Traffic Safety Facts
2006 Data		Overview

DOT HS 810 809(Updated March 2008)

Introduction“In 2006, there werean estimated 5,973,000
police-reported trafficcrashes, in which
42,642 people were
killed and 2,575,000
people were injured;
4,189,000 crashes
involved property
damage only.”

Motor vehicle travel is the primary means of transportation in the United States,
providing an unprecedented degree of mobility. Yet for all its advantages,
deaths and injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes are the leading causeof death for people of every age from 2 through 34 (based on 2004 data). Traffic
fatalities accounted for more than 90 percent of transportation-related fatalities.
The mission of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is to reduce
deaths, injuries, and economic losses from motor vehicle crashes.
Fortunately, much progress has been made in reducing the number of deaths
and serious injuries on our Nation’s highways. In 2006, the fatality rate per 100
million vehicle miles of travel (VMT) was 1.41. The 1996 rate was 1.69 per 100
million VMT. An 81-percent seat belt use rate nationwide and a reduction in
the rate of alcohol involvement in fatal crashes — to 41 percent in 2006 from 42
percent in 1996 — were significant contributions to maintaining this consistently
low fatality rate. However, much remains to be done. The economic cost aloneof motor vehicle crashes in 2000 was $230.6 billion.
In 2006, 42,642 people were killed in the estimated 5,973,000 police-reported
motor vehicle traffic crashes, 2,575,000 people were injured, and 4,189,000
crashes involved property damage only.
This overview fact sheet contains statistics on motor vehicle fatalities basedon data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). FARS is a census
of fatal crashes within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto
Rico (although Puerto Rico is not included in U.S. totals). Crash and injury
statistics are based on data from the General Estimates System (GES). GES is a
probability-based sample of police-reported crashes, from 60 locations acrossthe country, from which estimates of national totals for injury and propertydamage-only crashes are derived.

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

“An average of 117
people died each day inmotor vehicle crashes
in 2006 — one every
12 minutes.”

Summary
In 2006, 42,642 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes — a decrease of 2
percent from 2005 (43,510).
The fatality rate per 100 million VMT in 2006 was 1.41. The injury rate per 100
million VMT in 2006 was 85. The fatality rate per 100,000 population was 14.24
in 2006, a decrease of 3 percent from the 2005 rate of 14.67.
An average of 117 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes in 2006 — one
every 12 minutes.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for every age from 2
through 34.

Table 1

Motor Vehicle Occupants and Nonoccupants Killed and Injured, 1996-2006
Motorcycle
RidersOccupants by Vehicle TypeYear
Passenger
Cars

Light
Trucks

Large
TrucksBuses

Other/
Unknown

1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

22,50522,19921,194
20,862
20,69920,32020,56919,72519,192
18,512
17,800

9,932
10,24910,705
11,265
11,526
11,723
12,274
12,546
12,674
13,037
12,721

621
723
742
759
754
708
689
726
766
804
805

21
18
38
59
22
34
45
41
42
58
27

455
420
409
447
450
458
528
589
602
659
739

1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

2,458,000
2,341,000
2,201,000
2,138,000
2,052,000
1,927,000
1,805,000
1,756,000
1,643,000
1,573,000
1,475,000

761,000
755,000
763,000
847,000
887,000
861,000
879,000
889,000
900,000
872,000
857,000

33,00031,00029,00033,00031,00029,00026,00027,00027,00027,00023,00020,00017,00016,00022,00018,00015,00019,00018,00016,00011,00010,000

4,000
6,000
4,000
7,000
10,000
9,000
6,000
7,000
7,000
10,00011,000NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

Total
Killed33,53433,60933,08833,39233,451
33,243
34,10533,62733,27633,07032,092
Injured
3,277,000
3,149,000
3,012,000
3,047,000
2,997,000
2,841,000
2,735,000
2,697,000
2,594,000
2,494,000
2,375,000

