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CrashStats

Heathrow Airport road accidents in 1979: crash statistics

Police recorded 115 road traffic collisions at Heathrow Airport in 1979, and 147 people were killed or injured in them. Of those collisions, 2 were fatal and 7 were serious.

Across all years from 1979 to 2025, police recorded 2,993 collisions at Heathrow Airport.

Collisions in 1979
115
Casualties in 1979
147
Fatal collisions
2
1.7% of collisions
Serious collisions
7
6.1% of collisions

Crash severity at Heathrow Airport in 1979

1.7% of collisions at Heathrow Airport in 1979 were fatal and 6.1% serious, against 0.5% and 11% at Heathrow Airport from 1979 to 2025.

Collisions by worst injury

  • Fatal21.7%
  • Serious76.1%
  • Slight10692%

People hurt, by injury

  • Fatal21.4%
  • Serious85.4%
  • Slight13793%

Heathrow Airport road accidents by year

Collisions and casualties at Heathrow Airport, 1979 to 2025

Collisions peaked at 124 in 1997. 1979 is highlighted, with 115.

  • Collisions
  • Collisions in 1979
  • Casualties

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

View as a table
YearCollisionsCasualties
20253037
20243345
20231930
20222533
20211214
20201721
20192838
20184046
20174967
20163137
20153949
20143852
20133139
20123842
20112534
20104048
20094044
20084452
20075573
20061921
20057075
20042226
20034461
20027086
200183111
2000107131
199984106
199898127
1997124147
1996118141
19957896
1994101113
199399124
19928698
19916678
199089104
1989106135
19887996
19877586
19868698
19858193
19846882
19837886
1982114139
198194114
1980105130
1979115147

When and where crashes happen at Heathrow Airport in 1979

Collisions by day of the week

  • Monday17 (15%)
  • Tuesday15 (13%)
  • Wednesday13 (11%)
  • Thursday16 (14%)
  • Friday25 (22%)
  • Saturday21 (18%)
  • Sunday8 (7%)

Collisions by time of day

  • 00:00 to 02:595 (4.3%)
  • 03:00 to 05:592 (1.7%)
  • 06:00 to 08:5920 (17%)
  • 09:00 to 11:5912 (10%)
  • 12:00 to 14:5927 (23%)
  • 15:00 to 17:5922 (19%)
  • 18:00 to 20:5919 (17%)
  • 21:00 to 23:598 (7%)

Collisions by month

  • January5 (4.3%)
  • February4 (3.5%)
  • March8 (7%)
  • April6 (5.2%)
  • May18 (16%)
  • June6 (5.2%)
  • July10 (8.7%)
  • August9 (7.8%)
  • September10 (8.7%)
  • October11 (9.6%)
  • November11 (9.6%)
  • December17 (15%)

Light conditions

  • Daylight79 (69%)
  • Dark, street lights lit33 (29%)
  • Dark, no street lighting3 (2.6%)

Weather at the time

  • Raining, no high winds21 (18%)
  • Snowing, no high winds3 (2.6%)
  • Fog or mist1 (0.9%)
  • Other90 (78%)

Road surface

  • Dry72 (63%)
  • Wet or damp37 (32%)
  • Snow6 (5.2%)

Speed limit at the scene

  • 30 mph58 (50%)
  • 40 mph42 (37%)
  • 50 mph1 (0.9%)
  • 70 mph14 (12%)

Type of road

  • Single carriageway42 (37%)
  • One way street or slip road23 (20%)
  • Dual carriageway15 (13%)
  • Roundabout15 (13%)
  • Not recorded20 (17%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Who was hurt in road crashes at Heathrow Airport in 1979

Casualties by road user

  • Car occupant69 (47%)
  • Motorcyclist33 (22%)
  • Pedestrian14 (9.5%)
  • Van occupant13 (8.8%)
  • Bus or coach occupant6 (4.1%)
  • Cyclist6 (4.1%)
  • Taxi or private hire car occupant3 (2%)
  • Goods vehicle occupant (over 3.5 tonnes)2 (1.4%)
  • Other vehicle occupant1 (0.7%)

Casualties by age

  • 0 to 52 (1.4%)
  • 6 to 103 (2%)
  • 11 to 153 (2%)
  • 16 to 2031 (21%)
  • 21 to 2517 (12%)
  • 26 to 3524 (16%)
  • 36 to 4529 (20%)
  • 46 to 5511 (7.5%)
  • 56 to 6514 (9.5%)
  • 66 to 754 (2.7%)
  • Not recorded9 (6.1%)

Drivers, passengers and pedestrians

  • Driver or rider93 (63%)
  • Passenger40 (27%)
  • Pedestrian14 (9.5%)

Vehicles involved

  • Car107 (55%)
  • Motorcycle32 (16%)
  • Van or goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes24 (12%)
  • Bus or coach9 (4.6%)
  • Taxi or private hire car7 (3.6%)
  • Other vehicle6 (3.1%)
  • Pedal cycle6 (3.1%)
  • Goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes3 (1.5%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

How Heathrow Airport ranked among 349 areas in 1979

Of the 349 areas in England, Scotland and Wales, Heathrow Airport had fewer road collisions than 346 of them in 1979.

Collisions
347th
of 349 areas, highest first
Casualties
347th
of 349 areas, highest first
Fatal collisions
342nd
of 349 areas, highest first
Serious collisions
1st
lowest of 349 areas

Roads at Heathrow Airport with the most crashes in 1979

The A4 had the most collisions at Heathrow Airport in 1979: 16, including 1 fatal.

Roads ranked by collisions at Heathrow Airport, 1979
RankRoadCollisionsCasualtiesFatalSerious
1stA4162610
2ndA30442500
3rdA301100
4thA4081100

Latest crashes at Heathrow Airport in 1979

Of the last 24 crashes at Heathrow Airport in 1979, none were fatal and 1 was serious. The last was on 22 December 1979.

Severity

Heathrow Airport road accidents in other years