This document is available to the public from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161

U.S. Department

of Transportation

National Highway

Traffic Safety

Administration

DOT HS 809 727 April 2004

Technical Report

Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes 

on Indian Reservations 

1975 - 2002

National Center for Statistics and Analysis
This publication is distributed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway 

Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis in the interest of

information exchange. The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this publication are 

those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Department of Transportation, the National 

Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the National Center for Statistics and Analysis. The 

United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. If trade or 

manufacturer’s names or products are mentioned, it is only because they are considered essential 

to the object of the publication and should not be construed as an endorsement. The United 

States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers.
Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No.

DOT HS 809 727

2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No.

5. Report Date

April 2004

4. Title and Subtitle

Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes on Indian Reservations 1975 - 2002

6. Performing Organization Code

NPO-101

7. Author(s)

Poindexter, Keith

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

Rainbow Technology, Inc.

17106 Thatcher Court

Olney, MD 208532

11. Contract or Grant No.

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

NHTSA Technical Report

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

Mathematical Analysis Division, National Center for Statistics and Analysis

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 

U.S. Department of Transportation

NPO-101, 400 Seventh Street, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20590

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes

Keith Poindexter, author of this report, is a contractor of NCSA employed by Rainbow Technology, Inc.

Abstract

The objective of this study by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), was to examine the characteristics 

of fatal motor vehicle crashes that occurred on federal lands, specifically, those lands that have been designated as Indian 

reservations. Using data from the 1975 - 2002 NCSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), characteristics of 

these crashes were examined to better understand the circumstances that are involved in these particular types of crashes.

Five thousand nine hundred and sixty-two fatal motor vehicle crashes occurred on roads under the jurisdiction of Indian 

reservations between 1975 and 2002, an average of 213 fatal crashes per year. In 2002, the number of crashes on 

reservations reached a new high of 276, representing a 4.5% increase over the previous recorded high of 264 crashes in 

1996 and a 52.5% increase over the 181 crashes in 1975. Over the years, these crashes have resulted in the loss of 7,093 

lives of which 3,322 were drivers 2,717 were passengers and 1,001 were pedestrians. This report was written to provide 

additional information relative to these crashes.

17. Key Words

Indian reservation, Native American, fatal crashes, 

fatalities, vehicles involved, time of day, day of week, 

sex, age group, restraint use, speed-related, alcoholrelated, .

18. Distribution Statement

Document is available to the public through the 

National Technical Information Service, Springfield, 

VA 22161

http//:www.ntis.gov

19. Security Classif. (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classif. (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No. of Pages

22

22. Price

Form DOT F1700.07 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized
This document is available to the public from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161
i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1

RECOMMENDATIONS --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2

1. INTRODUCTION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

2. DATA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

3. METHODOLOGY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

4. FINDINGS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9

4.1 Fatal Crash Characteristics --------------------------------------------------------- 9

4.1.1 Number of Vehicles Involved ---------------------------------------------- 9

4.1.2 Daytime vs. Nighttime ----------------------------------------------------- 10

4.1.3 Day of Week ----------------------------------------------------------------- 10

4.1.4 Hour of the Day ------------------------------------------------------------- 11

4.2 Fatalities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

4.2.1 Fatalities by Sex ------------------------------------------------------------- 12

4.2.2 Fatalities by Age Group --------------------------------------------------- 14

4.3 Restraint Use ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15

4.4 Speeding ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16

4.5 Alcohol --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17

4.5.1 Crashes ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 17

4.5.2 Fatalities --------------------------------------------------------------------- 19

4.5.3 Drivers Involved ------------------------------------------------------------ 19

5. CONCLUSIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 21
ii

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 1. 

Fatal Crashes and Fatalities on Indian Reservations by Year and Person Type -------- 6

TABLE 2.

Percent of Fatal Crashes by Crash Type and Relation to Roadway, Reservations vs. 

U.S. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7

TABLE 3. 

Fatal Crashes on Indian Reservations by Time of Day and Day of Week ---------------- 8

TABLE 4. 

Crash Fatalities on Reservations by Age Group and Person Type ------------------------ 14

TABLE 5. 

Alcohol-Related Fatal Crashe s by Time of Day ----------------------------------------------- 18

TABLE 6. 

Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by Time of Day and % Alcohol Involvement (BAC 

0.01+) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20
iii

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1. 

Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes on Indian Reservations by Year ------------------------------ 5

FIGURE 2.

Percentage of Fatal Crashes in the U. S. By Special Jurisdiction --------------------------- 5

FIGURE 3. 

Fatal Crashes by Crash Type, Indian Reservations vs. U.S. --------------------------------- 9

FIGURE 4. 

Fatal Crashes by Day of Week, Indian Reservations vs. U.S. ------------------------------ 10

FIGURE 5. 

Fatal Crashes by Time of Day, Indian Reservations vs. U.S. ------------------------------- 11

FIGURE 6. 

Percent of Crash Fatalities by Sex on Indian Reservations --------------------------------- 12

FIGURE 7. 

Percent of Crash Fatalities by Sex in U.S. ------------------------------------------------------ 13

FIGURE 8. 

Crash Fatalities by Person Type on Indian Reservations ----------------------------------- 13

FIGURE 9. 