Nonmotorists

Total

Motorcycles

Pedestrian

Pedal­
cyclistOther/­
Unknown

Total

Total

2,161
2,116
2,294
2,483
2,897
3,197
3,270
3,714
4,028
4,576
4,810

5,449
5,321
5,228
4,939
4,763
4,901
4,851
4,774
4,675
4,892
4,784

765
814
760
754
693
732
665
629
727
786
773

154
153
131
149
141
123
114
140
130
186
183

6,368
6,288
6,119
5,842
5,597
5,756
5,630
5,543
5,532
5,864
5,740

42,06542,01341,501
41,717
41,94542,19643,00542,884
42,83643,51042,64255,00053,00049,00050,00058,00060,00065,00067,00076,00087,00088,00082,00077,00069,00085,00078,00078,00071,00070,00068,00064,00061,00058,00058,00053,00051,00051,00045,00048,00046,00041,00045,00044,00011,00011,000
8,000
3,000
5,000
8,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
8,000
7,000

151,000
146,000
131,000
140,000
134,000
131,000
126,000
124,000
118,000
118,000
112,000

3,483,000
3,348,000
3,192,000
3,236,000
3,189,000
3,033,000
2,926,000
2,889,000
2,788,000
2,699,000
2,575,000

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Table 2People Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates, 1996-2006
Fatality
Rate per100,000
Population

Year

KilledResident
Population(Thousands)

1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

42,06542,01341,501
41,717
41,94542,19643,00542,884
42,83643,51042,642

265,229
267,784
270,248
272,691
282,217285,226
288,126
290,796
293,638
296,507299,398

Year

InjuredResident
Population(Thousands)

15.86
15.69
15.36
15.30
14.86
14.79
14.93
14.75
14.59
14.67
14.24
InjuryRate per100,000
Population

1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

3,483,000
3,348,000
3,192,000
3,236,000
3,189,000
3,033,000
2,926,000
2,889,000
2,788,000
2,699,000
2,575,000

265,229
267,784
270,248
272,691
282,217285,226
288,126
290,796
293,638
296,507299,398

1,313
1,250
1,181
1,187
1,130
1,063
1,015
993
950
910
860

Fatality Rateper 100,000
Licensed
Drivers
Killed179,53923.43
182,70922.99
184,861
22.45
187,17022.29
190,625
22.00
191,276
22.06
194,60222.10
196,166
21.86
198,889
21.54
200,54921.70
202,810
21.03
Injury Rate
Licensedper 100,000
Drivers
Licensed(Thousands)
Drivers
Injured179,539
1,940
182,709
1,832
184,861
1,727
187,170
1,729
190,625
1,673
191,276
1,585
194,602
1,503
196,166
1,473
198,889
1,402
200,549
1,346
202,810
1,269
Licensed
Drivers(Thousands)

Registered
Motor­Vehicles(Thousands)

Fatality Rateper 100,000
Registered
Vehicles­Vehicle
Miles­Traveled­(Billions)

201,631203,568
208,076
212,685
217,028
221,230
225,685
230,633
237,949
245,628
251,423
Registered
Motor­Vehicles(Thousands)

20.86
20.64
19.95
19.61
19.33
19.07
19.06
18.59
18.00
17.71
16.96
Injury Rateper 100,000
Registered
Vehicles

2,486
2,562
2,632
2,691
2,747
2,797
2,856
2,890
2,965
2,989
3,014
­Vehicle
Miles­Traveled­(Billions)

Injury Rateper 100­Million VMT201,631203,568
208,076
212,685
217,028
221,230
225,685
230,633
237,949
245,628
251,423

1,728
1,644
1,534
1,522
1,469
1,371
1,296
1,252
1,172
1,099
1,024

2,486
2,562
2,632
2,691
2,747
2,797
2,856
2,890
2,965
2,989
3,014

140
131
121
120
116
108
102
100
94
90
85

Fatality Rateper 100­Million VMT
1.69
1.64
1.58
1.55
1.53
1.51
1.51
1.48
1.44
1.46
1.41

Sources: Vehicle Miles of Travel and Licensed Drivers — Federal Highway Administration; Registered Vehicles — R.L. Polk & Co. and Federal Highway Administration;
Population — U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Vehicle occupants accounted for 75 percent and motorcycle riders accounted
for 11 percent of traffic fatalities in 2006. The remaining 14 percent werepedestrians, pedalcyclists, and other nonoccupants.

Occupant Protection
In 2006, 49 States and the District of Columbia had seat belt use laws in effect.
Use rates vary widely from State to State, reflecting factors such as differencesin public attitudes, enforcement practices, legal provisions, and public
information and education programs.

