Fatal crashes in the United States in 1984
In 1984, 44,257 people died in 39,631 fatal crashes on US roads, 3.9% more than in 1983. That is about 121 deaths a day.
1983 · 1985 · All states today.
US road deaths since 1975, with 1984 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 1984
California, Texas and Florida together had 27% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 30 states and fell in 21 on the year before; the largest change was in Arizona, 29% up.
| State | Deaths, 1984 | Fatal crashes | Change on 1983 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 5,020 | 4,517 | 9.8% | |
| 2 | Texas | 3,912 | 3,465 | 2.3% | |
| 3 | Florida | 2,814 | 2,551 | 4.8% | |
| 4 | New York | 2,060 | 1,886 | -0.8% | |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 1,727 | 1,562 | 0.3% | |
| 6 | Ohio | 1,646 | 1,479 | 4.0% | |
| 7 | Illinois | 1,547 | 1,385 | 1.4% | |
| 8 | Michigan | 1,531 | 1,368 | 16.5% | |
| 9 | North Carolina | 1,450 | 1,291 | 17.5% | |
| 10 | Georgia | 1,410 | 1,260 | 8.8% | |
| 11 | Tennessee | 1,095 | 990 | 5.6% | |
| 12 | Virginia | 1,013 | 921 | 12.4% | |
| 13 | Missouri | 967 | 841 | 6.1% | |
| 14 | Louisiana | 961 | 844 | 3.0% | |
| 15 | Alabama | 932 | 820 | 0.2% | |
| 16 | Indiana | 925 | 838 | -9.0% | |
| 17 | New Jersey | 922 | 859 | -1.1% | |
| 18 | South Carolina | 916 | 820 | 8.5% | |
| 19 | Arizona | 869 | 787 | 28.7% | |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 822 | 704 | 13.4% | |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 797 | 691 | -6.0% | |
| 22 | Kentucky | 754 | 674 | -3.1% | |
| 23 | Washington | 746 | 674 | 6.9% | |
| 24 | Mississippi | 679 | 594 | -5.0% | |
| 25 | Massachusetts | 666 | 608 | 2.3% | |
| 26 | Maryland | 643 | 588 | -2.0% | |
| 27 | Colorado | 608 | 543 | -5.9% | |
| 28 | Minnesota | 582 | 517 | 4.9% | |
| 29 | Oregon | 572 | 512 | 4.0% | |
| 30 | Arkansas | 525 | 472 | -5.7% | |
| 31 | Kansas | 510 | 451 | 24.1% | |
| 32 | New Mexico | 497 | 426 | -6.4% | |
| 33 | Connecticut | 469 | 433 | 7.1% | |
| 34 | West Virginia | 438 | 387 | 3.1% | |
| 35 | Iowa | 420 | 376 | -18.3% | |
| 36 | Utah | 315 | 274 | 11.3% | |
| 37 | Nebraska | 285 | 250 | 11.8% | |
| 38 | Nevada | 249 | 215 | -1.6% | |
| 39 | Idaho | 242 | 215 | -8.0% | |
| 40 | Montana | 238 | 204 | -16.8% | |
| 41 | Maine | 232 | 211 | 3.6% | |
| 42 | New Hampshire | 192 | 172 | 0.5% | |
| 43 | Wyoming | 157 | 140 | -9.2% | |
| 44 | South Dakota | 143 | 132 | -18.3% | |
| 45 | Hawaii | 138 | 129 | -2.1% | |
| 46 | Alaska | 134 | 120 | -10.7% | |
| 47 | Delaware | 130 | 118 | 18.2% | |
| 48 | Vermont | 114 | 98 | 21.3% | |
| 49 | North Dakota | 100 | 88 | -13.8% | |
| 50 | Rhode Island | 79 | 75 | -21.0% | |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 64 | 56 | -3.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Rates per 100,000 residents are given for 2015 onward, the years the site holds population estimates for.
Questions about fatal crashes in the United States in 1984
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 1984?
- 44,257 people died in 39,631 fatal crashes on US public roads in 1984, 3.9% more than in 1983. That is about 121 deaths a day.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 1984?
- California, with 5,020 deaths in 4,517 fatal crashes. Texas was second with 3,912 and Florida third with 2,814.
- Is 1984 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 1984 figures are final.
Where the 1984 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 1984, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.