Fatality Facts 2021Children
Overview
Deaths of children younger than 13 in motor vehicle crashes have declined since 1975, but crashes still cause 1 of every 4 unintentional injury deaths.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have child restraint laws on the books. However, even though more children now ride restrained because of these laws, many children, particularly those 4 and older, still ride unrestrained.
The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
Posted May 2023.
Trends
Seventy-eight percent of child motor vehicle crash deaths in 2021 were passenger vehicle occupants, 15% were pedestrians, and 2% were bicyclists. Child pedestrian and bicyclist deaths declined by 91% and 95%, respectively, since 1975. Passenger vehicle child occupant deaths in 2021 were 48% lower than in 1975.
Motor vehicle crash deaths among children younger than 13 by type, 1975-2021 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Passenger vehicle occupants | Pedestrians | Bicyclists | Total* | ||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
1975 | 1,384 | 38 | 1,632 | 45 | 446 | 12 | 3,643 | 100 |
1976 | 1,343 | 39 | 1,522 | 44 | 394 | 12 | 3,424 | 100 |
1977 | 1,405 | 42 | 1,390 | 42 | 395 | 12 | 3,347 | 100 |
1978 | 1,395 | 41 | 1,419 | 42 | 387 | 11 | 3,367 | 100 |
1979 | 1,331 | 42 | 1,291 | 41 | 362 | 11 | 3,171 | 100 |
1980 | 1,331 | 44 | 1,183 | 39 | 346 | 11 | 3,048 | 100 |
1981 | 1,189 | 44 | 1,064 | 39 | 332 | 12 | 2,733 | 100 |
1982 | 1,158 | 45 | 986 | 38 | 265 | 10 | 2,573 | 100 |
1983 | 1,134 | 45 | 944 | 37 | 298 | 12 | 2,518 | 100 |
1984 | 1,081 | 45 | 935 | 39 | 253 | 10 | 2,422 | 100 |
1985 | 1,131 | 46 | 925 | 37 | 278 | 11 | 2,469 | 100 |
1986 | 1,188 | 47 | 913 | 36 | 293 | 12 | 2,537 | 100 |
1987 | 1,312 | 49 | 898 | 34 | 297 | 11 | 2,654 | 100 |
1988 | 1,354 | 50 | 905 | 34 | 284 | 11 | 2,701 | 100 |
1989 | 1,469 | 55 | 786 | 30 | 276 | 10 | 2,658 | 100 |
1990 | 1,268 | 54 | 768 | 33 | 185 | 8 | 2,332 | 100 |
1991 | 1,234 | 55 | 695 | 31 | 226 | 10 | 2,257 | 100 |
1992 | 1,233 | 57 | 635 | 29 | 215 | 10 | 2,165 | 100 |
1993 | 1,221 | 56 | 644 | 30 | 203 | 9 | 2,164 | 100 |
1994 | 1,344 | 58 | 659 | 29 | 205 | 9 | 2,301 | 100 |
1995 | 1,339 | 61 | 597 | 27 | 197 | 9 | 2,201 | 100 |
1996 | 1,346 | 62 | 570 | 26 | 164 | 8 | 2,186 | 100 |
1997 | 1,330 | 63 | 513 | 24 | 172 | 8 | 2,108 | 100 |
1998 | 1,333 | 66 | 464 | 23 | 152 | 7 | 2,032 | 100 |
1999 | 1,311 | 66 | 449 | 22 | 141 | 7 | 1,997 | 100 |
2000 | 1,264 | 67 | 403 | 21 | 136 | 7 | 1,888 | 100 |
2001 | 1,179 | 67 | 363 | 21 | 98 | 6 | 1,751 | 100 |
2002 | 1,131 | 70 | 317 | 20 | 92 | 6 | 1,617 | 100 |
2003 | 1,114 | 68 | 327 | 20 | 93 | 6 | 1,643 | 100 |
2004 | 1,173 | 71 | 293 | 18 | 82 | 5 | 1,645 | 100 |
2005 | 1,077 | 70 | 274 | 18 | 79 | 5 | 1,529 | 100 |
2006 | 1,013 | 71 | 267 | 19 | 76 | 5 | 1,430 | 100 |
2007 | 905 | 71 | 243 | 19 | 57 | 4 | 1,269 | 100 |
2008 | 699 | 67 | 215 | 21 | 57 | 5 | 1,047 | 100 |
2009 | 756 | 71 | 201 | 19 | 52 | 5 | 1,066 | 100 |
2010 | 653 | 68 | 212 | 22 | 36 | 4 | 962 | 100 |
2011 | 656 | 72 | 169 | 19 | 39 | 4 | 908 | 100 |
2012 | 641 | 67 | 208 | 22 | 39 | 4 | 958 | 100 |
2013 | 640 | 68 | 208 | 22 | 35 | 4 | 940 | 100 |
2014 | 604 | 69 | 167 | 19 | 39 | 4 | 875 | 100 |
2015 | 668 | 71 | 187 | 20 | 31 | 3 | 946 | 100 |
2016 | 730 | 71 | 198 | 19 | 35 | 3 | 1,033 | 100 |
2017 | 684 | 72 | 173 | 18 | 31 | 3 | 949 | 100 |
2018 | 641 | 72 | 165 | 19 | 26 | 3 | 890 | 100 |
2019 | 621 | 73 | 141 | 16 | 31 | 4 | 855 | 100 |
2020 | 618 | 73 | 144 | 17 | 26 | 3 | 850 | 100 |
2021 | 715 | 78 | 139 | 15 | 23 | 2 | 922 | 100 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
The rate of motor vehicle crash deaths per million children younger than 13 has decreased 78% overall since 1975. The rate at which children die as passenger vehicle occupants decreased 54%, while the rates at which they were killed as pedestrians and bicyclists declined 92% and 95%, respectively.
