NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Traffic Safety Facts

Research Note

DOT HS 810 948 May 2008

Characteristics of Unrestrained Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities

16 and Older in Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes by Time Of Day

Summary

In 2006, 42,642 people died on the Nation’s highways. Of 

these fatalities 30,521 (72%) were passenger vehicles occupants of all ages, and 28,911 (68%) were occupants 16 and 

older. This Research Note looked at those 2006 fatalities 16 

and older to identify characteristics of those who were unrestrained. Specifically:

n Fifty-five percent of fatalities 16 and older were unrestrained, a reduction of 4 percentage points (from 59%) 

from 2002. 

n The number and percentage of unrestrained fatalities was 

much higher during nighttime. Sixty-four percent of fatalities at night were unrestrained, compared to 46 percent 

during the day.

n The nighttime period with the highest percentage of unrestrained fatalities was midnight to 3 a.m. (71%). 

n Younger driver and passenger fatalities were unrestrained 

at high rates, especially at night. Almost 70 percent of 

occupant fatalities in the 16 to 20 (68%), 21 to 24 (68%), 

and 25 to 34 (69%) age cohorts were unrestrained during 

nighttime. 

n Males had higher percentages of unrestrained fatalities 

than females. About 70 percent of male nighttime fatalities were unrestrained. 

n Pickup truck occupants had the highest percentages of 

unrestrained fatalities. More than three-fourths of the 

pickup truck occupants fatally injured during nighttime 

were unrestrained. 

1.	 Background

Table 1 shows the restraint use of passenger vehicle occupant 

fatalities 16 and older, in motor vehicle traffic crashes for the 

years 2002 to 2006 (latest data available). The data shows that 

the number and proportion of passenger vehicle occupants 

killed who were unrestrained has decreased slightly, from 

18,269 (59%) in 2002 to 16,037 (55%) in 2006.

Research has found that when used, lap/shoulder seat belts 

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, seat belts reduce the 

risk of fatal injury by 60 percent and moderate-to-critical injury by 65 percent.1

 Since seat belt use enhances a person’s likelihood of surviving a potentially fatal crash, promoting the 

use of seat belts at all times by passenger vehicle occupants 

is one of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 

primary occupant protection priorities. Thus, this Research 

Note looks at proportions of passenger vehicle occupant 

fatalities who were unrestrained to identify who, when, and 

in what type of vehicles passenger vehicle occupant fatalities 

were most likely to be unrestrained. Identification of these 

groups will aid in developing occupant protection programs 

and enforcing occupant protection laws.

The data used in the report are from NHTSA’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).

Table	1:	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	16	and	Older	in	Motor	Vehicle	Traffic	Crashes	by	Year	and	Restraint	Use	

Restrained Unrestrained Total Year Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

2002 12,719 41 18,269 59 30,988 100

2003 13,260 44 17,160 56 30,420 100

2004 13,328 45 16,598 55 29,926 100

2005 13,221 44 16,633 56 29,854 100

2006 12,874 45 16,037 55 28,911 100

Source: NCSA, FARS 2002-2005 (Final), 2006 (Annual Report

Unknown restraint use was distributed proportionally to kn

 File) 

own categories.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



2.	 Data	Analysis

The data presented in this Research Note shows restraint use 

among occupants of passenger vehicles 16 and older who 

were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2006. The analysis looks at the following factors: time of day (day/night) the 

crash occurred; age group and sex of the fatally injured person; 

and the type of vehicle in which the occupants were riding.

2.1	 	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	by	Time	

of	Day	and	Restraint	Use

Among the passenger vehicle occupants 16 and older killed 

in 2006, an almost equal number were killed in nighttime 

crashes as in daytime crashes: 14,390 (50%) and 14,275 (49%), 

respectively. The time was unknown for the remaining fatalities (less than 1%). However, the proportion of passenger 

vehicle occupants killed during nighttime who were unrestrained was much higher than during daytime. During 

nighttime, 64 percent of the passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in the 16-and-older age group were unrestrained compared to 46 percent during daytime. Table 2 shows passenger 

vehicle occupant fatalities 16 and older in 2006 by time of 

day and restraint use. While nearly 50 percent of passenger 

vehicle occupant fatalities 16 and older in 2006 occurred during nighttime, it is estimated that approximately 25 percent 

of travel2

 occurs at night. Consequently, the fatality rate per 

vehicle mile of travel is about three times3

 higher at night 

than during the day.