Passenger Cars and Light Truck Occupant Fatalities by Restraint Usage, 

Reservations vs. U.S. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15

FIGURE 10. 

Crash Fatalities by Speeding Status, Indian Reservations vs. U.S. ------------------------ 16

FIGURE 11. 

Alcohol-Related Fatal Crashes by Crash Type, Indian Reservations vs. U.S. ----------- 17

FIGURE 12. 

Percent Alcohol-Related Crash Fatalities, Indian Reservations vs. U.S. ------------------ 18

FIGURE 13. 

Percent Driver Alcohol Involvement in Fatal Crashes, Indian Reservations vs. U.S. -- 19

FIGURE 14. 

Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes at Night by Alcohol Involvement, Indian 

Reservations vs. U.S. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20
1
1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report was written to examine the characteristics of fatal motor vehicle crashes on Indian 

reservations as reported to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), Fatality 

Analysis Reporting Systems (FARS). It makes available to the public for the first time, motor 

vehicle crash statistics related to Indian reservations as collected by the FARS. Data from 1975 –

2002 were used to analyze crash characteristics such as the number of vehicles involved in the 

crash, time of day that the crash occurred, fatalities in the crash by sex and age, restraint use by 

occupants of passenger cars and light trucks involved in the crashes and the involvement of 

speed in these crashes. Alcohol involvement in fatal motor vehicle crashes on reservations that 

occurred between 1982 – 2002 was also examined. These are the only years for which alcohol 

data were collected in the FARS. In addition, from 1999 – 2002, the race of fatally injured 

drivers has been collected in the FARS. This race data for this four year period was analyzed for 

motor vehicle crashes on reservations as well. 

From 1975 to 2002, an average of 213 fatal motor vehicle crashes a year occurred on roads 

within areas designated as Indian reservations. During this time-period, the 5,962 fatal crashes 

have resulted in the loss of 7,093 lives. The number of fatal crashes has shown an increase over 

the years. The average number of fatal crashes for the first five years of this study (1975 - 1979) 

was just under 187 crashes per year, while the average number of crashes for the most recent five 

year period (1998 – 2002) increased 29.5 percent to 239 crashes per year. The number of 

fatalities in these crashes followed a similar pattern, for the first five years of the study, the 

average number of crash related fatalities was 231 fataltities per year, but for the last five years 

the average number of fatalities increased 23 percent to over 284 lives lost per year.

In comparing Indian Reservation crash fatality data with national crash data, Indian reservations 

show significantly higher levels of involvement in many areas. On reservations, the number of 

fatal motor vehicle crashes per year increased 52.5 percent, (from 181 fatal crashes in 1975 to 

276 fatal crashes in 2002), while the number of fatal crashes in the nation declined 2.2 percent, 

(from 39,161 fatal crashes to 38,309 fatal crashes).

Other findings are as follows:

• The percentage of fatal crashes on reservations that involved a single vehicle was almost 

twenty-six percent higher than the percentage in the nation (73% to 58%).

• Sixty-three percent of the fatalities in crashes on reservations were under 35 years old 

compared to fifty-seven percent of the nation’s crash fatalities.

• Seventy-six percent of passenger vehicle occupant fatalities on reservations were

unrestrained at the time of the fatal crash compared to sixty-eight percent of passenger 

vehicle occupant fatalities in the nation being unrestrained. 

• Forty-three percent of the fatalities on reservations were in speed related crashes while 

thirty–five percent of the nation’s fatalities were a result of a speed related crash.
2

• Since 1982, sixty-five percent of fatal crashes that occurred on reservations were alcohol 

related compared to forty-seven percent alcohol involvement in the nation.

• Forty-eight percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes on reservations since 1982, had a 

BAC of 0.01 or more compared to just thirty percent of drivers involved in motor vehicle 

crashes across the nation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Specific safety, education, and enforcement programs need to be established primarily for high 

risk Native Americans (under 35 years old), who make up 63 percent of the fatalities in motor 

vehicle crashes on Indian reservations. In addition, improvements in data and record keeping at 

the Federal and state level could result in better data for the FARS system. 
3

1. INTRODUCTION

There are 562 federally recognized Indian Nations, including Alaska Native villages. These 

Native Americans reside on 313 federal reservations that encompass an estimated 56 million 

acres of land. Indian reservations are considered special jurisdictions because of their special 

legal and political relationship with the Federal government. This land is reserved for a tribe 

when it relinquished its other land areas to the U.S. through treaties. Other special jurisdictions 

include national parks, military installations, college and university campuses and other Federal 

properties. Recently, several studies have identified American Indians as a group having elevated 

risks in motor vehicle fatalities due to factors such as alcohol and lack of restraint usage. This 

study used data collected in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 1975 – 2002 to 

identify trends and other related areas of concern in hopes that programs can be developed to 

target those particular groups affected the most. 

On roads under the jurisdiction of Indian reservations, 5,962 fatal motor vehicle crashes occurred 

between 1975 and 2002 (Figure 1). During this time period, the number of fatal crashes on 

Indian reservations has increased by 52.5 percent while the total number of fatal crashes in the 

United States has decreased 2.2 percent. These 5,962 fatal crashes on reservations represent less 

than one percent of the total number of fatal motor vehicle crashes that occurred in the nation 

during this time period (1,105,105), but they do represent almost 65 percent of all fatal motor 

vehicle crashes on roads within known special jurisdictions (9,179) (Figure 2).

