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2003

Virginia · year

Virginia in 2003

Deaths 943Fatal crashes 861Per 100,000 12.8US deaths 42,884

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 2003.

In 2003, 943 people died in 861 fatal crashes in Virginia, 12.8 deaths per 100,000 residents against 14.8 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2002 (914) and 2003 (943).

Virginia accounted for 2.2% of the 42,884 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

38.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

31% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Monday was the most common day.

Compared with 2002 and the nation

MeasureVirginia 2003Virginia 2002United States 2003
Deaths94391442,884
Fatal crashes86183038,477
Deaths per 100,000 residents12.812.514.8
Crashes with a drinking driver38%34%35%

Counties in 2003

Every county with a fatal crash in 2003, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 118 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Fairfax County56635.4447
Prince William County28306.0238
Henrico County26288.3294
Virginia Beach city25275.9271
Albemarle County202420.5134
Loudoun County23235.2133
Chesterfield County22225.6292
Henry County181938.5125
Augusta County181822.9160
Spotsylvania County181811.8170
Accomack County161853.965
Chesapeake city17176.7177
Louisa County141638.095
Rockingham County151517.1124
Norfolk city15156.5203
Halifax County141441.994
Newport News city10147.6167
Campbell County121323.5109
Hanover County121311.3164
Lee County111359.735
Washington County111324.086
Frederick County121212.2128
Richmond city12125.1205
Roanoke County111212.384
Montgomery County101212.188
Bedford County91214.6127
Franklin County111119.8125
Fauquier County91013.2142
York County81014.073
Fluvanna County71034.828
Arlington County993.845
Caroline County9926.988
Powhatan County9927.843
Smyth County9930.952
Charlotte County8979.944
Pittsylvania County8915.1162
Rockbridge County8940.268
Hampton city896.5129
Culpeper County7916.071
Russell County7935.465
Shenandoah County6919.866
Stafford County884.7108
Suffolk city887.8110
Floyd County6851.117
Wise County6822.945
Goochland County5828.355
Madison County5856.130
Scott County7732.743
Wythe County7724.981
Warren County6716.542
Portsmouth city677.388
Isle of Wight County3717.166
Bath County66147.413
Buckingham County6635.149
Carroll County6620.564
Dinwiddie County6621.094
Essex County6656.229
Mecklenburg County6619.599
New Kent County6622.058
Prince George County6613.883
Alleghany County5534.227
Botetourt County5514.771
Brunswick County5531.767
Grayson County5532.827
James City County556.073
King George County5517.452
Orange County5512.867
Patrick County5528.936
Southampton County5527.952
Sussex County5546.574
Tazewell County5512.959
Lynchburg city556.246
Nelson County4533.960
Nottoway County4532.049
Prince Edward County4522.450
Emporia city3592.67
Appomattox County4423.631
Buchanan County4421.547
Giles County4424.233
Northampton County4433.344
Pulaski County4411.946
Rappahannock County4453.513
Gloucester County3410.056
Northumberland County3432.321
Westmoreland County3420.830
Amherst County339.545
Charles City County3345.729
Clarke County3319.248
Cumberland County3329.823
Dickenson County3322.417
King William County3315.632
Lunenburg County3324.924
Charlottesville city336.717
Roanoke city333.189
Greensville County1–2326.937
Greene County1–21–2—19
King and Queen County1–21–2—31
Lancaster County1–21–2—21
Surry County1–21–2—17
Alexandria city1–21–2—49
Bristol city1–21–2—7
Danville city1–21–2—48
Fredericksburg city1–21–2—21
Salem city1–21–2—7
Amelia County1–21–2—35
Bland County1–21–2—13
Highland County1–21–2—11
Mathews County1–21–2—15
Middlesex County1–21–2—28
Page County1–21–2—45
Fairfax city1–21–2—12
Falls Church city1–21–2—1
Galax city1–21–2—2
Harrisonburg city1–21–2—26
Hopewell city1–21–2—9
Manassas city1–21–2—16
Petersburg city1–21–2—43
Waynesboro city1–21–2—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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday15%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday14%
Thursday14%
Friday15%
Saturday15%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Virginia in 2003?

943 people in 861 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2003 file, or 12.8 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Virginia had the most crash deaths in 2003?

Fairfax County with 63 deaths in 56 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2003 compare with 2002 in Virginia?

943 deaths against 914 in 2002 (+3%). Nationally the 2003 total was 42,884.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2003 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.