Table	2:	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	16	and	Older	in		

Motor	Vehicle	Traffic	Crashes	in	2006	by	Time	of	Day	and	Restraint	Use

Time	of	Day

Restrained Unrestrained Total

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Nighttime

Daytime

Unknown

Total

5,143

7,642

71

12,874

36 9,247 64 14,390 100

54 6,633 46 14,275 100

29 175 71 246 100

45 16,037 55 28,911 100

Source: NCSA, FARS 2006 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use was distributed proportionally to known categories.

Because of this higher nighttime fatality rate, the lack of seat 

belt use by passenger vehicle occupant fatalities at night was 

examined further. Table 3 shows passenger vehicle occupants 

16 and older killed in 2006 by time of day in 3-hour increments. The lack of seat belt use by fatally injured occupants 

was highest (71%) during the hours of midnight to 3 a.m. The 

proportion of unrestrained fatalities was still high, but about 

the same, for the 3-hour periods before and after: 64 percent 

from 9 p.m. to midnight and 65 percent from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. 

Table	3:	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	16	and	Older	in		

Motor	Vehicle	Traffic	Crashes	in	2006	by	Time	of	Day	and	Restraint	Use

Restraint	Use

Total NHTS	Percent	of	Travel Fatality	Rate* Time	of	Day Restrained Unrestrained

# % # % # % #

6 a.m. to 9 a.m. 1,498 48 1,611 52 3,109 14.2 0.79

9 a.m. to Noon 1,635 56 1,261 44 2,896 17.4 0.60

Noon to 3 p.m. 2,205 57 1,647 43 3,852 21.3 0.65

3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 2,306 52 2,112 48 4,418 24 0.66

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 1,644 44 2,109 56 3,753 15.7 0.86

9 p.m. to Midnight 1,375 36 2,461 64 3,836 5.2 2.66

Midnight to 3 a.m. 1,179 29 2,937 71 4,116 0.8 18.56

3 a.m. to 6 a.m. 938 35 1,747 65 2,685 1.4 6.92

Unknown 71 29 175 71 246 --- ----

Total 12,874 45 16,037 55 28,911 100 1.04

Source: NCSA, FARS 2006 (ARF), 2001 NHTS Daily Trip File 

Unknown restraint use was distributed proportionally to known categories.

* per 100 million VMT 
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Note that the number of passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in the period midnight to 3 a.m. (4,116) was only slightly 

lower than the highest number in any of the 3-hour periods: 

4,418 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Table 3 also shows travel distribution for these time periods from the 2001 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) “daily trip file.” According to the 

percent of travel data from the NHTS, there was less than 

1 percent (0.8%) of total travel during the hours from midnight to 3 a.m., while 24 percent of travel occurred during the 

hours of 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Using these estimates of percentage 

of travel and overall passenger vehicle miles of travel (VMT) 

for 2006 (2,771,684 million VMT), a passenger vehicle fatality 

rate can be estimated for these time periods. These rates are 

shown in Table 3.

The overall passenger vehicle fatality rate for all ages per 

100 million VMT for 2006 was 1.10 (30,521 passenger vehicle 

occupant fatalities/ 2,771,684 million VMT). 

PV Occupant fatality rate per 100 million VMT = Total Passenger Vehicle Occupants Killed 

Passenger Vehicle VMT

= 30,521 x 100 = 1.10

2,771,684

Taking into consideration passenger vehicle occupants 16 and older killed from midnight to 3 a.m. (4,116) and the percent 

of travel during the same time period of the day — 0.8 % — the passenger vehicle occupant 16 and older fatality rate can be 

calculated as below:

= PV occupant fatalities 16 and older = 4,116 = 4,116 x 100 = 18.56

 Estimated travel during midnight to 3 a.m. 0.8% x 2,771,684 22,173

Similarly, the fatality rate for the time period 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. is estimated to be 0.66. 

Consequently, the fatality rate among passenger vehicle occupants 16 and older killed in 2006 from midnight to 3 a.m. is 16.87 

times the overall passenger vehicle occupant fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel in 2006 (18.56 versus 1.10), and 

28 times higher than the time period 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. (18.56 versus 0.66), despite the higher number of fatalities. 