Since the majority of residents of Indian reservations are American Indians, it is reasonable to 

assume that the majority of crashes that occurred in the Indian land involved American Indians. 

However, as businesses operating on the Indian reservations increase, it is of interest to know 

whether the racial composition of fatally injured people has changed over the years. The FARS 

started collecting race/ethnicity data from 1999. Based on data from 1999 to 2002, among 1,165 

reported fatalities on the Indian reservations, 726 are reported as American Indians, 329 reported 

as another race and 110 with race unknown. Using the known data, 69 percent of fatalities were 

reported as American Indians. The percentage has not changed greatly over the four years, with 

the annual values for American Indian fatalities being 73 percent, 66 percent, 68 percent and 67 

percent. The fact that about one third of the fatalities are non-Indians does suggest that nonresidents of the reservations are driving through or to the area. 

 
4

2. DATA

The analysis in this report is based on data from NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System 

(FARS), 1975 - 2002. Many of the Indian Reservation case reports have to be acquired by the 

state from the various tribal organizations, which are the governing authorities on these lands. 

The FARS Units can then in turn have access to them as part of the census of all fatal crash 

reports in the state.

There are conceivably those cases that are within the boundaries of a reservation but are 

investigated and reported by regular state agencies (as with a road that runs through a reservation 

but patrolled by state or county police). 

The FARS Units have various methods of detecting that cases exist for which they need to 

receive reports from "the tribes". Requests for these cases can meet with varying degrees of 

cooperation.

In this study FARS cases were taken as coded. Therefore any case that was given the special 

jurisdiction code of “3” was included. As stated above this designation is made at the state level 

and could in some cases conflict with Indian Reservations that are recognized by the Federal 

government. Cases could conceivably be classified as having occurred on a federal reservation 

when in fact, it occurred on a reservation that is recognized only on the state level. Further study 

is needed to determine how the codes are used and interpreted.

Alcohol involvement in fatal motor vehicle crashes on reservations that occurred between 1982 

and 2002 was also examined in this report. These are the only years for which the FARS alcohol 

data were available. 

3. METHODOLOGY

This study takes a look at motor vehicle crash trends over time to determine overall increases or 

decreases in fatal crashes and fatalities associated with those motor vehicle crashes on

reservations from 1975 through 2002. 

Reservation fatal crash statistics were also compared to national fatal crash totals to assess how 

the segment of the population that resides on reservations relates to the Nation as a whole.
5

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 – 2002

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 - 2002

Figure 2

Percentage of Crashes in the U.S. 

