Fatal Roads

States › Virginia › 1983

1983

Virginia · year

Virginia in 1983

Deaths 901Fatal crashes 803Per 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, 901 people died in 803 fatal crashes in Virginia.

The death toll was about level between 1982 (881) and 1983 (901).

Virginia accounted for 2.1% 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.

35% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1982 and the nation

MeasureVirginia 1983Virginia 1982United States 1983
Deaths90188142,589
Fatal crashes80378237,976
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver46%44%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. 115 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Fairfax County52574.9447
Virginia Beach city35367.9271
Richmond city242812.0205
Norfolk city242510.8203
Prince William County23244.8238
Chesterfield County21235.9292
Henry County182040.5125
Rockingham County182022.8124
Suffolk city181918.4110
Hanover County151714.7164
Chesapeake city14176.7177
Augusta County121721.6160
Arlington County16166.745
Henrico County14164.7294
Albemarle County101613.6134
Loudoun County15153.4133
Roanoke city131313.389
Amherst County81341.145
Washington County111222.286
Newport News city11126.6167
Pittsylvania County101118.5162
Roanoke County101111.384
York County101115.473
Hampton city10118.0129
Fauquier County91114.5142
King George County51138.252
Caroline County101029.988
Frederick County101010.2128
Portsmouth city101010.488
Accomack County91029.965
Bedford County91012.2127
Dinwiddie County91035.094
Montgomery County91010.188
Spotsylvania County9106.6170
Carroll County61034.264
Tazewell County9923.259
Campbell County8916.3109
Mecklenburg County8929.299
Appomattox County7953.131
Louisa County7921.495
Prince George County6920.683
Franklin County8814.4125
Lynchburg city8810.046
Brunswick County7850.867
Giles County7848.433
Greensville County6871.737
Petersburg city6823.543
Buchanan County7737.647
Halifax County7720.994
Northampton County7758.344
Wythe County7724.981
Russell County6727.565
Charlottesville city6715.617
Botetourt County6617.671
Lee County6627.535
Rockbridge County6626.868
Southampton County5633.452
Richmond County3665.119
King and Queen County5574.131
Prince Edward County5522.450
Shenandoah County5511.066
Warren County5511.842
Madison County4535.130
New Kent County4518.458
Orange County4512.867
Stafford County453.0108
Smyth County3517.252
Culpeper County447.171
Floyd County4425.517
Page County4416.945
Pulaski County4411.946
Rappahannock County4453.513
Scott County4418.743
Westmoreland County4420.830
Alleghany County3427.327
Gloucester County3410.056
Buckingham County3317.549
Isle of Wight County337.366
James City County333.673
Nottoway County3319.249
Patrick County3317.336
Sussex County3327.974
Alexandria city331.949
Bristol city3318.47
Hopewell city3313.19
Cumberland County1–2329.823
Charlotte County1–21–2—44
Dickenson County1–21–2—17
Fluvanna County1–21–2—28
Goochland County1–21–2—55
Grayson County1–21–2—27
Greene County1–21–2—19
Lunenburg County1–21–2—24
Powhatan County1–21–2—43
Surry County1–21–2—17
Martinsville city1–21–2—5
Salem city1–21–2—7
Highland County1–21–2—11
Lancaster County1–21–2—21
Staunton city1–21–2—5
Clarke County1–21–2—48
Craig County1–21–2—7
Essex County1–21–2—29
Mathews County1–21–2—15
Nelson County1–21–2—60
Wise County1–21–2—45
Colonial Heights city1–21–2—17
Covington city1–21–2—1
Danville city1–21–2—48
Fairfax city1–21–2—12
Falls Church city1–21–2—1
Galax city1–21–2—2
Harrisonburg city1–21–2—26
Waynesboro city1–21–2—13
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

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

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday10%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday13%
Thursday12%
Friday18%
Saturday21%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Virginia in 1983?

901 people in 803 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1983 file.

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

Fairfax County with 57 deaths in 52 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1983 compare with 1982 in Virginia?

901 deaths against 881 in 1982 (+2%). 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.