2.2	 	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	by	Time	

of	Day,	Age	Group,	and	Restraint	Use

Table 4 shows passenger vehicle occupants 16 and older killed 

in crashes in 2006 by time of day, age group, and restraint 

use. Overall, the age groups with the highest proportion of 

unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities were 21- 

to 24-year-olds and 25- to 34-year-olds. Nearly two-thirds of 

the occupant fatalities in these age groups were unrestrained. 

While the proportion of fatalities that were unrestrained 

decreased as the passenger vehicle occupant ages increased, 

with the lowest percentage of unrestrained seen in the 65-and 

-older age category, 3 in 5 fatalities in the 35– to 45-year-old 

age group were unrestrained as were more than half of the 

45– to 54-year-olds. Of the passenger vehicle occupants killed 

during nighttime crashes, almost 70 percent of the occupants 

in the 16-to-34 age groups were unrestrained as were more 

than 60 percent of the occupants killed in the 35-to-54 age 

groups. The proportion of unrestrained was comparatively 

lower during nighttime among occupants of age groups 55 

to 64 and was the lowest among occupants 65 and older. In 

crashes during daytime hours the proportion of unrestrained 

fatalities was lower than during nighttime. The proportion 

of unrestrained fatalities among occupants of age groups 16 

to 34, 55 to 64, and 65 and older was lower by 10 percentage 

points during daytime. The largest drop in unrestrained proportion during daytime was seen in the 35-to-44 and 45-to-54 

age groups, by about 15 percentage points. 
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Table	4:	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	16	and	Older	in		

Motor	Vehicle	Traffic	Crashes	in	2006	by	Time	of	Day,	Age	Group,	and	Restraint	Use

Restraint	Use

Total

Time	of	Day	&	Age	Group Restrained Unrestrained

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

16-20 945 32 1,981 68 2,926 100

21-24 802 32 1,713 68 2,515 100

25-34 973 31 2,183 69 3,156 100

35-44 757 34 1,500 66 2,257 100

Nighttime 45-54 707 40 1,044 60 1,751 100

55-64 433 48 469 52 902 100

65+ 521 59 362 41 883 100

Total 5,143 36 9,247 64 14,390 100

16-20 812 43 1,069 57 1,881 100

21-24 478 42 649 58 1,127 100

25-34 824 43 1,088 57 1,912 100

35-44 853 48 936 52 1,789 100

Daytime 45-54 1,084 55 904 45 1,988 100

55-64 1,043 57 777 43 1,820 100

65+ 2,542 68 1,216 32 3,758 100

Total 7,642 54 6,633 46 14,275 100

16-20 10 29 25 71 35 100

21-24 6 22 23 78 29 100

25-34 9 15 53 85 62 100

35-44 13 27 36 73 49 100

Unknown

45-54 10 26 28 74 38 100

55-64 8 53 7 47 15 100

65+ 13 71 5 29 18 100

Total 71 29 175 71 246 100

16-20 1,768 37 3,074 63 4,842 100

21-24 1,288 35 2,383 65 3,671 100

25-34 1,808 35 3,322 65 5,130 100

35-44 1,624 40 2,471 60 4,095 100

Total

45-54 1,802 48 1,975 52 3,777 100

55-64 1,485 54 1,252 46 2,737 100

65+ 3,076 66 1,583 34 4,659 100

Total 12,874 45 16,037 55 28,911 100

Source: NCSA, FARS 2006 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use was distributed proportionally to known categories.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



2.3	 	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	by	Time	

of	Day,	Sex,	and	Restraint	Use

In 2006, among passenger vehicle occupants 16 and older 

killed, 19,126 (66%) were males, 9,771 (34%) were females and 

the rest (less than half a percent) were of unknown sex (sex 

not reported). Overall, 61 percent of male occupants killed 

were unrestrained compared to 46 percent for female fatalities. Table 5 shows passenger vehicle occupants 16 and older 

killed in crashes in 2006 by time of day, sex, and restraint use. 

The proportion of unrestrained fatalities during nighttime 

was higher for both sexes than during daytime: 68 percent for 

males and 55 percent for females at nighttime compared to 51 

percent for males and 39 percent for females during daytime. 

