Buckingham County1–2423.449
Appomattox County3317.731
Clarke County3319.248
Cumberland County3329.823
Fluvanna County3310.428
Middlesex County3327.428
Northampton County3325.044
Shenandoah County336.666
Surry County3345.617
Petersburg city338.843
Staunton city3311.45
Floyd County1–2319.217
Bath County1–21–2—13
Giles County1–21–2—33
Grayson County1–21–2—27
King and Queen County1–21–2—31
Lancaster County1–21–2—21
Lunenburg County1–21–2—24
Powhatan County1–21–2—43
Colonial Heights city1–21–2—17
Martinsville city1–21–2—5
Bland County1–21–2—13
Greene County1–21–2—19
Highland County1–21–2—11
Mathews County1–21–2—15
Northumberland County1–21–2—21
Richmond County1–21–2—19
Covington city1–21–2—1
Falls Church city1–21–2—1
Fredericksburg city1–21–2—21
Harrisonburg city1–21–2—26
Radford city1–21–2—5

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

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday10%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday10%
Thursday13%
Friday18%
Saturday22%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Virginia in 1976?

1,000 people in 882 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1976 file.

Which county in Virginia had the most crash deaths in 1976?

Fairfax County with 70 deaths in 58 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1976 compare with 1975 in Virginia?

1,000 deaths against 993 in 1975 (+1%). Nationally the 1976 total was 45,523.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1976 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.