Fatal Roads

States › Virginia › 1977

1977

Virginia · year

Virginia in 1977

Deaths 1,118Fatal crashes 975Per 100,000 —US deaths 47,878

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 1977.

In 1977, 1,118 people died in 975 fatal crashes in Virginia.

The death toll rose 12% from 1,000 in 1976 to 1,118 in 1977.

Virginia accounted for 2.3% of the 47,878 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

38.7% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

37% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1976 and the nation

MeasureVirginia 1977Virginia 1976United States 1977
Deaths1,1181,00047,878
Fatal crashes97588242,211
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver39%11%34%

Counties in 1977

Every county with a fatal crash in 1977, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 113 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Fairfax County62716.1447
Virginia Beach city30337.3271
Chesterfield County29307.7292
Norfolk city283013.0203
Henrico County27298.6294
Prince William County26275.4238
Rockingham County212427.4124
Richmond city21239.8205
Chesapeake city19239.0177
Henry County182244.5125
Pittsylvania County212135.3162
York County172028.073
Dinwiddie County142070.094
Hanover County141916.5164
Campbell County161832.5109
Fauquier County141823.7142
Southampton County1318100.352
Newport News city15179.3167
Halifax County121750.894
Frederick County161616.3128
Roanoke city151616.389
Prince George County111636.783
Augusta County141519.1160
Montgomery County131515.288
Loudoun County12153.4133
Isle of Wight County81536.666
Hampton city141410.2129
Caroline County131441.888
Rockbridge County71462.668
Arlington County13135.445
Spotsylvania County12138.6170
Wythe County101346.381
Floyd County111276.617
Pulaski County111235.746
Shenandoah County111226.466
Suffolk city111211.6110
Tazewell County91230.959
Buchanan County111159.047
Bedford County101113.4127
Franklin County101018.0125
Lynchburg city101012.546
Mecklenburg County91032.499
New Kent County71036.758
Accomack County9926.965
Prince Edward County9940.450
Albemarle County897.7134
James City County8910.973
Sussex County7983.774
Clarke County6957.748
Carroll County8827.464
Alexandria city885.049
Portsmouth city888.388
Lee County7836.735
Northampton County7866.644
Wise County7822.945
Charlotte County6871.144
Louisa County6819.095
Botetourt County7720.571
Buckingham County7740.949
Amherst County6722.145
Brunswick County5744.467
Stafford County574.1108
Page County6625.345
Washington County6611.186
Martinsville city6643.45
Culpeper County5610.771
Greensville County5653.837
Powhatan County5618.543
Gloucester County5512.556
Goochland County5517.755
Grayson County5532.827
Nottoway County5532.049
Danville city5511.948
Appomattox County4529.531
Lancaster County4545.221
Russell County4519.765
Greene County3523.019
Alleghany County4427.327
Fluvanna County4413.928
Madison County4428.130
Roanoke County444.184
Smyth County4413.752
Giles County3424.233
Amelia County1–2429.235
King George County3310.452
Middlesex County3327.428
Orange County337.767
Patrick County3317.336
Richmond County3332.619
Fairfax city3311.412
Petersburg city338.843
Northumberland County1–2324.221
Surry County1–2345.617
Dickenson County1–21–2—17
Essex County1–21–2—29
King William County1–21–2—32
Lunenburg County1–21–2—24
Nelson County1–21–2—60
Scott County1–21–2—43
Westmoreland County1–21–2—30
Falls Church city1–21–2—1
Fredericksburg city1–21–2—21
Salem city1–21–2—7
Bath County1–21–2—13
Rappahannock County1–21–2—13
Charlottesville city1–21–2—17
Colonial Heights city1–21–2—17
Galax city1–21–2—2
Harrisonburg city1–21–2—26
Hopewell city1–21–2—9
Radford city1–21–2—5
Staunton city1–21–2—5
Winchester city1–21–2—6

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

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

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday9%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday13%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday22%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Virginia in 1977?

1,118 people in 975 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1977 file.

Which county in Virginia had the most crash deaths in 1977?

Fairfax County with 71 deaths in 62 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1977 compare with 1976 in Virginia?

1,118 deaths against 1,000 in 1976 (+12%). Nationally the 1977 total was 47,878.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1977 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.