Table	5:	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	16	and	Older	in		

Motor	Vehicle	Traffic	Crashes	in	2006	by	Time	of	Day,	Sex,	and	Restraint	Use

Restraint	Use

Total

Time	of	Day	&	Sex Restrained Unrestrained

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Male 3,395 32 7,092 68 10,487 100

Female 1,744 45 2,153 55 3,897 100

Nighttime Unknown 0 0 6 100 6 100

Total 5,143 36 9,247 64 14,390 100

Male 4,099 49 4,344 51 8,443 100

Female 3,536 61 2,289 39 5,825 100

Daytime Unknown 0 0 7 100 7 100

Total 7,642 54 6,633 46 14,275 100

Male 49 25 147 75 196 100

Female 20 42 29 58 49 100

Unknown

Unknown 1 100 0 0 1 100

Total 71 29 175 71 246 100

Male 7,553 39 11,573 61 19,126 100

Female 5,306 54 4,465 46 9,771 100

Total

Unknown 4 25 11 75 14 100

Total 12,874 45 16,037 55 28,911 100

Source: NCSA, FARS 2006 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use was distributed proportionally to known categories.

2.4		 	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	by	Time	

of	Day,	Vehicle	Body	Type,	and	Restraint	Use

Of the passenger vehicle occupants 16 and older killed in 

crashes in 2006, 59 percent were in passenger cars, 20 percent 

in pickup trucks, 16 percent in sport utility vehicles (SUVs), 6 

percent in vans, and the remaining (about 0.1%) in other light 

trucks. A breakdown of registered passenger vehicles in 2006 

shows similar proportions with 58 percent passenger cars, 17 

percent pickup trucks, 16 percent SUVs, 8 percent vans, and 

0.4 percent other light trucks.

Overall in 2006, occupants killed in pickup trucks failed to 

use their seat belts at the highest rate (69%), followed by 

SUVs (63%) and vans (52%). The percentage of unrestrained 

fatalities was lowest for passenger car occupants (49%). This 

sequence holds true during the daytime as well as at night. 

During daytime hours, the percentage of unrestrained occupant fatalities was 60 percent in pickup trucks, 54 percent in 

SUVs, 46 percent in vans and, 40 percent in passenger cars. 

However, the proportion of unrestrained fatalities increased 

significantly at nighttime: for pickup trucks it was 16 percentage points higher (76%); for SUVs it was 17 percentage 

points higher (71%); and for vans it was 16 percentage points 

higher (61%). Passenger cars had the larger increase -- 18 percentage points (58%). Table 6 shows passenger vehicle occupants 16 and older killed by time of day, passenger vehicle 

body type, and restraint use.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Table	6:	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	16	and	Older	in	Motor	Vehicle	Traffic	Crashes	in	2006	by	Time	of	Day,	

Vehicle	Body	Type,	and	Restraint	Use

Restraint	Use

Total

Time	of	Day	&	Vehicle	Body	Type Restrained Unrestrained

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Passenger Cars 3,541 42 4,928 58 8,469 100

Light Truck - Utility 668 29 1,667 71 2,335 100

Light Truck - Pickup 699 24 2,245 76 2,944 100 Nighttime Light Truck - Van 247 39 385 61 632 100

Light Truck - Other 2 22 8 78 10 100

Total 5,143 36 9,247 64 14,390 100

Passenger Cars 5,024 60 3,348 40 8,372 100

Light Truck - Utility 1,002 46 1,159 54 2,161 100

Light Truck - Pickup 1,095 40 1,662 60 2,757 100 Daytime Light Truck - Van 526 54 446 46 972 100

Light Truck - Other 4 30 9 70 13 100

Total 7,642 54 6,633 46 14,275 100

Passenger Cars 46 41 67 59 113 100

Light Truck - Utility 12 26 34 74 46 100

Unknown Light Truck - Pickup 11 15 64 85 75 100

Light Truck - Van 2 18 10 82 12 100

Total 71 29 175 71 246 100

Passenger Cars 8,624 51 8,330 49 16,954 100

Light Truck - Utility 1,687 37 2,855 63 4,542 100

Light Truck - Pickup 1,805 31 3,971 69 5,776 100 Total

Light Truck - Van 775 48 841 52 1,616 100

Light Truck - Other 6 26 17 74 23 100

Total 12,874 45 16,037 55 28,911 100

Source: NCSA, FARS 2006 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use was distributed proportionally to known categories.

