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CrashStats

Orkney Islands road accidents in 1981: crash statistics

Police recorded 42 road traffic collisions in the Orkney Islands in 1981, and 55 people were killed or injured in them. Of those collisions, 4 were fatal and 21 were serious.

Collisions were down 18% on 1980 (51), and casualties fell from 75.

Across all years from 1979 to 2025, police recorded 1,401 collisions in the Orkney Islands.

Collisions in 1981
42
Down 18% on 1980
Casualties in 1981
55
Down 27% on 1980
Fatal collisions
4
9.5% of collisions
Serious collisions
21
50% of collisions

Crash severity in the Orkney Islands in 1981

9.5% of collisions in the Orkney Islands in 1981 were fatal and 50% serious, against 5.4% and 32% in the Orkney Islands from 1979 to 2025.

Collisions by worst injury

  • Fatal49.5%
  • Serious2150%
  • Slight1740%

People hurt, by injury

  • Fatal59.1%
  • Serious2647%
  • Slight2444%

Orkney Islands road accidents by year

Collisions and casualties in the Orkney Islands, 1979 to 2025

Collisions peaked at 51 in 1980. 1981 is highlighted, with 42, down 18% on 1980.

  • Collisions
  • Collisions in 1981
  • Casualties

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

View as a table
YearCollisionsCasualties
202589
20241318
20231013
20221117
20211316
2020910
20192428
20181420
20171114
20162528
20151215
20142429
20132330
20121624
20111326
20102738
20092735
20083644
20072737
20064054
20054054
20043447
20033244
20024063
20013345
20002332
19994376
19984156
19973758
19963746
19954256
19943145
19934056
19923644
19913950
19903139
19894461
19882534
19873555
19863852
19854769
19843762
19833751
19824260
19814255
19805175
19794165

When and where crashes happen in the Orkney Islands in 1981

Collisions by day of the week

  • Monday9 (21%)
  • Tuesday6 (14%)
  • Wednesday7 (17%)
  • Thursday5 (12%)
  • Friday7 (17%)
  • Saturday4 (9.5%)
  • Sunday4 (9.5%)

Collisions by time of day

  • 00:00 to 02:593 (7.1%)
  • 03:00 to 05:591 (2.4%)
  • 06:00 to 08:593 (7.1%)
  • 09:00 to 11:595 (12%)
  • 12:00 to 14:597 (17%)
  • 15:00 to 17:5912 (29%)
  • 18:00 to 20:593 (7.1%)
  • 21:00 to 23:598 (19%)

Collisions by month

  • January3 (7.1%)
  • February7 (17%)
  • March2 (4.8%)
  • April5 (12%)
  • May1 (2.4%)
  • June6 (14%)
  • July6 (14%)
  • August3 (7.1%)
  • September1 (2.4%)
  • October4 (9.5%)
  • November3 (7.1%)
  • December1 (2.4%)

Light conditions

  • Daylight29 (69%)
  • Dark, no street lighting10 (24%)
  • Dark, street lights lit3 (7.1%)

Weather at the time

  • Fine, no high winds22 (52%)
  • Raining, no high winds10 (24%)
  • Fine with high winds2 (4.8%)
  • Fog or mist2 (4.8%)
  • Raining with high winds1 (2.4%)
  • Snowing with high winds1 (2.4%)
  • Other3 (7.1%)
  • Not recorded1 (2.4%)

Road surface

  • Dry20 (48%)
  • Wet or damp19 (45%)
  • Snow2 (4.8%)
  • Frost or ice1 (2.4%)

Speed limit at the scene

  • 10 mph1 (2.4%)
  • 15 mph1 (2.4%)
  • 30 mph18 (43%)
  • 40 mph1 (2.4%)
  • 60 mph21 (50%)

Type of road

  • Single carriageway39 (93%)
  • One way street or slip road2 (4.8%)
  • Not recorded1 (2.4%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Who was hurt in road crashes in the Orkney Islands in 1981

Casualties by road user

  • Car occupant28 (51%)
  • Pedestrian13 (24%)
  • Motorcyclist10 (18%)
  • Cyclist1 (1.8%)
  • Goods vehicle occupant (over 3.5 tonnes)1 (1.8%)
  • Taxi or private hire car occupant1 (1.8%)
  • Van occupant1 (1.8%)

Casualties by age

  • 0 to 55 (9.1%)
  • 6 to 106 (11%)
  • 11 to 151 (1.8%)
  • 16 to 2016 (29%)
  • 21 to 258 (15%)
  • 26 to 356 (11%)
  • 36 to 455 (9.1%)
  • 46 to 552 (3.6%)
  • 56 to 654 (7.3%)
  • 66 to 751 (1.8%)
  • Over 751 (1.8%)

Drivers, passengers and pedestrians

  • Driver or rider29 (53%)
  • Passenger13 (24%)
  • Pedestrian13 (24%)

Vehicles involved

  • Car40 (66%)
  • Motorcycle11 (18%)
  • Goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes3 (4.9%)
  • Van or goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes3 (4.9%)
  • Pedal cycle2 (3.3%)
  • Other vehicle1 (1.6%)
  • Taxi or private hire car1 (1.6%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

How the Orkney Islands ranked among 349 areas in 1981

Of the 349 areas in England, Scotland and Wales, the Orkney Islands had the fewest road collisions in 1981.

Collisions
1st
lowest of 349 areas
Casualties
1st
lowest of 349 areas
Fatal collisions
314th
of 349 areas, highest first
Serious collisions
348th
of 349 areas, highest first

Roads in the Orkney Islands with the most crashes in 1981

The A964 had the most collisions in the Orkney Islands in 1981: 7, including 3 serious.

Roads ranked by collisions in the Orkney Islands, 1981
RankRoadCollisionsCasualtiesFatalSerious
1stA9647803
2ndA9616603
3rdA9655621
4thA9604503
5thA96721011
6thA9051101
7thA9631100
8thA9861101

Postcode districts in the Orkney Islands: crashes in 1981

KW17 had 1 collision in 1981.

Latest crashes in the Orkney Islands in 1981

Of the last 24 crashes in the Orkney Islands in 1981, 2 were fatal and 11 were serious. The last was on 22 December 1981.

Severity

Orkney Islands road accidents in other years