“NHTSA estimatesthat 15,383 lives were
saved in 2006 by theuse of seat belts.”

From 1975 through 2006, it is estimated that seat belts saved 226,567 lives,
including 15,383 lives saved in 2006. If all passenger vehicle occupants overage 4 wore seat belts, 20,824 lives (that is, an additional 5,441) could have beensaved in 2006.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



In 2006, it is estimated that 425 children under age 5 were saved as a result ofchild restraint use. An estimated 8,325 lives were saved by child restraints from1975 through 2006.

Children in rear-facing child safety seats should not be placed in
the front seat of cars equipped with passenger-side air bags. The
impact of a deploying air bag striking a rear-facing child safety seat
could result in injury to the child. NHTSA also recommends thatchildren age 12 and under sit in the rear seat away from the force ofa deploying air bag.

“Alcohol-related traffic
fatalities rose to 17,602
in 2006 —41 percent of
all traffic fatalities forthe year.”In 2006, 35 percent of passenger car occupants and 37 percent of light-truck
occupants involved in fatal crashes were unrestrained.
In fatal crashes, 75 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were totallyejected from vehicles were killed. Seat belts are effective in preventing totalejections: only 1 percent of the occupants reported to have been using restraints
were totally ejected, compared with 31 percent of the unrestrained occupants.
Table 3

Restraint Use Rates for Passenger Vehicle Occupants in Fatal Crashes, 1996
and 2006
Restraint Use Rate (Percent)
1996

2006

Drivers

Type of Occupant

57

66

Passengers - Front Seat

54

67

- Rear Seat

41

59

- 5 Years Old and Over

45

59

- 4 Years Old and Under

69

83- All Passengers

47

61

53

64

All Occupants

Alcohol
In 2006, there were 17,602 fatalities in alcohol-related crashes. This is an increaseof 0.1 percent compared to 2005 (17,590 fatalities), and it represents an averageof one alcohol-related fatality every 30 minutes.
The 17,602 alcohol-related fatalities in 2006 (41% of total traffic fatalities for theyear) represent a 5-percent reduction from the 17,749 alcohol-related fatalities
reported in 1996 (42% of the total).
NHTSA estimates that alcohol was involved in 41 percent of fatal crashes and in
9 percent of all crashes in 2006.
In 2006, 15,121 fatalities (35%) occurred in crashes in which at least one driver or
nonoccupant had a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher. Of these 15,121 fatalities, 13,470(32%) occurred in crashes where at least one driver (including motorcycle
operators) had a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher.

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

Over 1.46 million drivers were arrested in 2006 for driving under the influenceof alcohol or narcotics. This is an arrest rate of 1 for every 139 licensed drivers
in the United States.
In fatal crashes in 2006, 27 percent of motorcycle operators had BAC levels of.08 g/dL or higher, as compared with 24 percent for drivers of light trucks, 23
percent for passenger car drivers, and 1 percent for drivers of large trucks.
In fatal crashes in 2006, the highest percentages of drivers with BAC levels .08
g/dL or higher were recorded for drivers 21-24 years old (33%), followed byages 25‑34 (29%) and 35-44 (25%).

“The highest percentage
of drivers in fatal
crashes who had BAC
levels .08 g/dL or higher
was for drivers 21 to 24
years old.”

Figure 1

Drivers with BAC Levels .08 g/dL or Higher Involved in Fatal Crashes by Age
Group, 200640

Percent of Drivers with BAC .08 g/dL or Higher

30

20

10

0
<16

16-20

21-24

25-34
35-44
45-54
Age Group (Years)

