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CrashStats

Norwich road accidents in 1981: crash statistics

Police recorded 685 road traffic collisions in Norwich in 1981, and 796 people were killed or injured in them. Of those collisions, 6 were fatal and 194 were serious.

Collisions were down 3% on 1980 (706), and casualties fell from 854.

Across all years from 1979 to 2025, police recorded 23,749 collisions in Norwich.

Collisions in 1981
685
Down 3% on 1980
Casualties in 1981
796
Down 7% on 1980
Fatal collisions
6
0.9% of collisions
Serious collisions
194
28% of collisions

Crash severity in Norwich in 1981

0.9% of collisions in Norwich in 1981 were fatal and 28% serious, against 0.8% and 21% in Norwich from 1979 to 2025.

Collisions by worst injury

  • Fatal60.9%
  • Serious19428%
  • Slight48571%

People hurt, by injury

  • Fatal81%
  • Serious20826%
  • Slight58073%

Norwich road accidents by year

Collisions and casualties in Norwich, 1979 to 2025

Collisions peaked at 957 in 1989. 1981 is highlighted, with 685, down 3% on 1980.

  • Collisions
  • Collisions in 1981: 685
  • Casualties

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

View as a table
YearCollisionsCasualties
2025298334
2024273299
2023206234
2022257299
2021235270
2020220258
2019319368
2018336380
2017335387
2016386442
2015374445
2014400471
2013371435
2012321372
2011374456
2010335391
2009328375
2008350431
2007415509
2006381499
2005454544
2004474566
2003510612
2002452566
2001508629
2000541660
1999552696
1998507608
1997498588
1996479609
1995460555
1994508646
1993617749
1992679794
1991715904
1990824944
19899571,150
1988828992
1987765904
1986804971
1985762910
1984826987
1983788939
1982716874
1981685796
1980706854
1979620763

When and where crashes happen in Norwich in 1981

Collisions by day of the week

  • Monday88 (13%)
  • Tuesday102 (15%)
  • Wednesday111 (16%)
  • Thursday115 (17%)
  • Friday117 (17%)
  • Saturday105 (15%)
  • Sunday47 (6.9%)

Collisions by time of day

  • 00:00 to 02:5928 (4.1%)
  • 03:00 to 05:598 (1.2%)
  • 06:00 to 08:5979 (12%)
  • 09:00 to 11:59109 (16%)
  • 12:00 to 14:59123 (18%)
  • 15:00 to 17:59173 (25%)
  • 18:00 to 20:5984 (12%)
  • 21:00 to 23:5981 (12%)

Collisions by month

  • January59 (8.6%)
  • February53 (7.7%)
  • March58 (8.5%)
  • April42 (6.1%)
  • May58 (8.5%)
  • June51 (7.4%)
  • July65 (9.5%)
  • August53 (7.7%)
  • September62 (9.1%)
  • October81 (12%)
  • November55 (8%)
  • December48 (7%)

Light conditions

  • Daylight490 (72%)
  • Dark, street lights lit191 (28%)
  • Dark, no street lighting2 (0.3%)
  • Dark, lighting unknown1 (0.1%)
  • Dark, street lights unlit1 (0.1%)

Weather at the time

  • Fine, no high winds550 (80%)
  • Raining, no high winds85 (12%)
  • Fine with high winds17 (2.5%)
  • Snowing, no high winds9 (1.3%)
  • Raining with high winds7 (1%)
  • Fog or mist1 (0.1%)
  • Snowing with high winds1 (0.1%)
  • Other12 (1.8%)
  • Not recorded3 (0.4%)

Road surface

  • Dry443 (65%)
  • Wet or damp220 (32%)
  • Frost or ice13 (1.9%)
  • Snow8 (1.2%)
  • Flood over 3cm deep1 (0.1%)

Speed limit at the scene

  • 30 mph606 (88%)
  • 40 mph74 (11%)
  • 60 mph4 (0.6%)
  • 70 mph1 (0.1%)

Type of road

  • Single carriageway575 (84%)
  • Roundabout44 (6.4%)
  • One way street or slip road38 (5.5%)
  • Dual carriageway28 (4.1%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Who was hurt in road crashes in Norwich in 1981

Casualties by road user

  • Motorcyclist228 (29%)
  • Car occupant204 (26%)
  • Cyclist162 (20%)
  • Pedestrian153 (19%)
  • Bus or coach occupant22 (2.8%)
  • Van occupant15 (1.9%)
  • Other vehicle occupant4 (0.5%)
  • Minibus occupant3 (0.4%)
  • Taxi or private hire car occupant3 (0.4%)
  • Goods vehicle occupant (over 3.5 tonnes)2 (0.3%)

Casualties by age

  • 0 to 516 (2%)
  • 6 to 1034 (4.3%)
  • 11 to 1578 (9.8%)
  • 16 to 20239 (30%)
  • 21 to 2598 (12%)
  • 26 to 35100 (13%)
  • 36 to 4564 (8%)
  • 46 to 5559 (7.4%)
  • 56 to 6546 (5.8%)
  • 66 to 7536 (4.5%)
  • Over 7526 (3.3%)

Drivers, passengers and pedestrians

  • Driver or rider505 (63%)
  • Pedestrian153 (19%)
  • Passenger138 (17%)

Vehicles involved

  • Car606 (52%)
  • Motorcycle256 (22%)
  • Pedal cycle173 (15%)
  • Van or goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes53 (4.6%)
  • Bus or coach23 (2%)
  • Goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes22 (1.9%)
  • Other vehicle16 (1.4%)
  • Minibus8 (0.7%)
  • Taxi or private hire car2 (0.2%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

How Norwich ranked among 349 areas in 1981

Of the 349 areas in England, Scotland and Wales, Norwich had the 116th most road collisions in 1981.

Collisions
116th
highest of 349 areas
Casualties
150th
highest of 349 areas
Fatal collisions
295th
of 349 areas, highest first
Serious collisions
112th
highest of 349 areas

Roads in Norwich with the most crashes in 1981

The A47 had the most collisions in Norwich in 1981: 129, including 2 fatal and 41 serious.

Roads ranked by collisions in Norwich, 1981
RankRoadCollisionsCasualtiesFatalSerious
1stA47129155241
2ndA1476064013
3rdA1403239012
4thA10742931011
5thB1108283107
6thA1151202303
7thA11182815
8thA1024161804
9thB1140131706
10thA10677702
11thB11504400
12thB11491100

Latest crashes in Norwich in 1981

Of the last 24 crashes in Norwich in 1981, none were fatal and 6 were serious. The last was on 31 December 1981.

Severity

Norwich road accidents in other years