3.	 Findings

Based on the data presented above, the following are some 

key findings:

n Passenger vehicle occupant fatalities 16 and older were 

most likely to be unrestrained at night. Lack of seat belt 

use by those killed in crashes was 18 percentage points 

higher at night, increasing from 46 percent during daytime hours to 64 percent during nighttime hours.

n People killed were most likely to be unrestrained from 

midnight to 3 a.m. 

w The percentage of unrestrained fatalities increased by 

28 percentage points from 43 percent (lowest) in the 

time period noon to 3 p.m. to 71 percent from midnight 

to 3 a.m.

w The fatality rate among passenger vehicle occupants 16 

and older killed in 2006 from midnight to 3 a.m. is 16.87 

times the overall passenger vehicle occupant fatality 

rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel in 2006 (18.56 

versus 1.10).

n Almost 70 percent of the 16- to- 34-year-old passenger 

vehicle occupant fatalities killed during nighttime hours 

were unrestrained.

n The proportion of male passenger vehicle occupant fatalities who were unrestrained during nighttime hours was 

68 percent compared to 55 percent for females. During 

daytime hours the proportions were 51 percent for males 

and 39 percent for females. 

n Three-fourths of the pickup truck occupants 16 and older 

killed during nighttime hours were unrestrained. Pickup 

truck occupants also had the highest percentage of unrestrained fatalities of all types of passenger vehicles both 

during daytime and nighttime hours.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Appendix

Definitions:

Classification of Restraint Use: Restraint usage is classified 

into three categories. In this Research Note unknown restraint 

use was distributed proportionally to known (used/not used) 

categories. In all the years (2002-2006) unknown restraint use 

proportion was about 8 percent.

Classification

Used

Not	Used

Unknown

Categories	Used

Shoulder belt, lap belt, lap and shoulder belt, restraint 

used – type unknown, seat belt used improperly 

None used (vehicle occupant)

Unknown if used

Classification	of	Daytime	and	Nighttime

Daytime: 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.

Nighttime: 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.

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 drivers, passengers, and unknown occupant type of passenger 

vehicle occupants. 

Passenger Vehicles: passenger cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, 

vans, and other light trucks. 

State	level	data

n Table 7 - Passenger vehicle occupants 16 and older killed 

in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2006 by State, time of 

day, and restraint use. 

Trend for the past 5 years (2002-2006). Passenger vehicle 

occupant fatalities 16 and older in motor vehicle traffic crashes by restraint use by:

n Table 8 - Year, Sex, and Restraint Use

n Table 9 - Year, Time of Day, and Restraint Use

n Table 10 - Year, Vehicle Type, and Restraint Use

n Table 11 - Year, Age, and Restraint Use 

NHTS	Travel	Survey	Data

n Table 12 - Travel distribution by time of day, in percent. 

The complete NHTS travel survey 2001 Highlights report can 

be found at: www.bts.gov/publications/highlights_of_the_

2001_national_household_travel_survey/pdf/entire.pdf
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Table	7:	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	16	and	Older	in		

Motor	Vehicle	Traffic	Crashes	in	2006	by	State,	Time	of	Day,	and	Restraint	Use

Time	of	Day

Nighttime Daytime Unknown Total

State Restrained Unrestrained Restrained Unrestrained Restrained Unrestrained

# % # % # % # % # % # % #

Alabama 124 29 297 71 239 48 256 52 0 0 0 0 916

Alaska 8 50 8 50 18 77 5 23 0 0 1 100 40

Arizona 126 34 249 66 163 41 236 59 3 23 11 77 788

Arkansas 44 18 196 82 98 41 139 59 0 0 1 100 478

California 789 57 591 43 830 71 338 29 25 40 37 60 2,610

Colorado 58 32 123 68 71 43 92 57 0 0 0 0 344

Connecticut 62 53 54 47 49 59 33 41 0 0 0 0 198

Delaware 19 41 27 59 31 58 23 42 0 0 0 0 100

Dist. of Columbia 7 50 7 50 5 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 18