Motor vehicle crash deaths per million children younger than 13 by type, 1975-2021 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Population | Passenger vehicle occupants | Pedestrians | Bicyclists | Total* | ||||
Deaths | Rate | Deaths | Rate | Deaths | Rate | Deaths | Rate | ||
1975 | 45,851,304 | 1,384 | 30.2 | 1,632 | 35.6 | 446 | 9.7 | 3,643 | 79.5 |
1976 | 45,000,704 | 1,343 | 29.8 | 1,522 | 33.8 | 394 | 8.8 | 3,424 | 76.1 |
1977 | 44,337,332 | 1,405 | 31.7 | 1,390 | 31.4 | 395 | 8.9 | 3,347 | 75.5 |
1978 | 43,907,467 | 1,395 | 31.8 | 1,419 | 32.3 | 387 | 8.8 | 3,367 | 76.7 |
1979 | 43,778,959 | 1,331 | 30.4 | 1,291 | 29.5 | 362 | 8.3 | 3,171 | 72.4 |
1980 | 43,914,342 | 1,331 | 30.3 | 1,183 | 26.9 | 346 | 7.9 | 3,048 | 69.4 |
1981 | 44,049,940 | 1,189 | 27.0 | 1,064 | 24.2 | 332 | 7.5 | 2,733 | 62.0 |
1982 | 44,131,596 | 1,158 | 26.2 | 986 | 22.3 | 265 | 6.0 | 2,573 | 58.3 |
1983 | 44,119,297 | 1,134 | 25.7 | 944 | 21.4 | 298 | 6.8 | 2,518 | 57.1 |
1984 | 43,978,044 | 1,081 | 24.6 | 935 | 21.3 | 253 | 5.8 | 2,422 | 55.1 |
1985 | 44,260,136 | 1,131 | 25.6 | 925 | 20.9 | 278 | 6.3 | 2,469 | 55.8 |
1986 | 44,755,454 | 1,188 | 26.5 | 913 | 20.4 | 293 | 6.5 | 2,537 | 56.7 |
1987 | 45,348,247 | 1,312 | 28.9 | 898 | 19.8 | 297 | 6.5 | 2,654 | 58.5 |
1988 | 45,942,966 | 1,354 | 29.5 | 905 | 19.7 | 284 | 6.2 | 2,701 | 58.8 |
1989 | 46,690,604 | 1,469 | 31.5 | 786 | 16.8 | 276 | 5.9 | 2,658 | 56.9 |
1990 | 47,472,527 | 1,268 | 26.7 | 768 | 16.2 | 185 | 3.9 | 2,332 | 49.1 |
1991 | 48,240,747 | 1,234 | 25.6 | 695 | 14.4 | 226 | 4.7 | 2,257 | 46.8 |
1992 | 48,903,668 | 1,233 | 25.2 | 635 | 13.0 | 215 | 4.4 | 2,165 | 44.3 |
1993 | 49,335,864 | 1,221 | 24.7 | 644 | 13.1 | 203 | 4.1 | 2,164 | 43.9 |
1994 | 49,692,462 | 1,344 | 27.0 | 659 | 13.3 | 205 | 4.1 | 2,301 | 46.3 |
1995 | 49,920,484 | 1,339 | 26.8 | 597 | 12.0 | 197 | 3.9 | 2,201 | 44.1 |
1996 | 50,085,188 | 1,346 | 26.9 | 570 | 11.4 | 164 | 3.3 | 2,186 | 43.6 |
1997 | 50,364,983 | 1,330 | 26.4 | 513 | 10.2 | 172 | 3.4 | 2,108 | 41.9 |
1998 | 50,527,476 | 1,333 | 26.4 | 464 | 9.2 | 152 | 3.0 | 2,032 | 40.2 |
1999 | 50,667,139 | 1,311 | 25.9 | 449 | 8.9 | 141 | 2.8 | 1,997 | 39.4 |
2000 | 52,219,423 | 1,264 | 24.2 | 403 | 7.7 | 136 | 2.6 | 1,888 | 36.2 |
2001 | 52,341,395 | 1,179 | 22.5 | 363 | 6.9 | 98 | 1.9 | 1,751 | 33.5 |
2002 | 52,332,306 | 1,131 | 21.6 | 317 | 6.1 | 92 | 1.8 | 1,617 | 30.9 |
2003 | 52,187,602 | 1,114 | 21.3 | 327 | 6.3 | 93 | 1.8 | 1,643 | 31.5 |
2004 | 52,151,406 | 1,173 | 22.5 | 293 | 5.6 | 82 | 1.6 | 1,645 | 31.5 |
2005 | 52,149,395 | 1,077 | 20.7 | 274 | 5.3 | 79 | 1.5 | 1,529 | 29.3 |
2006 | 52,306,908 | 1,013 | 19.4 | 267 | 5.1 | 76 | 1.5 | 1,430 | 27.3 |
