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CrashStats

Heathrow Airport road accidents in 1981: crash statistics

Police recorded 94 road traffic collisions at Heathrow Airport in 1981, and 114 people were killed or injured in them. Of those collisions, none were fatal and 6 were serious.

Collisions were down 10% on 1980 (105), and casualties fell from 130.

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

Collisions in 1981
94
Down 10% on 1980
Casualties in 1981
114
Down 12% on 1980
Fatal collisions
0
0% of collisions
Serious collisions
6
6.4% of collisions

Crash severity at Heathrow Airport in 1981

None of the collisions at Heathrow Airport in 1981 were fatal and 6.4% were serious, against 0.5% and 11% at Heathrow Airport from 1979 to 2025.

Collisions by worst injury

  • Fatal00%
  • Serious66.4%
  • Slight8894%

People hurt, by injury

  • Fatal00%
  • Serious76.1%
  • Slight10794%

Heathrow Airport road accidents by year

Collisions and casualties at Heathrow Airport, 1979 to 2025

Collisions peaked at 124 in 1997. 1981 is highlighted, with 94, down 10% on 1980.

  • Collisions
  • Collisions in 1981
  • 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 1981

Collisions by day of the week

  • Monday12 (13%)
  • Tuesday9 (9.6%)
  • Wednesday16 (17%)
  • Thursday16 (17%)
  • Friday14 (15%)
  • Saturday18 (19%)
  • Sunday9 (9.6%)

Collisions by time of day

  • 00:00 to 02:592 (2.1%)
  • 03:00 to 05:595 (5.3%)
  • 06:00 to 08:5912 (13%)
  • 09:00 to 11:5915 (16%)
  • 12:00 to 14:5917 (18%)
  • 15:00 to 17:5922 (23%)
  • 18:00 to 20:5911 (12%)
  • 21:00 to 23:5910 (11%)

Collisions by month

  • January11 (12%)
  • February2 (2.1%)
  • March7 (7.4%)
  • April4 (4.3%)
  • May11 (12%)
  • June5 (5.3%)
  • July14 (15%)
  • August4 (4.3%)
  • September10 (11%)
  • October11 (12%)
  • November7 (7.4%)
  • December8 (8.5%)

Light conditions

  • Daylight64 (68%)
  • Dark, street lights lit28 (30%)
  • Dark, no street lighting1 (1.1%)
  • Dark, street lights unlit1 (1.1%)

Weather at the time

  • Raining, no high winds16 (17%)
  • Fog or mist1 (1.1%)
  • Snowing, no high winds1 (1.1%)
  • Other76 (81%)

Road surface

  • Dry56 (60%)
  • Wet or damp36 (38%)
  • Snow2 (2.1%)

Speed limit at the scene

  • 30 mph49 (52%)
  • 40 mph36 (38%)
  • 60 mph6 (6.4%)
  • 70 mph3 (3.2%)

Type of road

  • Single carriageway35 (37%)
  • One way street or slip road18 (19%)
  • Roundabout15 (16%)
  • Dual carriageway8 (8.5%)
  • Not recorded18 (19%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Who was hurt in road crashes at Heathrow Airport in 1981

Casualties by road user

  • Car occupant52 (46%)
  • Motorcyclist21 (18%)
  • Van occupant13 (11%)
  • Pedestrian10 (8.8%)
  • Taxi or private hire car occupant8 (7%)
  • Cyclist6 (5.3%)
  • Bus or coach occupant4 (3.5%)

Casualties by age

  • 11 to 156 (5.3%)
  • 16 to 2012 (11%)
  • 21 to 2519 (17%)
  • 26 to 3531 (27%)
  • 36 to 4518 (16%)
  • 46 to 5514 (12%)
  • 56 to 655 (4.4%)
  • Not recorded9 (7.9%)

Drivers, passengers and pedestrians

  • Driver or rider70 (61%)
  • Passenger34 (30%)
  • Pedestrian10 (8.8%)

Vehicles involved

  • Car93 (55%)
  • Motorcycle23 (14%)
  • Van or goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes20 (12%)
  • Taxi or private hire car9 (5.3%)
  • Bus or coach6 (3.6%)
  • Goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes6 (3.6%)
  • Other vehicle6 (3.6%)
  • Pedal cycle6 (3.6%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

How Heathrow Airport ranked among 349 areas in 1981

Of the 349 areas in England, Scotland and Wales, Heathrow Airport had fewer road collisions than 346 of them in 1981.

Collisions
347th
of 349 areas, highest first
Casualties
348th
of 349 areas, highest first
Fatal collisions
None
lowest of 349 areas
Serious collisions
1st
lowest of 349 areas

Roads at Heathrow Airport with the most crashes in 1981

The A4 had the most collisions at Heathrow Airport in 1981: 4.

Roads ranked by collisions at Heathrow Airport, 1981
RankRoadCollisionsCasualtiesFatalSerious
1stA44400
2ndA30441200
3rdM41100

Latest crashes at Heathrow Airport in 1981

Of the last 24 crashes at Heathrow Airport in 1981, none were fatal or serious. The last was on 30 December 1981.

Heathrow Airport road accidents in other years