by Special Jurisdiction

National Park 

Service - 15%

Other Federal 

Properties - 9%

Other - 4%

Military - 6%

Colleges & 

Universities - 2%

Indian 

Reservations 65%

Figure 1

Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes on 

Indian Reservations 

100

150

200

250

300

19751977197919811983198519871989199119931995199719992001

Year 

Crashes
6

Table 1

Fatal Crashes and Fatalities on Indian Reservations

 By Year and Person Type

Year Crashes Total 

Fatalities

Driver 

Fatalities

Passenger 

Fatalities

Pedestrian

Fatalities

Other/

Unknown

Fatalities

1975 181 222 94 85 42 1

1976 170 213 102 84 25 2

1977 178 219 101 83 34 1

1978 208 251 110 95 44 2

1979 196 250 117 96 34 3

1980 206 249 93 104 52 0

1981 231 272 133 90 47 2

1982 177 193 88 58 45 2

1983 172 203 94 68 38 3

1984 165 190 79 74 35 2

1985 161 199 85 87 27 0

1986 218 255 124 96 35 0

1987 201 245 118 97 27 3

1988 230 263 134 90 36 3

1989 207 238 127 84 26 1

1990 201 229 103 88 37 1

1991 216 258 131 90 34 3

1992 194 227 107 89 28 3

1993 229 279 126 103 49 1

1994 250 294 146 105 42 1

1995 253 292 142 120 28 2

1996 264 311 135 131 42 3

1997 254 314 144 131 36 3

1998 214 262 126 104 31 1

1999 252 299 150 115 31 3

2000 232 282 137 114 27 4

2001 226 257 121 93 41 2

2002 276 327 155 143 28 1

Total 5,962 7,093 3,322 2,717 1,001 53

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 – 2002
7

Table 2

Percent of Fatal Crashes by Crash Type and Relation to Roadway –

 U.S./Reservations 

Crash Type On Road Off Road Other/Unknown Total

Number

Row %

Col % Number

Row %

Col % Number

Row %

Col % Number

Row %

Col %

Single-vehicle 1,236

28%

46% 2,662

61%

98% 475

11%

86% 4,373

100%

 73%

Multi-vehicle 1,424

93%

53% 40

9%

2% 64

1%

12% 1,528

100%

26%

Unknown 40 

66%

1% 6 

10%

* 15

25%

3% 61

100%

1%

Total 2,700

45%

100% 2,708

45%

100% 554

9%

100% 5,962

100%

100%

Percent of Fatal Crashes by Crash Type and Relation to Roadway –

U.S./Total

Crash Type On-Road Off-Road Other/Unknown Total

Number

Row %

Col % Number

Row %

Col % Number

Row %

Col % Number

Row %

Col % 

Single-vehicle 222,323

35%

34% 416,228

65%

96% 6,465

1%

88% 645,016 

100%

58%

Multi-vehicle 437,242

96%

66% 16,800

4%

4% 740

*

10% 454,782

100%

41%

Unknown 4,666

88%

* 497

9%

* 144

3%

2% 5,307

100%

1%

Total 664,231

60%

100% 433,525

39%

100% 7,349

1%

100% 1,105,105

100%

100%

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 - 2002

 * Denotes less than 1 percent
8

Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 – 2002 

* Categories do not include upper limit 

** Total includes 18 crashes of unknown day

Table 3

Fatal Crashes on Reservations by Time of Day and Day of Week

Day of Week

Time of 

Day

Sunday

Row%

Col%

Monday

Row%

Col%

Tuesday

Row%

Col%

Wednesday

Row%

Col%

Thursday

Row%

Col%

Friday

Row%

Col%

Saturday

Row%

Col% Total

Row%

Col%

Midnight –

3 am 212

25%

19% 70

8%

12% 64

7%

11% 48

6%

8% 86

10%

13% 114

13%

12% 259

30%

17% 854

100%

14%

3 am- 6 am 159

26%

14% 48

8%

8% 43

7%

11% 45

7%

8% 61

10%

9% 59

10%

6% 187

31%

13% 602

100%

10%

6 am - 9am 104

21%

9% 51

10%

9% 39

8%

7% 49

10%

9% 59

12%

9% 67

13%

7% 137

27%

9% 506

100%

8%

9 am - Noon 83

18%

7% 48

11%

8% 43

9%

7% 48

11%

8% 62

14%

9% 60

13%

7% 110

24% 

7% 454

100%

8%

Noon – 3 pm 109

18%

10% 53

9%

9% 73

12%

12% 62

10%

11% 69

12%

10% 84

14%

9% 148

25%

10% 598

100%

10%

3 pm – 6 pm 155

17%

14% 107

12%

18% 108

12%

18% 102

11%

18% 101

11%

15% 147

16%

16% 186

21%

12% 907

100%

15%

6 pm – 9 pm 161

16%

15% 93

9%

16% 115

11%

19% 96

10%

17% 128

13%

19% 184

18%

20% 225

22%

15% 1,003

100%

17%

9 pm –

Midnight 89

11%

8% 93

11%

16% 89

11%

15% 92

11%

16% 97

12%

14% 175

21%

19% 191

23%

13% 826

100%

14%

Unknown 37

17%

3% 17

8%

3% 24

11%

4% 23

11%

4% 20

9%

3% 30

14%

3% 46

22%

3% 212

100%

4%

Total 1,109

19%

100% 580

10%

100% 598

10%

100% 565

9%

100% 683

11%

100% 920

15%

100% 1,489

25%

100% 5,962

100%

100%
9

4. FINDINGS

4.1 Fatal Crash Characteristics

4.1.1 Number of Vehicles Involved

Since 1975, over 58 percent (645,016) of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. were singlevehicle crashes (Table 2). On Indian reservations during the same period, the percentage of fatal 

crashes that were single vehicle was much higher at 73 percent (4,373) (Figure 3). Of those 

single-vehicle fatal crashes, 61 percent (2,662) occurred off the roadway. More than 98 percent

of the off-road fatal crashes were single-vehicle crashes. Nationwide, 96 percent of all off-road

fatal crashes involved a single-vehicle and about 65 percent of all single-vehicle crashes were 

off-road. Fatal crashes involving more than one vehicle accounted for 26 percent (1,528) of the 

total number of fatal crashes on reservations. Over 93 percent of these crashes occurred on the 

roadway (1,424) and 53 percent of all on-road crashes involved more than one vehicle. Singlevehicle off-road fatal crashes represented about 45 percent of all fatal crashes on reservations, 

whereas in the nation, they represent less than 38 percent of all fatal crashes. Multi-vehicle 

crashes on the road represented 24 percent of all fatal crashes on reservations and over 41

percent of all fatal crashes in the nation.

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 - 2002

Figure 3

Fatal Crashes by Crash Type 

Indian Reservations vs. U.S.

Single Vehicle Multi Vehicle

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Percent

Reservations U.S.

 
10

4.1.2 Daytime vs. Nighttime

When looking at daytime and nighttime crashes, 55 percent of fatal crashes on reservations 

happened at night (6:00 pm - 6:00 am), an average of 117 per year, or 3,285 since 1975. Over 41 

percent of all fatal crashes on Indian reservations occurred during the day (6:00 am - 6:00 pm). 

Excluding crashes where the time of crash is unknown, 2,465 crashes occurred during daytime 

hours on these reservations since 1975, an average of 88 fatal motor vehicle crashes per year. 

These percentages are just about the same as those for the United States as a whole, where just 

over 55 percent of all fatal crashes occur at night and just over 44 percent occur during the day.