2007 | 52,585,809 | 905 | 17.2 | 243 | 4.6 | 57 | 1.1 | 1,269 | 24.1 |
2008 | 52,929,779 | 699 | 13.2 | 215 | 4.1 | 57 | 1.1 | 1,047 | 19.8 |
2009 | 53,753,412 | 756 | 14.1 | 201 | 3.7 | 52 | 1.0 | 1,066 | 19.8 |
2010 | 52,937,278 | 653 | 12.3 | 212 | 4.0 | 36 | <1 | 962 | 18.2 |
2011 | 52,921,253 | 656 | 12.4 | 169 | 3.2 | 39 | <1 | 908 | 17.2 |
2012 | 52,855,061 | 641 | 12.1 | 208 | 3.9 | 39 | <1 | 958 | 18.1 |
2013 | 52,719,631 | 640 | 12.1 | 208 | 3.9 | 35 | <1 | 940 | 17.8 |
2014 | 52,676,380 | 604 | 11.5 | 167 | 3.2 | 39 | <1 | 875 | 16.6 |
2015 | 52,764,080 | 668 | 12.7 | 187 | 3.5 | 31 | <1 | 946 | 17.9 |
2016 | 52,811,215 | 730 | 13.8 | 198 | 3.7 | 35 | <1 | 1,033 | 19.6 |
2017 | 52,726,410 | 684 | 13.0 | 173 | 3.3 | 31 | <1 | 949 | 18.0 |
2018 | 52,553,599 | 641 | 12.2 | 165 | 3.1 | 26 | <1 | 890 | 16.9 |
2019 | 52,266,740 | 621 | 11.9 | 141 | 2.7 | 31 | <1 | 855 | 16.4 |
2020 | 51,887,147 | 618 | 11.9 | 144 | 2.8 | 26 | <1 | 850 | 16.4 |
2021 | 51,691,096 | 715 | 13.8 | 139 | 2.7 | 23 | <1 | 922 | 17.8 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
It is recommended that children 12 and younger ride in the rear seats of vehicles. Fifteen percent of the passenger vehicle child occupant deaths in 2021 occurred in front seats, down from 46% in 1975, while 75% were in the rear, and the rest occurred in cargo or unknown areas.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths among children younger than 13 by seating position, 1975-2021 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Front seat | Rear seat | Cargo/unknown area | Total | ||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
1975 | 634 | 46 | 367 | 27 | 383 | 28 | 1,384 | 100 |
1976 | 563 | 42 | 423 | 31 | 357 | 27 | 1,343 | 100 |
1977 | 654 | 47 | 383 | 27 | 368 | 26 | 1,405 | 100 |
1978 | 676 | 48 | 394 | 28 | 325 | 23 | 1,395 | 100 |
1979 | 635 | 48 | 394 | 30 | 302 | 23 | 1,331 | 100 |
1980 | 661 | 50 | 374 | 28 | 296 | 22 | 1,331 | 100 |
1981 | 547 | 46 | 406 | 34 | 236 | 20 | 1,189 | 100 |
1982 | 570 | 49 | 421 | 36 | 167 | 14 | 1,158 | 100 |
1983 | 548 | 48 | 420 | 37 | 166 | 15 | 1,134 | 100 |
1984 | 523 | 48 | 394 | 36 | 164 | 15 | 1,081 | 100 |
1985 | 515 | 46 | 428 | 38 | 188 | 17 | 1,131 | 100 |
1986 | 550 | 46 | 486 | 41 | 152 | 13 | 1,188 | 100 |
1987 | 582 | 44 | 571 | 44 | 159 | 12 | 1,312 | 100 |
1988 | 604 | 45 | 575 | 42 | 175 | 13 | 1,354 | 100 |
1989 | 637 | 43 | 655 | 45 | 177 | 12 | 1,469 | 100 |
1990 | 542 | 43 | 548 | 43 | 178 | 14 | 1,268 | 100 |
1991 | 538 | 44 | 558 | 45 | 138 | 11 | 1,234 | 100 |
1992 | 514 | 42 | 602 | 49 | 117 | 9 | 1,233 | 100 |
1993 | 509 | 42 | 613 | 50 | 99 | 8 | 1,221 | 100 |