Florida 322 32 687 68 466 51 457 49 3 23 12 77 1,947

Georgia 210 36 371 64 334 50 329 50 1 20 4 80 1,249

Hawaii 25 43 33 57 18 57 13 43 0 0 0 0 89

Idaho 24 26 69 74 61 59 42 41 1 25 3 75 200

Illinois 167 34 319 66 227 59 158 41 0 0 0 0 871

Indiana 125 38 207 62 158 54 137 46 0 0 0 0 627

Iowa 56 44 71 56 115 62 70 38 1 50 1 50 314

Kansas 47 37 81 63 88 43 115 57 0 0 3 100 334

Kentucky 68 25 201 75 148 37 257 63 0 0 0 0 674

Louisiana 103 26 292 74 159 51 153 49 0 0 3 100 710

Maine 24 39 38 61 32 44 40 56 0 0 0 0 134

Maryland 115 49 119 51 144 69 64 31 0 0 0 0 442

Massachusetts 40 26 114 74 55 40 81 60 0 0 0 0 290

Michigan 183 52 170 48 271 73 98 27 3 30 8 70 733

Minnesota 53 33 108 67 102 55 84 45 0 0 1 100 348

Mississippi 80 21 295 79 116 34 230 66 0 0 0 0 721

Missouri 86 20 341 80 152 39 240 61 3 23 10 77 832

Montana 23 23 81 77 36 38 58 62 4 57 3 43 205

Nebraska 18 20 72 80 49 47 54 53 3 25 8 75 203

Nevada 59 39 93 61 80 60 52 40 0 0 1 100 285

New Hampshire 8 24 27 76 14 24 47 76 0 0 0 0 97

New Jersey 68 38 113 63 80 45 97 55 0 0 0 0 358

New Mexico 52 34 102 66 100 63 58 37 0 0 0 0 312

New York 143 39 225 61 292 64 161 36 0 0 0 0 821

North Carolina 207 39 318 61 367 62 223 38 0 0 1 100 1,116

North Dakota 9 28 23 72 20 43 28 57 0 0 2 100 82

Ohio 145 34 284 66 233 52 212 48 0 0 0 0 874

Oklahoma 76 30 174 70 138 46 165 54 2 67 1 33 556

Oregon 74 54 64 46 133 75 45 25 5 36 9 64 330

Pennsylvania 147 26 409 74 227 46 267 54 1 50 1 50 1,052

Rhode Island 4 13 27 87 6 43 8 57 0 0 0 0 45

South Carolina 105 26 290 74 156 46 180 54 0 0 0 0 731

South Dakota 14 19 64 81 12 19 48 81 0 0 4 100 142

Tennessee 133 31 299 69 229 48 251 52 5 25 15 75 932

Texas 541 44 698 56 700 62 428 38 0 0 5 100 2,372

Utah 35 42 49 58 73 61 46 39 0 0 0 0 203

Vermont 13 52 12 48 22 50 22 50 0 0 2 100 70

Virginia 98 27 269 73 174 49 184 51 0 0 1 100 726

Washington 107 46 127 54 131 67 65 33 3 100 0 0 433

West Virginia 41 33 84 67 61 40 90 60 2 17 11 83 289

Wisconsin 83 29 205 71 124 57 94 43 5 26 14 74 525

Wyoming 6 14 40 86 44 46 52 54 0 0 3 100 145

National 5,143 36 9,247 64 7,642 54 6,633 46 71 29 175 71 28,911

Puerto Rico 49 41 71 59 50 52 46 48 0 0 0 0 216

Source: NCSA, FARS 2006 (ARF) Unknown restraint use was distributed proportionally to known categories.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Table	8:	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	16	and	Older	in		

Motor	Vehicle	Traffic	Crashes	by	Year,	Sex,	and	Restraint	Use

Restrained Unrestrained Total

Year	and	Sex

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Source: NCSA,

Unknown rest

Male 7,213 35 13,196 65 20,409 100

Female 5,495 52 5,079 48 10,574 100

Unknown 1 25 4 75 5 100

Total 12,719 41 18,269 59 30,988 100

Male 7,597 38 12,301 62 19,898 100

Female 5,650 54 4,871 46 10,521 100

Unknown 0 0 0 0 1 100

Total 13,260 44 17,160 56 30,420 100

Male 7,675 39 11,951 61 19,626 100

Female 5,642 55 4,658 45 10,300 100

Total 13,328 45 16,598 55 29,926 100

Male 7,731 39 12,011 61 19,742 100

Female 5,479 54 4,631 46 10,110 100

Unknown 1 50 1 50 2 100

Total 13,221 44 16,633 56 29,854 100

Male 7,553 39 11,573 61 19,126 100

Female 5,306 54 4,465 46 9,771 100

Unknown 4 25 11 75 14 100

Total 12,874 45 16,037 55 28,911 100

 FARS 2002-2005 (Final), 2006 (ARF) 

raint use was distributed proportionally to known categories.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

0

Table	9:	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	16	and	Older	in		

Motor	Vehicle	Traffic	Crashes	by	Year,	Time	of	Day,	and	Restraint	Use

Year	and	Time	of	Day

Restrained Unrestrained Total

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Nighttime 4,878 32 10,319 68 15,197 100