4.1.3 Day of Week

Since 1975, 59 percent of all fatal crashes on Indian reservations occurred on Friday (15%), 

Saturday (25%) or Sunday (19%)(Figure 4). This compares with the 52 percent of all crashes in 

the nation on those same days. Saturday, with over one-fourth of the total crashes (1,489), is the 

day with the highest number of crashes on reservations, followed in order by Sunday (1,109), 

Friday (920), Thursday (683), Monday (580), Tuesday (598), and Wednesday (565). During this 

study period, an average of 53 crashes a year, or about one per week, occurred on Saturday, 40 

occurred on Sundays, 33 occurred on Fridays, 24 occurred on Thursdays, 21 occurred on

Mondays, 21 on occurred Tuesdays, and 20 occurred on Wednesdays. Nationally, crashes are 

more evenly distributed throughout the week, ranging from a high of 20 percent (Saturday), to a 

low of 11 percent (Tuesday).

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 - 2002

 

Figure 4

Fatal Crashes by Day of Week

 Indian Reservations vs. U. S.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Day of Week

Percent

Reservations U.S.

 
11

4.1.4 Hour of the Day

The most likely time to be involved in a fatal crash on an Indian reservation is between 3 pm - 9 

pm. Almost one-third (32%) of all crashes in these special jurisdictions occurred during this six 

hour period. Over sixty percent of all crashes on reservations occurred between 3 pm and 3 am 

(Table 3). The time-periods listed by highest percentage of crashes on reservations are (Figure 

5): 

6 pm – 9 pm (1,003 crashes, 17%), 3 pm – 6 pm (907 crashes, 15%),

Midnight – 3 am (854 crashes, 14%), 9 pm – Midnight (826 crashes, 14%),

3 am – 6 am (602 crashes, 10%), Noon – 3 am (598 crashes, 10%),

6 am – 9 am (506 crashes, 9%), 9 am – noon (454 crashes, 8%)

Nationally, the picture is very similar; the hours with the highest incidence of fatal crashes are:

6 pm – 9 pm (just over 16%), 9 pm – midnight (16%),

3 pm – 6 pm (16%), Midnight – 3 am (under 15%),

Noon – 3 pm (12%), 9 am – noon (9%),

6 am – 9 am (just over 8%) 3 am – 6 am (just under 8%).

The day and hour combination that appears most deadly on reservations is the midnight to 3 am 

time-period on Saturday, with 259 crashes having occurred during the years covered by this 

report.

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 - 2002

Figure 5

Fatal Crashes by Time of Day 

Indian Reservations vs. U.S.

0

5

10

15

20

Midnight - 3 am 3 am - 6 am 6 am - 9 am 9 am - 12 am Noon - 3 pm 3 pm - 6 pm 6 pm - 9 pm 9 pm - 12 pm

Time of Day 

Percent

Reservations U.S.
12

4.2 Fatalities

From 1975 through 2002, 7,093 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes on Indian

reservations, compared to 1.2 million fatalities in the U.S. Of this total, 3,322, or about 47 

percent, were drivers. Nationally, the percentage of drivers killed is much higher, at 58 percent. 

Fatally injured passengers (including unknown occupant types), numbered 2,717, or 38 percent 

of reservation motor vehicles fatalities. Across the nation, a smaller percentage of passengers are 

killed (26%). At the same time, 1,001 or 14 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities were

pedestrians. This percentage is the same as that of pedestrians killed in the nation (14%). Based 

on these totals, fatal motor vehicle crashes on Indian reservations kill an average of 253 people

per year, of which 119 are drivers, 97 are passengers and 36 are pedestrians.

4.2.1 Fatalities by Sex

Almost 2.3 times as many males were killed in motor vehicle crashes on Indian reservations as 

females. A similar proportion is exhibited in male to female fatalities in the nation (2.3 to 1). 

There appears to be a decline in the percentage of male fatalities and an increase in the 

percentage of female fatalities on reservations (Figure 6). A similar pattern emerges for the 

United Sates as a whole (Figure 7). Since 1975, motor vehicle crashes on reservations have 

resulted in 4,916 males (69% of crash fatalities), and 2,176 females (31% of crash fatalities) 

were killed. This is an average of 176 males and 78 females killed in reservation crashes per 

year.

Analysis by person type reveals that of the drivers killed, 2,511, or 76 percent, were male 

compared to 811, or 24 percent, female. The percentage of drivers killed in the nation breaks 

down to 78 percent males to 22 percent females. In an average year, 119 drivers were killed, of 

those drivers, 90 were male and only 29 were female. In other words, for every female driver 

killed in a crash, 3.1 male drivers were killed.

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 – 2002

Figure 6

Percent of Crash Fatalities by Sex on Indian Reservations

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

19751977197919811983198519871989199119931995199719992001

Percent

Males Females
13

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 – 2002

Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 – 2002

Figure 7

Percent of Crash Fatalities by Sex in U.S.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

19751977197919811983198519871989199119931995199719992001

Percent

Males Females

Figure 8 

Crash Fatalities by Person Type

on Indian Reservations 

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

<16 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Unknown

Age Group

Fatalities

Driver

Passenger

Pedestrian

Pedalcyclist

Other nonoccs
14

4.2.2 Fatalities by Age Group

Almost 63 percent (4,490) of fatally injured persons in crashes on reservations were younger 

than 35 years of age. Nationally, about 57 percent of motor vehicle fatalities were under the age 

of 35. Twenty-nine percent (2,078) of the fatalities on Indian reservations were persons between 

the ages of 16 and 24. This is the same as the nationwide percentage for fatalities of the same 

age group. In comparison, persons 65 years old and older contributed less than 7 percent (473) to 

the total number of fatalities on reservations while contributing almost 14 percent of nationwide 

fatalities. 

