NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20590

DOT HS 810 595 May 2006

Restraint Use Patterns Among Fatally Injured Passenger 

Vehicle Occupants 

Cherian Varghese1 and Umesh Shankar2 

Summary 

In 2004, the majority (55%) of the occupants of passenger 

vehicles (passenger cars, light trucks, vans, and SUVs) killed 

in motor vehicle crashes were unrestrained (Motor Vehicle 

Traffic Crash Fatality Counts and Injury Estimates for 2004, 

NHTSA DOT HS 809 923). When examined more closely, the 

data shows that the proportion of unrestrained fatalities was 

higher among males, on rural roadways, in pickup trucks and 

SUVs, in single-vehicle crashes, and in the age group of 8 to 

44 years old. 

Background 

A total of 42,636 people died on the Nation’s highways in 

2004. Of these fatalities, nearly 75 percent were occupants of 

passenger vehicles. This data is from the National Highway 

Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting 

System (FARS), which annually collects data on fatal crashes 

from the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. 

FARS data is made available by NHTSA’s National Center for 

Statistics and Analysis (NCSA). 

Restraint use among passenger vehicle occupants in fatal 

crashes has increased in the past few years. Research has 

found that lap/shoulder safety belts, when used, reduce the risk 

of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 

percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 

percent. For light-truck occupants, safety belts reduce the risk 

of fatal injury by 60 percent and moderate-to-critical injury by 

65 percent (Occupant Protection, Traffic Safety Facts, 

NHTSA DOT HS 809 909). This Research Note looks at the 

various patterns in restraint use among fatally injured 

passenger vehicle occupants. 

The percentage of unrestrained (restraint not used) passenger 

vehicle occupants killed in the last five years has decreased by 

5 percentage points from 60 percent in 2000 to 55 percent in 

2004. Table 1 shows passenger vehicle occupant fatalities by 

year and restraint use. 

Table 1 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities by Year and Restraint Use

Restraint Use 

Not Used Used 

Total 

Calendar Year 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

2000 19,391 60 12,834 40 32,225 100 

2001 19,051 59 12,992 41 32,043 100 

2002 19,272 59 13,571 41 32,843 100 

2003 18,196 56 14,075 44 32,271 100 

2004 17,575 55 14,118 45 31,693 100 

Source: NCSA, FARS 2000-2003 (Final), 2004 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use is distributed proportionally to the known use categories. 

1 Programmer Analyst (contractor) for the Mathematical Analysis Division of the National Center for Statistics and Analysis. 2 Team Leader, Data Reporting Branch, Mathematical Analysis Division, Office of Traffic Records and Analysis, National Center for Statistics and 

Analysis
Definitions 

The term “occupant” is used for drivers, passengers, and the 

unknown occupant types of a motor vehicle in transport. The 

term “passenger vehicle occupant” refers to the occupants of 

passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, vans, and 

other light trucks. Restraint usage is classified into the 

following three categories. 

Classification of Restraint Use 

Classification Categories Used 

Used 

Shoulder belt, lap belt, lap and shoulder belt, child 

safety seat, restraint used – type unknown, safety belt 

used improperly, child safety seat used improperly 

Not Used None used (vehicle occupant) 

Unknown Unknown if used 

Data Analysis 

Analyses of data based on cross tabulations of different 

variables are presented below. 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by Sex and 

Restraint Use

Out of the 31,693 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2004, 

20,529 (65%) were males, 11,163 (35%) were females, and 

the sex of the remainder was unknown. Table 2 shows 

passenger vehicle occupant fatalities by sex and restraint use. 

Among the 20,529 fatally injured male passenger vehicle 

occupants 12,456 (61%) were not restrained and of the 11,163 

female passenger vehicle occupants 5,129 (46%) were not 

restrained. The data clearly shows that, among those killed in 

fatal crashes, restraint use among males is much lower than 

among females. 

Table 2 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by Sex and Restraint Use

Restraint use 

Not Used Used 

Total 

Sex 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

Male 12,456 61 8,073 39 20,529 100 

Female 5,129 46 6,034 54 11,163 100 

Unknown 1 100 0 0 1 100 

Total 17,575 55 14,118 45 31,693 100 

Source: NCSA, FARS 2004 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use is distributed proportionally to the known use categories.