Daytime 7,759 50 7,763 50 15,522 100

Unknown 59 22 210 78 269 100

Total

Nighttime

12,719 41 18,269 59 30,988 100

4,945 34 9,721 66 14,666 100

Daytime 8,182 53 7,255 47 15,437 100

Unknown 100 31 217 69 317 100

Total

Nighttime

13,260 44 17,160 56 30,420 100

5,051 35 9,316 65 14,367 100

Daytime 8,173 53 7,114 47 15,287 100

Unknown 83 30 189 70 272 100

Total

Nighttime

13,328 45 16,598 55 29,926 100

5,217 36 9,436 64 14,653 100

Daytime 7,901 53 7,064 47 14,965 100

Unknown 75 32 161 68 236 100

Total

Nighttime

13,221 44 16,633 56 29,854 100

5,143 36 9,247 64 14,390 100

Daytime 7,642 54 6,633 46 14,275 100

Unknown 71 29 175 71 246 100

Total 12,874 45 16,037 55 28,911 100

Source: NCSA, FARS 2002-2005 (Final), 2006 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use was distributed proportionally to known categories.


NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

Table	10:	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	16	and	Older		

in	Motor	Vehicle	Traffic	Crashes	by	Year,	Vehicle	Type,	and	Restraint	Use

Year	and	Vehicle	Type

Restrained Unrestrained Total

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Passenger Car 9,167 47 10,319 53 19,486 100

Light Truck - Pickup 1,509 26 4,343 74 5,852 100

Light Truck - Utility 1,261 34 2,476 66 3,737 100

Light Truck - Van 798 42 1,085 58 1,883 100

Light Truck - Other 4 13 26 87 30 100

Total

Passenger Car

12,719 41 18,269 59 30,988 100

9,337 50 9,293 50 18,630 100

Light Truck - Pickup 1,661 29 4,089 71 5,750 100

Light Truck - Utility 1,465 36 2,652 64 4,117 100

Light Truck - Van 815 43 1,083 57 1,898 100

Light Truck - Other 8 30 18 70 25 100

Total

Passenger Car

13,260 44 17,160 56 30,420 100

9,147 51 8,925 49 18,072 100

Light Truck - Pickup 1,716 31 3,909 69 5,625 100

Light Truck - Utility 1,637 37 2,748 63 4,385 100

Light Truck - Van 834 46 980 54 1,814 100

Light Truck - Other 11 36 19 64 30 100

Total

Passenger Car

13,328 45 16,598 55 29,926 100

8,909 51 8,678 49 17,587 100

Light Truck - Pickup 1,812 31 4,052 69 5,864 100

Light Truck - Utility 1,642 37 2,844 63 4,486 100

Light Truck - Van 871 46 1,020 54 1,891 100

Light Truck - Other 3 13 23 88 26 100

Total

Passenger Car

13,221 44 16,633 56 29,854 100

8,624 51 8,330 49 16,954 100

Light Truck - Pickup 1,805 31 3,971 69 5,776 100

Light Truck - Utility 1,687 37 2,855 63 4,542 100

Light Truck - Van 775 48 841 52 1,616 100

Light Truck - Other 6 26 17 74 23 100

Total 12,874 45 16,037 55 28,911 100

Source: NCSA, FARS 2002-2005 (Final), 2006 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use was distributed proportionally to known categories.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Table	11:	Passenger	Vehicle	Occupant	Fatalities	16	and	Older	in		