55-64

65-74

75+

For more information:
Information on traffic fatalities is available from the National Center for Statistics andAnalysis, NVS-421, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. NCSA canbe contacted on 800-934-8517. Fax messages should be sent to 202-366-7078. General
information on highway traffic safety can be accessed by Internet users at www.nhtsa.
gov/portal/site/nhtsa/ncsa. To report a safety-related problem or to inquire about
motor vehicle safety information, contact the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
Other fact sheets available from the National Center for Statistics and Analysis are
Alcohol, African American, Bicyclists and Other Cyclists (formerly titled Pedalcyclists),
Children, Hispanic, Large Trucks, Motorcycles, Occupant Protection, Older Population,
Pedestrians, Race and Ethnicity, Rural/Urban Comparisons, School Transportation-Related
Crashes, Speeding, State Alcohol Estimates, State Traffic Data, and Young Drivers. Detailed
data on motor vehicle traffic crashes are published annually in Traffic Safety Facts: A
Compilation of Motor Vehicle Crash Data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and theGeneral Estimates System. The fact sheets and annual Traffic Safety Facts report can beaccessed online at www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/CMSWeb/index.aspx.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Figure 2Previous Driving Records of Drivers Killed in Traffic Crashes, by Blood Alcohol
Concentration, 2006

“The economic costof speeding-related
crashes is estimatedto be $40.4 billion
each year.”

13%
BAC .00

1%
19%
10%

Driving Records:
Recorded Crashes
DWI Convictions
Speeding Convictions
Recorded Suspensions
or Revocations

15%
4%

BAC .01
to .07

23%
19%
14%
8%

BAC .08
or Higher

23%
23%

Speeding
NHTSA considers a crash to be speeding-related if the driver was charged witha speeding-related offense or if an officer indicated that racing, driving too fast
for conditions, or exceeding the posted speed limit was a contributing factor in
the crash.
Figure 3

Fatal Crashes by Speeding Status, 1996-2006
Number of Fatal Crashes
30,000Not Speeding
25,00020,00015,000Speeding

10,0005,000
0NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000 2001

2002 2003

2004

2005

2006

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. The
economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by NHTSA
to be $40.4 billion per year. In 2006, speeding was a contributing factor in
31 percent of all fatal crashes, and 13,543 lives were lost in speeding-related
crashes.
For drivers involved in fatal crashes, young males are the most likely to be
speeding. With increase in driver age, the proportion of all crashes that are
speeding-related decreases. In 2006, 39 percent of the 15- to 20-year-old male
drivers who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of
the crash.
In 2006, 87 percent of speeding-related fatalities occurred on roads that were
not Interstate highways.

“In 2006, 39 percent
of 15- to 20-year-old
male drivers involvedin fatal crashes were
speeding.”

Alcohol and speeding are clearly a deadly combination. Speeding involvement
is prevalent for drivers involved in alcohol-related crashes. In 2006, 41 percentof the drivers with BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher who were involved in fatal
crashes were speeding, compared with only 15 percent of the drivers with BAC
levels of .00 (i.e., no alcohol) involved in fatal crashes.
Figure 4

Speeding Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Age and Sex, 2006
Percent Speeding
40
35

Females

Males

30
25
20
15
10

“Per vehicle mile,
motorcyclists were
35 times more likely
than passenger car
occupants to die ina traffic crash.”

5
0

15-20

21-24

25-34

35-44
45-54
Age Group (Years)

55-64

65-74

75+

Motorcycles
The 4,810 motorcyclist fatalities in 2006 accounted for 11 percent of all traffic
fatalities for the year. An additional 88,000 motorcycle riders were injured.
Per vehicle mile traveled in 2006, motorcyclists were 35 times more likely thanpassenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle traffic crash and 8 times more
likely to be injured.

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Figure 5

Speeding, Alcohol Involvement, and Failure to Use Restraints Among Drivers
Involved in Fatal Crashes by Vehicle Type, 2006
Percent
50“In fatal crashes,
37 percent ofmotorcyclists were
speeding.”

Passenger Cars
Light Trucks
Large Trucks
Motorcycles

40

30

20

10

0

Total
Speeding

Total
Alcohol

Total No
Restraints

Speedingand Alcohol

Speeding,
Alcohol, andNo restraints

In 2006, 37 percent of all motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes was
speeding, compared to 23 percent for passenger car drivers, 19 percent forlight-truck drivers, and 8 percent for large-truck drivers.
Figure 6

Percentage of All Drivers Who Were Speeding in Fatal Crashes,by BAC Level, 2006
Percent
50

40

30

20

10

0

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis.00.01-.07
BAC Level (g/dL)≥ .08

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



In 2006, 41 percent of fatally injured motorcycle operators and 55 percent of
fatally injured passengers were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.
One out of four motorcycle operators (25%) involved in fatal crashes in 2006
were operating the vehicle with an invalid license at the time of the collision.
The percentage of motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes in 2006 who
had BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher — 27 percent — was higher than for any
other type of motor vehicle driver.
NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,658 motorcyclists in 2006.
If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 752 lives could havebeen saved.

