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1975

Washington · year

Washington in 1975

Deaths 758Fatal crashes 668Per 100,000 —US deaths 44,525

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 1975.

In 1975, 758 people died in 668 fatal crashes in Washington.

Washington accounted for 1.7% of the 44,525 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

36.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

34% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1974 and the nation

MeasureWashington 1975—United States 1975
Deaths758—44,525
Fatal crashes668—39,161
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver36%—19%

Counties in 1975

Every county with a fatal crash in 1975, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 36 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
King County1511707.31,260
Pierce County80919.7794
Spokane County505610.1432
Yakima County444919.0405
Snohomish County38424.9474
Clark County29346.4324
Grays Harbor County212532.192
Benton County202511.5177
Skagit County182317.3150
Kitsap County20217.5177
Thurston County15216.9219
Cowlitz County181916.7125
Okanogan County151840.186
Whatcom County15177.2150
Chelan County141417.271
Clallam County121418.066
Grant County111211.5208
Lewis County111112.6113
Kittitas County91122.8106
Whitman County9918.643
Stevens County8816.368
Pacific County6833.028
Franklin County776.981
Klickitat County5729.034
Island County666.966
Adams County5628.575
Jefferson County5514.754
Mason County557.2115
Skamania County5539.537
Walla Walla County446.451
Columbia County1–2499.45
Ferry County3339.825
Lincoln County3325.339
Pend Oreille County1–21–2—28
Garfield County1–21–2—8
Douglas County1–21–2—41

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

12am5.7%
1am6.8%
2am7.2%
3am3.3%
4am2.3%
5am1.8%
6am1.5%
7am2.4%
8am2.4%
9am1.8%
10am2.3%
11am2.4%
12pm3.2%
1pm3.2%
2pm4.7%
3pm3.9%
4pm5%
5pm6.8%
6pm5%
7pm4.7%
8pm5.9%
9pm6.3%
10pm5.7%
11pm6%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday9%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday18%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Washington in 1975?

758 people in 668 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1975 file.

Which county in Washington had the most crash deaths in 1975?

King County with 170 deaths in 151 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1975 compare with 1974 in Washington?

1975 is the first year in FARS; no earlier comparison exists.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1975 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.