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by Roadway Function Class and Restraint Use 

In 2004, 20,302 (64%) of the passenger vehicle occupant 

fatalities occurred on rural roadways, 11,200 (35%) occurred 

on urban roadways, and the rest occurred on unknown 

roadway types. Among the fatally injured passenger vehicle 

occupants on rural roadways, 11,691 (58%) were unrestrained 

and on urban roadways, 5,764 (51%) were unrestrained. The 

proportion of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant 

fatalities is higher on rural roadways. Table 3 shows passenger 

vehicle occupant fatalities by roadway function class and 

restraint use. 

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20590 2
Table 3 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by Roadway Function Class and 

Restraint Use

Restraint Use 

Not Used Used Roadway Total 

Function Class 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

Rural 11,691 58 8,611 42 20,302 100 

Urban 5,764 51 5,436 49 11,200 100 

Unknown 102 54 89 46 191 100 

Total 17,575 55 14,118 45 31,693 100 

Source: NCSA, FARS 2004 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use is distributed proportionally to the known use categories. 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by Vehicle Body Type and Restraint Use 

Out of the 31,693 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2004, 

19,091 (60%) were occupants of passenger cars, 4,735 (15%) 

were occupants of sport utility vehicles, 5,801 people (18%) 

were occupants of pickup trucks, 2,036 people (6%) were 

occupants of vans, and the rest were from other light trucks. 

Table 4 shows passenger vehicle occupant fatalities by vehicle 

type and restraint use. The data clearly shows that restraint use 

among fatally injured occupants of SUVs and pickup trucks is 

much lower compared to passenger cars and vans. 

Table 4 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by Vehicle Body Type and 

Restraint Use

Restraint Use 

Not Used Used Passenger Vehicle Total 

Body Type 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

Passenger Cars 9,446 49 9,645 51 19,091 100 

SUVs 2,953 62 1,782 38 4,735 100 

Pickups 4,031 69 1,770 31 5,801 100 

Vans 1,108 54 928 46 2,036 100 

Other Light Trucks 19 64 11 36 30 100 

Total 17,575 55 14,118 45 31,693 100 

Source: NCSA, FARS 2004 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use is distributed proportionally to the known use categories. 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by Crash Type and Restraint Use 

In 2004, out of the 31,693 passenger vehicle occupants killed 

in fatal crashes, 15,611 (49%) were killed in single-vehicle 

crashes and 16,082 (51%) were killed in multivehicle crashes. 

Among the fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants in 

single-vehicle crashes, more than two-thirds (69%) were 

unrestrained and 31 percent were restrained. Among fatally 

injured passenger vehicle occupants in multivehicle crashes 42 

percent were unrestrained. The data shows restraint use among 

fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants in single-vehicle 

crashes is much lower than in multivehicle crashes. Table 5 

shows passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in 2004 by crash 

type and restraint use. 

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20590 3
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20590 4

Table 5 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by Crash Type and Restraint Use

Restraint Use 

Not Used Used 

Total 

Crash Type 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

Single-vehicle Crashes 10,732 69 4,879 31 15,611 100 

Mutlivehicle Crashes 6,824 42 9,258 58 16,082 100 

Total 17,575 55 14,118 45 31,693 100 

Source: NCSA, FARS 2004 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use is distributed proportionally to the known use categories. 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by Age Group and Restraint Use 

In 2004, among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants of 

all age groups, restraint use was lower in the age range of 8 to 

44. Nearly two-thirds of the passenger vehicle occupants 

killed in the 8-44 age range were unrestrained. The next 

highest among unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants killed 

were in the 45-54 age group (more than 50%). Table 6 shows 

passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in 2004 by age group and 

restraint use. 

Table 6 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by Age Group and Restraint Use

Restraint Use 

Not Used Used 

Total 

Age Group 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

0-7 311 41 440 59 751 100 

8-15 683 62 425 38 1,108 100 

16-20 3,174 62 1,961 38 5,135 100 

21-24 2,373 66 1,222 34 3,595 100 

25-34 3,209 64 1,843 36 5,052 100 

35-44 2,632 62 1,622 38 4,254 100 

45-54 2,093 54 1,752 46 3,845 100 

55-64 1,281 48 1,407 52 2,688 100 

65 + 1,786 34 3,405 66 5,191 100 

Unknown 51 68 23 32 74 100 

Total 17,575 55 14,118 45 31,693 100 

Source: NCSA, FARS 2004 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use is distributed proportionally to the known use categories. 