The number of fatalities by age group and person type gives a clearer picture of the fatalities on

Indian reservations (Figure 8). Occupants killed in motor vehicle crashes made up 85 percent of 

the total fatalities. Fifty-five percent (3,322) of the occupant fatalities were drivers and 45 

percent (2,717) were passengers. Distribution of occupant fatalities by age group reveals that in 

the driver category, a total of 1,097 (33%) of the fatally injured drivers were less than 25 years 

old, and an additional 933 drivers (28%) were between 25 and 34 years old (Table 4). Drivers 

under the age of 35 comprise over 61 percent of all driver fatalities and 34 percent of all 

occupant fatalities on Indian reservations since 1975. Passengers under 25 years old contributed 

48 percent (1,305) to the total number of passengers fatally injured, while passengers between 25 

and 34 years old contributed another 20 percent (537). Passengers under 35 years old made up 

68 percent of all passengers killed in motor vehicle crashes on Indian reservations. At the other 

end of the spectrum, occupants 65 and older killed in crashes on reservations accounted for 6 

percent of all occupant fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, with older drivers contributing almost 

3 percent (208) and older passengers contributing less than 3 percent (176) of all motor vehicle 

fatalities on Indian reservations.

Table 4

Crash Fatalities on Reservations

 By Age Group and Person Type

Occupants Nonoccupants

Age Group Driver Passenger Pedestrian

Pedalcylist

& Other Total

< 16 70 506 110 24 710

16-24 1,027 799 240 12 2,078

25-34 933 537 226 6 1,702

35-44 548 315 145 2 1,010

45-54 317 219 96 3 635

55-64 207 142 85 3 437

65+ 208 176 87 2 473

Unknown 12 23 12 1 48

Total 3,322 2,717 1,001 53 7,093

Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 – 2002
15

There have been 1,047 non-occupants killed on reservations since 1975. This represents just over 

15 percent of all fatalities. Fifty-nine percent of these non-occupant fatalities were under the age 

of 35. The largest group of fatally injured non-occupants was pedestrians, which accounted for 

nearly all (96%) of the non-occupant fatalities. Young people under the age of 35 accounted for a 

majority (58%) of the pedestrian fatalities.

4.3 Restraint Use

Since 1975, 5,200 occupants of passenger cars and light trucks were killed in motor vehicle 

crashes on Indian reservations. Over 76 percent (3,969) of the fatally injured occupants were not 

restrained at the time of the crash. An average of 147 unrestrained occupants of passenger 

vehicles were killed annually when involved in a fatal crash on a reservation. At the same time, 

only 18 restrained occupant fatalities were recorded per year. In 1985, almost 89 percent of 142 

passenger vehicle occupants killed were not wearing restraints. Since then, restraint usage has 

increased (Figure 9). Based on findings of the National Occupant Protection Use Survey, the 

national observed belt use rate in 1994 was 58 percent. That same year, 31 percent of passenger 

vehicle occupants killed in the nation were wearing restraints compared to 19 percent of the 

occupants of this vehicle type involved in fatal crashes on Indian reservations. In 1996, the 

national observed belt use rate in fatal crashes was 61.3 percent. Nationally, 33 percent of 

passenger vehicle occupant fatalities were restrained compared to 18 percent of passenger 

vehicle occupants in Indian reservation fatal crashes. In 1998, the national observed rate was 

68.9 percent. Across the nation, 35 percent of passenger vehicle occupant fatalities were

restrained while 19 percent of the passenger vehicle occupant fatalities on Indian reservations 

were. In 2002, the national observed rate was 75 percent. Across the nation, 38 percent of 

passenger vehicle occupant fatalities were restrained while 16 percent of the passenger vehicle 

occupant fatalities on Indian reservations were. These comparisons tell us that restraint usage by 

passenger vehicle occupants on reservations continues to run behind the national restraint usage 

rate and the gap is widening. 

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 – 2002

Figure 9

Passenger Car and Light Truck Occupant Fatalities 

by Restraint Usage, Reservations vs. U.S.

0

10

20

30

40

19751977197919811983198519871989199119931995199719992001

Percent

Restraint Used - Reservations Restraint Used - US
16

 4.4 Speeding

On Indian reservations, an average of 108 lives were lost in 89 crashes every year since 1975 

because of speeding. Speed-related crashes accounted for more than 42 percent (2,501) of all 

motor vehicle crashes on reservations (5,962). Figure 10 shows that almost 43 percent (3,044) of 

the 7,093 lives lost in fatal motor vehicle crashes on Indian reservations were the result of 

someone exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions. In the nation, speedrelated crashes accounted for 34 percent of all fatal crashes and speed was involved in 35 percent

of all fatalities in crashes. In multi-vehicle crashes, at least one of the drivers involved was 

speeding. (It is not necessary for the fatally injured person and the speeding driver to be in the 

same vehicle for a crash to be speed-related, except in the case of single-vehicle crashes.) The 

seventy-two percent of people (2,083) that were killed in speed-related crashes on reservations 

were involved in a single-vehicle crash. This is almost 10 percent more than the 63 percent of 

people killed across the nation in speed-related single-vehicle crashes

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1975 - 2002

Figure 10

Crash Fatalities by Speeding Status

Indian Reservations vs U.S.