Large Trucks
In 2006, 12 percent (4,995) of all the motor vehicle traffic fatalities reported
involved large trucks (gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds).
Of the fatalities that resulted from crashes involving large trucks, 76 percent
were occupants of other vehicles, 9 percent were nonoccupants, and 15 percent
were occupants of large trucks.

“One out of eighttraffic fatalities in2006 resulted fromcollisions involving alarge truck.”

Table 4

Fatalities and Injuries in Crashes Involving Large Trucks, 2006
FARS - Type of Fatality

GES- Type of Injury

File Type
Occupants of Large Trucks
Single-Vehicle Crashes
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes
Occupants of Other Vehicles in
Crashes Involving Large Trucks
Nonoccupants (Pedestrians,­Pedalcyclists, etc)
Total
Occupants of Large Trucks
Single-Vehicle Crashes
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes
Occupants of Other Vehicles in
Crashes Involving Large Trucks
Nonoccupants (Pedestrians,­Pedalcyclists, etc)
Total

Number805
499
306

Percentage of Total
16
10
6

3,766

75

424

8

4,995
23,00011,00012,000

100
22
10
11

81,000

76

2,000

2

106,000

100

Large trucks accounted for 8 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes
and 4 percent of all vehicles involved in injury and property-damage-onlycrashes in 2006.
Three-quarters (75%) of the large trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2006
collided with other motor vehicles in transport.

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

10

Only 1 percent of the drivers of large trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2006
had BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher, compared with 23 percent for passenger
cars, 24 percent for light trucks, and 27 percent for motorcycles.

“Ejection from thevehicle accounted
for 28 percent of allpassenger vehicle
occupant fatalities.”

Cars, Light Trucks, and Vans
In 2006, 30,521 occupants of passenger vehicles were killed in traffic crashes andan additional 2,331,000 were injured, accounting for 83 percent of all occupantfatalities (passenger cars 48%, light trucks and vans 34%) and 95 percent of all
occupants injured (passenger cars 60%, light trucks and vans 35%).
Occupant fatalities in single-vehicle crashes accounted for 44 percent of all
motor vehicle fatalities in 2006. Occupant fatalities in multiple-vehicle crashes
accounted for 42 percent of all fatalities, and the remaining 14 percent were
nonoccupant fatalities (pedestrians, pedalcyclists, etc.).
Figure 7

Fatalities in Traffic Crashes, 1996 and 2006
Nonoccupant Fatalities
Pedestrians
765
773
154
183

Pedalcyclists
Other Nonoccupants“More than half ofthe passenger vehicle
occupants killed intraffic crashes in 2006
were unrestrained.”

5,449
4,784

Occupant Fatalities
Single-Vehicle Crashes
Rollover

1996
2006

8,318
9,362
8,405
9,547

Nonrollover
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes
Angle
Head-onRear-end
Sideswipe 0
Other/Unknown
0

2,023
2,314

4,712

6,842

9,290
8,809

991
817
1,167
2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,00012,000In 2006, 53 percent of passenger vehicle occupant fatalities occurred in vehicles
that sustained frontal damage.
Ejection from the vehicle accounted for 28 percent of all passenger vehicle
occupant fatalities. The ejection rate for occupants of light trucks in fatal crashes
was 38 percent.
More than half (55%) of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes
in 2006 were unrestrained.
SUVs had the highest rollover involvement rate of any vehicle type in fatal
crashes — 35 percent, as compared with 28 percent for pickups, 17 percent forvans, and 17 percent for passenger cars.
SUVs also had the highest rollover rate for passenger vehicles in injury crashes— 10 percent, compared with 7 percent for pickups, 4 percent for vans, and3 percent for passenger cars.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

11

Driver Age
In 2006, 12 percent of the total U.S. resident population (more than 37 million)
were people age 65 years and older.
In 2006, 202, 000 older individuals were injured in traffic crashes, accounting
for 8 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year. Theseolder individuals made up 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, 14 percent of all
vehicle occupant fatalities, and 19 percent of all pedestrian fatalities.

