Skip to main content
CrashStats

West Devon road accidents in 1997: crash map and statistics

Police recorded 196 road traffic collisions in West Devon in 1997, and 261 people were killed or injured in them. Of those collisions, 3 were fatal and 34 were serious.

Collisions were down 10% on 1996 (217), and casualties fell from 323.

Across all years from 1979 to 2025, police recorded 9,082 collisions in West Devon.

Collisions in 1997
196
Down 10% on 1996
Casualties in 1997
261
Down 19% on 1996
Fatal collisions
3
1.5% of collisions
Serious collisions
34
17% of collisions

Crash severity in West Devon in 1997

1.5% of collisions in West Devon in 1997 were fatal and 17% serious, against 2.3% and 22% in West Devon from 1979 to 2025.

Collisions by worst injury

  • Fatal31.5%
  • Serious3417%
  • Slight15981%

People hurt, by injury

  • Fatal41.5%
  • Serious4116%
  • Slight21683%

West Devon road accidents by year

Collisions and casualties in West Devon, 1979 to 2025

Collisions peaked at 269 in 1987. 1997 is highlighted, with 196, down 10% on 1996.

  • Collisions
  • Collisions in 1997
  • Casualties

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

View as a table
YearCollisionsCasualties
2025118168
2024100160
2023119157
2022122184
2021109166
2020126173
2019141188
2018128184
2017154247
2016133191
2015145225
2014133190
2013148226
2012149213
2011169275
2010151246
2009176261
2008153209
2007226306
2006218313
2005224313
2004208274
2003202253
2002241343
2001214305
2000195262
1999186264
1998204299
1997196261
1996217323
1995233327
1994203297
1993215307
1992220323
1991217319
1990262402
1989239356
1988261373
1987269376
1986253365
1985243347
1984256357
1983230349
1982243367
1981237329
1980246351
1979250360

When and where crashes happen in West Devon in 1997

Collisions by day of the week

  • Monday25 (13%)
  • Tuesday31 (16%)
  • Wednesday33 (17%)
  • Thursday21 (11%)
  • Friday37 (19%)
  • Saturday31 (16%)
  • Sunday18 (9.2%)

Collisions by time of day

  • 00:00 to 02:595 (2.6%)
  • 03:00 to 05:590 (0%)
  • 06:00 to 08:5922 (11%)
  • 09:00 to 11:5943 (22%)
  • 12:00 to 14:5930 (15%)
  • 15:00 to 17:5956 (29%)
  • 18:00 to 20:5927 (14%)
  • 21:00 to 23:5913 (6.6%)

Collisions by month

  • January15 (7.7%)
  • February19 (9.7%)
  • March13 (6.6%)
  • April9 (4.6%)
  • May18 (9.2%)
  • June13 (6.6%)
  • July18 (9.2%)
  • August20 (10%)
  • September14 (7.1%)
  • October20 (10%)
  • November22 (11%)
  • December15 (7.7%)

Light conditions

  • Daylight159 (81%)
  • Dark, no street lighting30 (15%)
  • Dark, street lights lit7 (3.6%)

Weather at the time

  • Fine, no high winds134 (68%)
  • Raining, no high winds37 (19%)
  • Fine with high winds7 (3.6%)
  • Fog or mist4 (2%)
  • Raining with high winds4 (2%)
  • Other8 (4.1%)
  • Not recorded2 (1%)

Road surface

  • Wet or damp98 (50%)
  • Dry93 (47%)
  • Frost or ice4 (2%)
  • Flood over 3cm deep1 (0.5%)

Speed limit at the scene

  • 30 mph41 (21%)
  • 40 mph6 (3.1%)
  • 50 mph1 (0.5%)
  • 60 mph145 (74%)
  • 70 mph3 (1.5%)

Type of road

  • Single carriageway187 (95%)
  • Dual carriageway5 (2.6%)
  • One way street or slip road2 (1%)
  • Roundabout2 (1%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Who was hurt in road crashes in West Devon in 1997

Casualties by road user

  • Car occupant194 (74%)
  • Motorcyclist29 (11%)
  • Pedestrian14 (5.4%)
  • Cyclist9 (3.4%)
  • Bus or coach occupant5 (1.9%)
  • Van occupant5 (1.9%)
  • Goods vehicle occupant (over 3.5 tonnes)4 (1.5%)
  • Other vehicle occupant1 (0.4%)

Casualties by age

  • 0 to 58 (3.1%)
  • 6 to 108 (3.1%)
  • 11 to 1510 (3.8%)
  • 16 to 2023 (8.8%)
  • 21 to 2534 (13%)
  • 26 to 3560 (23%)
  • 36 to 4546 (18%)
  • 46 to 5533 (13%)
  • 56 to 6516 (6.1%)
  • 66 to 7517 (6.5%)
  • Over 756 (2.3%)

Drivers, passengers and pedestrians

  • Driver or rider171 (66%)
  • Passenger76 (29%)
  • Pedestrian14 (5.4%)

Vehicles involved

  • Car260 (76%)
  • Motorcycle27 (7.9%)
  • Goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes20 (5.8%)
  • Van or goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes15 (4.4%)
  • Pedal cycle10 (2.9%)
  • Bus or coach5 (1.5%)
  • Other vehicle5 (1.5%)
  • Not recorded1 (0.3%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Crash map for West Devon in 1997

Map of the last 24 crashes of 1997 in West Devon

Use the arrow keys to move the map and the plus and minus keys to zoom.

  • 24 crashes
  • Serious
  • Slight

How West Devon ranked among 351 areas in 1997

Of the 351 areas in England, Scotland and Wales, West Devon had fewer road collisions than 337 of them in 1997.

Collisions
338th
of 351 areas, highest first
Casualties
340th
of 351 areas, highest first
Fatal collisions
290th
of 351 areas, highest first
Serious collisions
318th
of 351 areas, highest first

Roads in West Devon with the most crashes in 1997

The A386 had the most collisions in West Devon in 1997: 56, including 11 serious.

Roads ranked by collisions in West Devon, 1997
RankRoadCollisionsCasualtiesFatalSerious
1stA3865671011
2ndA3072131914
3rdA39081201
4thA306900
5thB32575511
6thB32605600
7thB33625801
8thB32194400
9thA30793500
10thA3823500
11thA3882201
12thB32122200
13thB32152300
14thB33572200
15thB32061200
16thB32161100
17thB32301100
18thB33521201

Towns in West Devon: crashes in 1997

Tavistock had the most collisions of any town in West Devon in 1997: 19.

Postcode districts in West Devon: crashes in 1997

EX20 had the most collisions of any postcode district in West Devon in 1997: 70.

Latest crashes in West Devon in 1997

Of the last 24 crashes in West Devon in 1997, none were fatal and 5 were serious. The last was on 30 December 1997.

Severity

West Devon road accidents in other years