Speeding No Speeding

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Percent

Reservations U.S.
17

4.5 Alcohol

4.5.1 Crashes

Since 1982 (the year that collection of alcohol data was introduced to the FARS database), 4,592 

fatal crashes have occurred on Indian reservations. Utilizing a new imputation methodology 

developed by NCSA and introduced in 2001, an estimated 65 percent (2,992) of the crashes that 

occurred during this time period, (1982-2002), were alcohol related (Table 5). Nationally, only 

47 percent of the total crashes during this same time period were alcohol related. This is an 18 

percent difference in alcohol involvement during the same period. An alcohol-related fatal crash 

is defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a crash in which either a 

driver or a non-occupant had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 grams per deciliter (g/dl) or 

greater. In the 3,414 single-vehicle crashes on reservations since 1982, 68 percent (2,327) were 

alcohol related (Figure 11). In comparison, 1,178 multi-vehicle fatal crashes occurred on

reservations and only 56 percent (665) involved alcohol. Nationally, only 55 percent of singlevehicle crashes and 37 percent of multi-vehicle crashes were alcohol related. Through the years, 

the percentage of alcohol-related crashes has dropped on reservations about 17 percent (72% in 

1982 to 55% in 2002), whereas in the nation, an 18 percent decrease has occurred (59% in 1982 

to 41% in 2002). The highest rate of alcohol-related crashes was recorded in 1987 (153 of 201). 

That year, over 76 percent of all crashes on reservations involved alcohol. The lowest rate was 

recorded in 1996, when only 55 percent (146 out of 264) of crashes were alcohol related. This 

rate was matched in 2002 when 152 out of 276 (55%) were alcohol related. Sixty-five percent 

(1,955 out of 2,992) of alcohol-related crashes on reservations happened at night (6:00 pm – 6:00 

am). Seventy-seven percent of the nation’s alcohol-related crashes occurred at night. The single 

most deadly period was between midnight and 3:00 am. During this period, 88 percent (562 of 

636 crashes) of the fatal crashes involved alcohol. The same can be said for the nation as a 

whole where 83 percent of crashes involved some level of alcohol.

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1982 - 2002

Figure 11

Alcohol-Related Fatal Crashes by Crash Type

Reservations vs. U.S. 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Single-Vehicle Multi-Vehicle

Percent

Reservations U.S.
18

Table 5

Alcohol-Related Fatal Crashes by Time of Day

Time of Day Crashes

% 

Alcohol 

Related -

Reservations

% Alcohol 

RelatedU.S.

Midnight–3 am 636 88 83

3 am-6 am 456 84 69

6 am–9 am 409 50 20

9 am-2 am 344 38 14

Noon-3 pm 471 46 19

3 pm-6 pm 708 53 31

6 pm-9 pm 748 69 53

9 pm-12 pm 628 79 70

Unknown 192 56 72

Total 4,592 65 47

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1982 – 2002

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1982 –2002

Figure 12 

Percent Alcohol-Related Crash Fatalities 

Reservations vs U.S.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

19821984198619881990199219941996199820002002

Percent

Reservations U.S.
19

4.5.2 Fatalities

Since 1982, 3,554 persons have been killed in crashes on reservations where alcohol was 

involved since 1982. These fatalities represented 66 percent of all fatalities in motor vehicle 

crashes on reservations during this period (5,417). Nationally, only 47 percent of fatalities were 

alcohol-related. Alcohol involvement for persons killed in reservation crashes reached a high of 

76 percent in 1987 (Figure 12), while the nation’s rate of alcohol involvement has never reached 

more than 60 percent, and, in most years, has decreased. 

 Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1982 – 2002

4.5.3 Drivers Involved

Of the 5,705 drivers involved in fatal crashes on reservations since 1982, almost half (48%) had 

a BAC of 0.01 or more. Nationally, only 30 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes had 

BAC levels of 0.01 or more. 

Sixty-one percent of drivers involved in crashes at night (6 pm to 6 am) on reservations had 

some level of alcohol, compared to 49 percent of the nighttime drivers across the country (Figure 

14). More important to note is the fact that almost 3 out of 4 drivers (73%) involved in crashes 

between midnight and 3 am had BAC levels of 0.01 or more. Comparable statistics for the nation 

show that 2 out of 3 (66%) drivers involved in crashes during the same period had BAC levels of 

0.01 or more (Table 6).

Figure 13 

Percent Driver Alcohol Involvement

Reservations vs. U.S.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

19821984198619881990199219941996199820002002

Percent

Reservations U.S.
20

Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1982 - 2002

Source: NCSA, NHTSA, FARS 1982 - 2002

Table 6

Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by Time of Day and 

% Alcohol Involvement (BAC=0.01+)

Number of Drivers 

Involved

Drivers Involved with 

BAC 0.01+

Reservations

Drivers Involved with 

BAC 0.01+

Time of Day U.S.

