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CrashStats

Orkney Islands road accidents in 1989: crash statistics

Police recorded 44 road traffic collisions in the Orkney Islands in 1989, and 61 people were killed or injured in them. Of those collisions, 1 was fatal and 20 were serious.

Collisions were up 76% on 1988 (25), and casualties rose from 34.

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

Collisions in 1989
44
Up 76% on 1988
Casualties in 1989
61
Up 79% on 1988
Fatal collisions
1
2.3% of collisions
Serious collisions
20
45% of collisions

Crash severity in the Orkney Islands in 1989

2.3% of collisions in the Orkney Islands in 1989 were fatal and 45% serious, against 5.4% and 32% in the Orkney Islands from 1979 to 2025.

Collisions by worst injury

  • Fatal12.3%
  • Serious2045%
  • Slight2352%

People hurt, by injury

  • Fatal11.6%
  • Serious2846%
  • Slight3252%

Orkney Islands road accidents by year

Collisions and casualties in the Orkney Islands, 1979 to 2025

Collisions peaked at 51 in 1980. 1989 is highlighted, with 44, up 76% on 1988.

  • Collisions
  • Collisions in 1989
  • 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 1989

Collisions by day of the week

  • Monday1 (2.3%)
  • Tuesday6 (14%)
  • Wednesday4 (9.1%)
  • Thursday6 (14%)
  • Friday7 (16%)
  • Saturday17 (39%)
  • Sunday3 (6.8%)

Collisions by time of day

  • 00:00 to 02:593 (6.8%)
  • 03:00 to 05:590 (0%)
  • 06:00 to 08:594 (9.1%)
  • 09:00 to 11:591 (2.3%)
  • 12:00 to 14:599 (20%)
  • 15:00 to 17:596 (14%)
  • 18:00 to 20:5911 (25%)
  • 21:00 to 23:5910 (23%)

Collisions by month

  • January4 (9.1%)
  • February4 (9.1%)
  • March3 (6.8%)
  • April3 (6.8%)
  • May4 (9.1%)
  • June2 (4.5%)
  • July6 (14%)
  • August4 (9.1%)
  • September6 (14%)
  • October2 (4.5%)
  • November4 (9.1%)
  • December2 (4.5%)

Light conditions

  • Daylight25 (57%)
  • Dark, street lights lit10 (23%)
  • Dark, no street lighting9 (20%)

Weather at the time

  • Fine, no high winds29 (66%)
  • Raining with high winds3 (6.8%)
  • Raining, no high winds3 (6.8%)
  • Snowing with high winds1 (2.3%)
  • Other5 (11%)
  • Not recorded3 (6.8%)

Road surface

  • Dry28 (64%)
  • Wet or damp12 (27%)
  • Frost or ice3 (6.8%)
  • Snow1 (2.3%)

Speed limit at the scene

  • 15 mph2 (4.5%)
  • 30 mph18 (41%)
  • 60 mph24 (55%)

Type of road

  • Single carriageway42 (95%)
  • Dual carriageway1 (2.3%)
  • Not recorded1 (2.3%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Who was hurt in road crashes in the Orkney Islands in 1989

Casualties by road user

  • Car occupant34 (56%)
  • Motorcyclist11 (18%)
  • Pedestrian10 (16%)
  • Cyclist4 (6.6%)
  • Taxi or private hire car occupant2 (3.3%)

Casualties by age

  • 0 to 51 (1.6%)
  • 6 to 101 (1.6%)
  • 11 to 154 (6.6%)
  • 16 to 2026 (43%)
  • 21 to 255 (8.2%)
  • 26 to 358 (13%)
  • 36 to 457 (11%)
  • 46 to 552 (3.3%)
  • 56 to 652 (3.3%)
  • 66 to 753 (4.9%)
  • Over 752 (3.3%)

Drivers, passengers and pedestrians

  • Driver or rider37 (61%)
  • Passenger14 (23%)
  • Pedestrian10 (16%)

Vehicles involved

  • Car37 (55%)
  • Motorcycle11 (16%)
  • Taxi or private hire car5 (7.5%)
  • Other vehicle4 (6%)
  • Pedal cycle4 (6%)
  • Goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes3 (4.5%)
  • Van or goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes2 (3%)
  • Bus or coach1 (1.5%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

How the Orkney Islands ranked among 350 areas in 1989

Of the 350 areas in England, Scotland and Wales, the Orkney Islands had fewer road collisions than 348 of them in 1989.

Collisions
349th
of 350 areas, highest first
Casualties
349th
of 350 areas, highest first
Fatal collisions
341st
of 350 areas, highest first
Serious collisions
347th
of 350 areas, highest first

Roads in the Orkney Islands with the most crashes in 1989

The A965 had the most collisions in the Orkney Islands in 1989: 12, including 1 fatal and 4 serious.

Roads ranked by collisions in the Orkney Islands, 1989
RankRoadCollisionsCasualtiesFatalSerious
1stA965121714
2ndA9635603
3rdA9604701
4thA9612300
5thA9862201
6thA9641101
7thA9661201
8thA9671100

Latest crashes in the Orkney Islands in 1989

Of the last 24 crashes in the Orkney Islands in 1989, 1 was fatal and 9 were serious. The last was on 20 December 1989.

Severity

Orkney Islands road accidents in other years