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CrashStats

Merton road accidents in 1981: crash statistics

Police recorded 908 road traffic collisions in Merton in 1981, and 1,068 people were killed or injured in them. Of those collisions, 12 were fatal and 161 were serious.

Collisions were down 1% on 1980 (917), and casualties fell from 1,106.

Across all years from 1979 to 2025, police recorded 29,173 collisions in Merton.

Collisions in 1981
908
Down 1% on 1980
Casualties in 1981
1,068
Down 3% on 1980
Fatal collisions
12
1.3% of collisions
Serious collisions
161
18% of collisions

Crash severity in Merton in 1981

1.3% of collisions in Merton in 1981 were fatal and 18% serious, against 0.8% and 15% in Merton from 1979 to 2025.

Collisions by worst injury

  • Fatal121.3%
  • Serious16118%
  • Slight73581%

People hurt, by injury

  • Fatal121.1%
  • Serious17316%
  • Slight88383%

Merton road accidents by year

Collisions and casualties in Merton, 1979 to 2025

Collisions peaked at 949 in 1979. 1981 is highlighted, with 908, down 1% on 1980.

  • Collisions
  • Collisions in 1981
  • Casualties

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

View as a table
YearCollisionsCasualties
2025421488
2024399451
2023433488
2022411455
2021449511
2020453498
2019477562
2018498599
2017494597
2016515623
2015497601
2014510617
2013437513
2012449536
2011403513
2010387458
2009386475
2008431521
2007435540
2006422513
2005467559
2004497590
2003593722
2002661812
2001667785
2000696838
1999701837
1998695826
1997701821
1996716857
1995646784
1994706849
1993764893
1992780903
1991717840
19908781,038
1989852984
1988773886
1987799939
1986795969
1985831992
19848451,011
19838481,007
19828641,052
19819081,068
19809171,106
19799491,153

When and where crashes happen in Merton in 1981

Collisions by day of the week

  • Monday115 (13%)
  • Tuesday133 (15%)
  • Wednesday124 (14%)
  • Thursday146 (16%)
  • Friday168 (19%)
  • Saturday115 (13%)
  • Sunday107 (12%)

Collisions by time of day

  • 00:00 to 02:5934 (3.7%)
  • 03:00 to 05:5916 (1.8%)
  • 06:00 to 08:59112 (12%)
  • 09:00 to 11:59132 (15%)
  • 12:00 to 14:59147 (16%)
  • 15:00 to 17:59226 (25%)
  • 18:00 to 20:59119 (13%)
  • 21:00 to 23:59122 (13%)

Collisions by month

  • January88 (9.7%)
  • February70 (7.7%)
  • March91 (10%)
  • April64 (7%)
  • May79 (8.7%)
  • June74 (8.1%)
  • July68 (7.5%)
  • August67 (7.4%)
  • September74 (8.1%)
  • October95 (10%)
  • November82 (9%)
  • December56 (6.2%)

Light conditions

  • Daylight611 (67%)
  • Dark, street lights lit294 (32%)
  • Dark, no street lighting2 (0.2%)
  • Dark, street lights unlit1 (0.1%)

Weather at the time

  • Raining, no high winds154 (17%)
  • Fog or mist5 (0.6%)
  • Snowing, no high winds4 (0.4%)
  • Other745 (82%)

Road surface

  • Dry648 (71%)
  • Wet or damp247 (27%)
  • Snow13 (1.4%)

Speed limit at the scene

  • 30 mph851 (94%)
  • 40 mph47 (5.2%)
  • 70 mph10 (1.1%)

Type of road

  • Single carriageway248 (27%)
  • Dual carriageway74 (8.1%)
  • One way street or slip road38 (4.2%)
  • Roundabout28 (3.1%)
  • Not recorded520 (57%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Who was hurt in road crashes in Merton in 1981

Casualties by road user

  • Car occupant411 (38%)
  • Motorcyclist244 (23%)
  • Pedestrian240 (22%)
  • Cyclist116 (11%)
  • Bus or coach occupant34 (3.2%)
  • Van occupant18 (1.7%)
  • Goods vehicle occupant (over 3.5 tonnes)2 (0.2%)
  • Other vehicle occupant2 (0.2%)
  • Taxi or private hire car occupant1 (0.1%)

Casualties by age

  • 0 to 516 (1.5%)
  • 6 to 1057 (5.3%)
  • 11 to 1586 (8.1%)
  • 16 to 20226 (21%)
  • 21 to 25156 (15%)
  • 26 to 35163 (15%)
  • 36 to 4596 (9%)
  • 46 to 5569 (6.5%)
  • 56 to 6574 (6.9%)
  • 66 to 7551 (4.8%)
  • Over 7523 (2.2%)
  • Not recorded51 (4.8%)

Drivers, passengers and pedestrians

  • Driver or rider628 (59%)
  • Pedestrian240 (22%)
  • Passenger200 (19%)

Vehicles involved

  • Car1,059 (66%)
  • Motorcycle270 (17%)
  • Pedal cycle119 (7.4%)
  • Van or goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes62 (3.9%)
  • Bus or coach42 (2.6%)
  • Goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes32 (2%)
  • Other vehicle17 (1.1%)
  • Taxi or private hire car3 (0.2%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

How Merton ranked among 349 areas in 1981

Of the 349 areas in England, Scotland and Wales, Merton had the 87th most road collisions in 1981.

Collisions
87th
highest of 349 areas
Casualties
99th
highest of 349 areas
Fatal collisions
182nd
of 349 areas, highest first
Serious collisions
151st
highest of 349 areas

Roads in Merton with the most crashes in 1981

The A24 had the most collisions in Merton in 1981: 92, including 3 fatal and 13 serious.

Roads ranked by collisions in Merton, 1981
RankRoadCollisionsCasualtiesFatalSerious
1stA2492107313
2ndA2198695018
3rdA2177784012
4thA238657109
5thA236516607
6thA218343618
7thB235253305
8thB272253003
9thA239232804
10thB279232915
11thA298222803
12thA3222407
13thA237182113
14thA297152415
15thA216141702
16thB281111401
17thB286101111
18thB28291010
19thB2855500
20thB2662311

Latest crashes in Merton in 1981

Of the last 24 crashes in Merton in 1981, 1 was fatal and 5 were serious. The last was on 30 December 1981.

Severity

Merton road accidents in other years