Reservations U.S. Number % Number %

Midnight-3 am 735 148,004 539 73 97,228 66

3 am- 6 am 507 77,659 3,634 72 40,533 52

6 am- 9 am 516 112,986 196 38 13,003 12

9 am-Noon 328 80,604 91 28 6,639 8

Noon- 3 pm 639 162,606 213 33 17,656 11

3 pm-6 pm 945 210,870 376 46 38,493 18

6 pm-9 pm 689 130,826 298 43 38,552 29

9 pm-Midnight 757 170,676 426 56 80,907 47

Unknown 589 105,007 256 43 31,134 30

Total 5,705 1,199,308 2,757 48 364,144 30

Figure 14

Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes at Night by Alcohol 

Involvement

Reservations vs. U.S.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Reservations U.S.

Percent

Alcohol No Alcohol
21

5. CONCLUSIONS

This report was written to examine the characteristics of fatal motor vehicle crashes on Indian 

reservations as reported to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), Fatality 

Analysis Reporting Systems (FARS). Analysis using the FARS reveals that since 1975:

• The number of fatal motor vehicle crashes on Indian reservations increased by 52.5

percent compared to a decrease of 2.2 percent for the nation,

• 58 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. were single vehicle crashes 

while 73 percent of the crashes on Indian reservations involved a single vehicle.

• 44 percent of all fatal crashes on reservations occurred on Saturday or Sunday while 

just 36 percent of all fatal crashes in the nation occurred on the same days.

• 32 percent of all fatal crashes in the nation occurred between 3 pm and 9 pm and the 

same is true for reservations.

• Drivers made up 47 percent of fatalities in crashes on Indian reservations compared to 

58 percent of those killed in crashes in the U.S. 

• Fatally injured passengers made up 26 percent of the nation’s crash fatalities

compared to 38 percent of crash fatalities on Indian reservations.

• Pedestrians made up 14 percent of persons killed in fatal crashes on reservations and 

in the nation.

• 63 percent of the fatalities in crashes on reservations were under 35 years old

compared to 57 percent of those in the nation.

• 33 percent of driver fatalities on reservations were under 25 years old compared to 31

percent of the drivers in the nation. 

• 76 percent of the fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants on reservations were 

unrestrained at the time of the crash compared to 68 percent of passenger vehicle 

passengers killed in the nation.

• Almost 43 percent of the lives lost on reservations were in speed related crashes while 

35 percent of the nation’s fatalities were speed-related.

• Since 1982, 65 percent of all crashes on reservations were alcohol related while only 

47 percent of the nation’s fatal crashes involved alcohol.

• 88 percent of crashes on reservations between midnight and 3 am since 1982, involved 

alcohol compared to 83 percent during the same time period nationally.

• 48 percent of drivers involved in crashes on reservation since 1982 had a BAC of 0.01 

or more compared to just 30 percent of drivers involved in crashes across the nation.

When comparing more recent changes between 2001 and 2002, analysis also reveals a number of 

noteworthy results. In 2002, the number of crashes (276) on reservations increased by 25 percent

over the 2001 total (226). In the nation, the number of crashes increased by only 1 percent from 

2001 to 2002. This also represents an increase of 5 percent over the previous high of 264 that was 

reached in 1996. It is believed that increased interest in the reporting levels of reservations has 

resulted in better reporting of crashes in these areas. Rates need to be analyzed using vehiclemiles-of-travel, population, licensed drivers and/or registered vehicles as well as the reporting 

levels within the NHTSA regions to better understand what is happening.
22

In 2002, 35.5 percent of fatalities in fatal crashes on reservations were female, a slight increase 

over the percentage of female fatalities in 2001 (33.1%), while the percentage of female drivers 

killed in these crashes decreased from 34.7 percent in 2001, to 28.4 percent in 2002. 

Restraint usage, speeding, and alcohol involvement are three big causes of concern on

reservations. The restraint usage rate, for the most recent year, 2002, is 16 percent for fatally 

injured occupants of passenger cars and light trucks. This compares unfavorably with the 38

percent restraint usage rate for the nation. Forty-one percent of fatal crashes on reservations in 

2002 involved speeding compared to 31 percent in the nation. Forty-two percent of the fatalities 

in crashes were the result of a crash where at least one vehicle was speeding. This is 10 percent

more than the 32 percent for the nation. Similarly, 56 percent of the fatalities on reservations in 

2002 were the result of an alcohol-related crash compared to 41 percent in the nation. Drivers 

involved in alcohol-related crashes on reservations (48%) are still about 18 percent higher than 

the drivers involved in alcohol-related crashes in the nation (30%) as a whole.

Specific safety, education, and enforcement programs need to be established primarily for high 

risk Native Americans (under 35 years old), who make up 63 percent of the fatalities in motor 

vehicle crashes on Indian reservations. In addition, improvements in data and record keeping at 

the Federal and state level could result in better data for the FARS system.
This document is available to the public from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161

DOT HS 809 727

April 2004