CAUSE OF DEATH
Unrestrained Occupants
Vehicle occupants killed while not wearing seatbelts or child restraints
- 130,380
- Total Fatalities (2015-2023)
- 37.3%
- % of All US Deaths
- 17,823
- Deaths (2023)
- Decreasing
- Trend
What the Data Shows
Unrestrained Occupants was identified as a contributing factor in 130,380 US road fatalities between 2015 and 2023, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. That total represents 37.3% of every traffic death logged nationwide during the same reporting window — a share large enough that changes in this single factor visibly move the national road-safety headline. In the most recent year on record (2023), 17,823 fatal crashes involved this cause, anchoring the category's persistent weight in US traffic deaths.
The trend line have been decreasing, with a -4.8% change over the reporting period. In raw counts, 2015 saw 10,136 fatalities attributed to unrestrained occupants, compared with 17,823 in 2023. A critical caveat applies to every cause page on this site: FARS contributing-factor codes are not mutually exclusive. A single fatal crash can be tagged simultaneously with alcohol impairment, excessive speed, lack of restraint, and nighttime conditions, so percentages across all cause categories deliberately sum to more than 100%. The correct read is "share of fatalities where this factor was involved," not "share of fatalities uniquely caused by this factor."
The data itself comes from a census — not a sample — of fatal motor vehicle crashes on US public roads, maintained by NHTSA and sourced from police crash reports, death certificates, and state highway agencies. That makes FARS the authoritative reference for US road fatality research, and it means the numbers on this page represent actual deaths recorded in 2015–2023, not projections. Readers using this data for policy or journalism should combine the unrestrained occupants figures with state-level pages for geographic context and with the methodology notes below for definitions of how each contributing factor is coded. All information is provided for research and informational purposes only.
% of All Fatalities
37.3%
Total Fatalities
130,380
2015–2023
2023 Fatalities
17,823
Trend
↓ Decreasing
-4.8% change
Yearly Trend
| Year | Unrestrained Occupants Fatalities | All Fatalities | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 10,136 | 35,484 | 28.6% |
| 2016 | 10,761 | 37,806 | 28.5% |
| 2017 | 10,584 | 37,473 | 28.2% |
| 2018 | 10,325 | 36,835 | 28.0% |
| 2019 | 15,368 | 36,355 | 42.3% |
| 2020 | 17,579 | 39,007 | 45.1% |
| 2021 | 19,082 | 43,230 | 44.1% |
| 2022 | 18,722 | 42,721 | 43.8% |
| 2023 | 17,823 | 40,901 | 43.6% |
About This Data
Unrestrained Occupants-related fatalities are tracked by the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Note that crash cause categories are not mutually exclusive — a single fatal crash may involve multiple contributing factors (e.g., alcohol impairment combined with speeding). The percentage shown represents the share of all traffic fatalities where unrestrained occupants was identified as a contributing factor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many road fatalities are caused by unrestrained occupants in the US?
Unrestrained Occupants was a contributing factor in 130,380 traffic fatalities between 2015 and 2023, accounting for 37.3% of all US traffic deaths during that period. In the most recent year (2023), there were 17,823 fatalities involving this cause.
Are unrestrained occupants-related fatalities increasing or decreasing?
Unrestrained Occupants-related fatalities have been decreasing, with a -4.8% change over the reporting period. In 2015 there were 10,136 fatalities, compared to 17,823 in 2023.
What percentage of all US road deaths involve unrestrained occupants?
Unrestrained Occupants is identified as a contributing factor in 37.3% of all traffic fatalities in the United States. Note that crash causes are not mutually exclusive — a single fatal crash may involve multiple contributing factors such as alcohol, speeding, and distraction simultaneously.
Where does the unrestrained occupants fatality data come from?
All data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), which is a census of all fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2015 through 2023 and is considered the definitive source for US road fatality statistics.
How can unrestrained occupants-related road deaths be reduced?
Reducing unrestrained occupants-related fatalities requires a combination of enforcement, engineering, and education. Federal agencies like NHTSA and state DOTs publish evidence-based countermeasures. Infrastructure improvements, technology adoption (such as advanced driver-assistance systems), and targeted awareness campaigns have all shown effectiveness in reducing specific cause categories.
Road Safety Guides
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Data covers 2015–2023. This information is for research and informational purposes only.
Related
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.