Motor	Vehicle	Traffic	Crashes	by	Year,	Age,	and	Restraint	Use

Year	and	Age

Restrained Unrestrained Total

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

16-20 2,003 35 3,652 65 5,655 100

21-24 1,209 33 2,497 67 3,706 100

25-34 1,585 31 3,610 69 5,195 100

35-44 1,664 35 3,105 65 4,769 100

45-54 1,685 44 2,139 56 3,824 100

55-64 1,292 51 1,233 49 2,525 100

65+ 3,274 62 2,040 38 5,314 100

Total

16-20

12,719 41 18,269 59 30,988 100

1,962 37 3,326 63 5,288 100

21-24 1,214 34 2,361 66 3,575 100

25-34 1,771 35 3,265 65 5,036 100

35-44 1,716 37 2,894 63 4,610 100

45-54 1,738 45 2,136 55 3,874 100

55-64 1,353 51 1,296 49 2,649 100

65+ 3,490 65 1,898 35 5,388 100

Total

16-20

13,260 44 17,160 56 30,420 100

1,975 38 3,184 62 5,159 100

21-24 1,230 34 2,378 66 3,608 100

25-34 1,855 36 3,231 64 5,086 100

35-44 1,637 38 2,641 62 4,278 100

45-54 1,765 46 2,103 54 3,868 100

55-64 1,410 52 1,289 48 2,699 100

65+ 3,440 66 1,788 34 5,228 100

Total

16-20

13,328 45 16,598 55 29,926 100

1,899 39 3,020 61 4,919 100

21-24 1,265 34 2,406 66 3,671 100

25-34 1,731 34 3,414 66 5,145 100

35-44 1,664 39 2,623 61 4,287 100

45-54 1,744 45 2,146 55 3,890 100

55-64 1,503 53 1,332 47 2,835 100

65+ 3,395 66 1,712 34 5,107 100

Total

16-20

13,221 44 16,633 56 29,854 100

1,768 37 3,074 63 4,842 100

21-24 1,288 35 2,383 65 3,671 100

25-34 1,808 35 3,322 65 5,130 100

35-44 1,624 40 2,471 60 4,095 100

45-54 1,802 48 1,975 52 3,777 100

55-64 1,485 54 1,252 46 2,737 100

65+ 3,076 66 1,583 34 4,659 100

Total 12,874 45 16,037 55 28,911 100

Source: NCSA, FARS 2002-2005 (Final), 2006 (ARF) 

Unknown restraint use was distributed proportionally to known categories.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Table	12:	Distribution	of	Trips	by	Time	of	Day,	in	Percent

Trip	start	time

Midnight - 1 a.m.

Percent

0.4

SE

0.02

1 - 2 a.m. 0.2 0.01

2 -3 a.m. 0.2 0.01

3 - 4 a.m. 0.1 0.01

4 - 5 a.m. 0.4 0.02

5 - 6 a.m. 1.0 0.03

6 - 7 a.m. 2.6 0.05

7 - 8 a.m. 6.2 0.08

8 - 9 a.m. 5.5 0.08

9 - 10 a.m. 4.9 0.07

10 - 11 a.m. 5.9 0.08

11 a.m. - Noon 6.6 0.08

12 - 1 p.m. 7.4 0.08

1 - 2 p.m. 6.6 0.07

2 - 3 p.m. 7.3 0.09

3 - 4 p.m. 8.3 0.09

4 - 5 p.m. 7.8 0.08

5 - 6 p.m. 7.9 0.09

6 - 7 p.m. 6.7 0.09

7 - 8 p.m. 5.2 0.08

8 - 9 p.m. 3.9 0.07

9 - 10 p.m. 2.8 0.06

10 - 11 p.m. 1.6 0.05

11 p.m. - Midnight 0.9 0.03

Total 100.0

Notes: More accurately the categories are midnight to 00:59 a.m., 

a.m., etc. SE = standard error. 

Source: The 2001 National Household Travel Survey, daily trip file, 

of Transportation.

—

1 a.m. to 1:59 

U.S. Department 

This Research Note was written by Cherian Varghese (Data 

Reporting Team), Lorenzo Daniels (Information Services 

Team) of the Data Reporting and Information Division, and 

Dennis Utter, Office of Traffic Records and Analysis, National 

Center for Statistics and Analysis. For questions regarding the 

data reported in this publication, e-mail cherian.varghese@

dot.gov, lorenzo.daniels@dot.gov, or dennis.utter@dot.gov.

This Research Note and other general information on highway traffic safety may be accessed by Internet users at: wwwnrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/CATS/index.aspx.

References

1

 NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts: Occupant Protection. DOT HS 810 

807. 2007. Washington, DC: National Center for Statistics 

and Analysis, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Available at: www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810807.

PDF

2

 Bureau of Transportation Statistics. National Household 

Travel Survey 2001 Highlights Report, BTS03-05. 2003. 

Washington, DC: Department of Transportation. Available 

online at www.bts.gov/publications/highlights_of_the_

2001_national_household_travel_survey/pdf/entire.pdf

3

 NHTSA Research Note: Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities 

by Day and Night – A Contrast 2007. DOT HS 810 637. Washington, DC: National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Available 

at: www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810637.PDF