Findings 

Based on the data presented above, following are some key findings: 

• In 2004, a majority of the passenger vehicle occupants 

killed were unrestrained (55%).

• Among the passenger vehicle occupants killed, the 

unrestrained proportion was higher among males (61%) than 

females (46%).

• The proportion of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant 

fatalities was higher on rural roadways (58%) compared to 

urban roadways (51%). 

• Among vehicle types, unrestrained passenger vehicle 

occupant fatalities were highest in pickup trucks (69%) 

followed by SUVs (62%). 

• Unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities were 

higher in single-vehicle crashes. 

• Among all age groups, unrestrained passenger vehicle 

occupant fatalities were above 60 percent in the 8 to 44 age 

range. 
A State-by-State breakdown of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2004 by restraint use and sorted by “percent restraint not used” 

(column 3) is shown in Table 7. 

Table 7 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by State and Restraint Use Sorted 

by Percent Not Used 

Restraint Use 

Not Used Used 

Total State 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

Mississippi 603 78 175 22 778 100 

South Carolina 602 73 224 27 826 100 

Rhode Island 47 72 18 28 65 100 

Montana 134 72 52 28 186 100 

North Dakota 58 71 24 29 82 100 

South Dakota 109 70 46 30 155 100 

New Hampshire 86 70 37 30 123 100 

Missouri 655 69 293 31 948 100 

Arkansas 385 68 180 32 565 100 

Kentucky 528 67 265 33 793 100 

Massachusetts 201 65 108 35 309 100 

Tennessee 687 64 380 36 1,067 100 

Louisiana 443 63 262 37 705 100 

Kansas 243 62 147 38 390 100 

Nebraska 133 62 81 38 214 100 

Wyoming 80 61 50 39 130 100 

Florida 1,271 61 809 39 2,080 100 

West Virginia 197 61 127 39 324 100 

Wisconsin 377 61 243 39 620 100 

Arizona 482 60 315 40 797 100 

Ohio 591 60 390 40 981 100 

Utah 131 60 87 40 218 100 

Pennsylvania 665 60 445 40 1,110 100 

Oklahoma 358 60 244 41 602 100 

Virginia 433 59 297 41 730 100 

New Mexico 231 58 165 42 396 100 

Maine 87 57 65 43 152 100 

Colorado 280 57 212 43 492 100 

Alabama 534 56 417 44 951 100 

Alaska 38 55 31 45 69 100 

Minnesota 249 55 203 45 452 100 

Hawaii 45 55 37 45 82 100 

Georgia 702 55 577 45 1,279 100 

Connecticut 105 54 88 46 193 100 

Idaho 109 53 96 47 205 100 

Indiana 376 53 336 47 712 100 

Illinois 518 53 467 47 985 100 

Iowa 158 52 147 48 305 100 

New Jersey 224 50 227 50 451 100 

Nevada 129 49 133 51 262 100 

Vermont 37 49 39 51 76 100 

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20590 5
Table 7 

Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities in 2004 by State and Restraint Use Sorted 

by Percent Not Used 

Restraint Use Total State Not Used Used 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

North Carolina 562 47 623 53 1,185 100 

District of Columbia 10 46 11 54 21 100 

Delaware 48 46 56 54 104 100 

Texas 1,226 45 1,481 55 2,707 100 

Maryland 202 45 248 55 450 100 

Washington 173 42 241 58 414 100 

New York 389 41 559 59 948 100 

California 1,134 41 1,652 59 2,786 100 

Michigan 350 40 525 60 875 100 

Oregon 109 32 234 68 343 100 

NATIONAL* 17,575 55 14,118 45 31,693 100 

Puerto Rico 149 60 100 40 249 100 

Source: NCSA, FARS 2004 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use is distributed proportionally to the known use categories. 

* Not equal to sum of States due to individual rounding. 

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20590 6