“In 2006, older people
made up 14 percent of
all traffic fatalities
and 19 percent of allpedestrian fatalities.”

The percentage of older drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2006 who had
BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher (6%) was lower than for any other group of
adult drivers.
In two-vehicle fatal crashes involving an older driver and a younger driver, thevehicle driven by the older person was nearly twice as likely to be the one thatwas struck (61% and 32%, respectively). In 45 percent of these crashes, both
vehicles were proceeding straight at the time of the collision. In 24 percent, theolder drivers were turning left —almost 5 times more often than the younger
drivers.

Youth
In 2006, 16- to 24-year-olds represented 24 percent of all traffic fatalities
compared with 5 percent for age 15 and under, 46 percent for ages 25 to 54, and24 percent for ages 55 and over.
On a per population basis, drivers under the age of 25 had the highest rate of
involvement in fatal crashes of any age group.
In 2006, 19 percent of 16- to 20-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes had
BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher. The highest percentages were for drivers age
21 to 24 and 25 to 34 (33% and 29%, respectively).
One-fifth (20%) of all children between the ages of 5 and 9 who were killed
in motor vehicle traffic crashes were pedestrians. Children age 15 and underaccounted for 17 percent of the pedestrian fatalities in 2006.
Passenger vehicle occupants age 10 to 24 involved in fatal crashes had thelowest restraint use rate (56%), and those under age 10 had the highest
rate (79%).

“Males accounted
for 70 percent of all
traffic fatalities,
69 percent of allpedestrian fatalities,
and 88 percent of all
pedalcyclist fatalities
in 2006.”

Male/Female Fatal Crash Involvement
In 2006, the fatal crash involvement rate per 100,000 population was almost 3
times higher for male drivers than for females.
Males accounted for 70 percent of all traffic fatalities, 69 percent of allpedestrian fatalities, and 88 percent of all pedalcyclist fatalities in 2006.

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

12“Pedestrian fatalities
in 2006 were 12 percent
lower than in 1996.”

Among male drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2006, 24 percent had BAC
levels of .08 g/dL or higher, compared with 15 percent of the female drivers
involved in fatal crashes.
Among female drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes in 2006,
25 percent were unrestrained at the time of the collision, compared with 38
percent of male drivers in fatal crashes.

Pedestrians
In 2006, 61,000 pedestrians were injured and 4,784 were killed in traffic crashes
in the United States, representing 2 percent of all the people injured in trafficcrashes and 11 percent of all traffic fatalities.
On average, a pedestrian is killed in a motor vehicle crash every 110 minutes,
and one is injured every 9 minutes.

“One-seventh of thepedalcyclists killed intraffic crashes in 2006
were between 5 and 15
years old.”

Alcohol involvement — either for the driver or the pedestrian — was reported
in 49 percent of the traffic crashes that resulted in pedestrian fatalities. Of thepedestrians involved, 35 percent had BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher. Of thedrivers involved in fatal crashes, only 14 percent had BAC levels of .08 g/dL or
higher. In 6 percent of the crashes, both the driver and the pedestrian had BAC
levels of .08 g/dL or higher.

Pedalcyclists
In 2006, 773 pedalcyclists were killed and an additional 44,000 were injuredin traffic crashes. Pedalcyclists made up 2 percent of all traffic fatalities and 2
percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year.
Most of the pedalcyclists injured or killed in 2006 were males (82% and 88%,
respectively), and most were between the ages of 5 and 44 (75% and 53%,
respectively).
One-seventh (14%) of the pedalcyclists killed in traffic crashes in 2006 were
between the ages of 5 and 15.
Table 5

Nonoccupant Traffic Fatalities, 1996-2006
Year
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

Pedestrian
5,449
5,321
5,228
4,939
4,763
4,901
4,851
4,774
4,675
4,892
4,784

Pedalcyclist
765
814
760
754
693
732
665
629
727
786
773

Other
154
153
131
149
141
123
114
140
130
186
183

Total
6,368
6,288
6,119
5,842
5,597
5,756
5,630
5,543
5,532
5,864
5,740

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