1994 | 543 | 40 | 631 | 47 | 170 | 13 | 1,344 | 100 |
1995 | 558 | 42 | 627 | 47 | 154 | 12 | 1,339 | 100 |
1996 | 558 | 41 | 654 | 49 | 134 | 10 | 1,346 | 100 |
1997 | 493 | 37 | 692 | 52 | 145 | 11 | 1,330 | 100 |
1998 | 463 | 35 | 729 | 55 | 141 | 11 | 1,333 | 100 |
1999 | 438 | 33 | 744 | 57 | 129 | 10 | 1,311 | 100 |
2000 | 382 | 30 | 752 | 59 | 130 | 10 | 1,264 | 100 |
2001 | 368 | 31 | 707 | 60 | 104 | 9 | 1,179 | 100 |
2002 | 326 | 29 | 693 | 61 | 112 | 10 | 1,131 | 100 |
2003 | 300 | 27 | 716 | 64 | 98 | 9 | 1,114 | 100 |
2004 | 292 | 25 | 793 | 68 | 88 | 8 | 1,173 | 100 |
2005 | 272 | 25 | 710 | 66 | 95 | 9 | 1,077 | 100 |
2006 | 214 | 21 | 731 | 72 | 68 | 7 | 1,013 | 100 |
2007 | 171 | 19 | 673 | 74 | 61 | 7 | 905 | 100 |
2008 | 131 | 19 | 512 | 73 | 56 | 8 | 699 | 100 |
2009 | 138 | 18 | 546 | 72 | 72 | 10 | 756 | 100 |
2010 | 110 | 17 | 494 | 76 | 49 | 8 | 653 | 100 |
2011 | 118 | 18 | 486 | 74 | 52 | 8 | 656 | 100 |
2012 | 90 | 14 | 501 | 78 | 50 | 8 | 641 | 100 |
2013 | 97 | 15 | 484 | 76 | 59 | 9 | 640 | 100 |
2014 | 92 | 15 | 465 | 77 | 47 | 8 | 604 | 100 |
2015 | 86 | 13 | 532 | 80 | 50 | 7 | 668 | 100 |
2016 | 100 | 14 | 554 | 76 | 76 | 10 | 730 | 100 |
2017 | 80 | 12 | 551 | 81 | 53 | 8 | 684 | 100 |
2018 | 86 | 13 | 513 | 80 | 42 | 7 | 641 | 100 |
2019 | 88 | 14 | 489 | 79 | 44 | 7 | 621 | 100 |
2020 | 98 | 16 | 462 | 75 | 58 | 9 | 618 | 100 |
2021 | 107 | 15 | 534 | 75 | 74 | 10 | 715 | 100 |
Children younger than 13 represented 16% of the U.S. population in 2021 and 2% of motor vehicle crash deaths.
U.S. population and motor vehicle crash deaths by age, 2021 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Age | Population | Motor vehicle crash deaths | ||
Number | % | Number | % | |
<13 | 51,691,096 | 16 | 922 | 2 |
All others | 280,202,649 | 84 | 42,017 | 98 |
Total | 331,893,745 | 100 | 42,939 | 100 |
Age and sex
In 1975, infants (younger than 1) had a much higher passenger vehicle occupant fatality rate per capita than children of other ages, but this gap narrowed over the years. Since 1975, fatality rates dropped 61% for infants, 71% for children ages 1-3, 41% for children ages 4-8, and 49% for children ages 9-12.
Passenger vehicle child occupant deaths per million children by age, 1975-2021 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | <1 year | 1-3 years | 4-8 years | 9-12 years | ||||||||
Population | Deaths | Rate | Population | Deaths | Rate | Population | Deaths | Rate | Population | Deaths | Rate | |
1975 | 3,152,345 | 190 | 60.3 | 9,333,943 | 395 | 42.3 | 17,579,867 | 451 | 25.7 | 15,785,149 | 348 | 22.0 |
1976 | 3,115,391 | 173 | 55.5 | 9,166,175 | 393 | 42.9 | 17,444,438 | 436 | 25.0 | 15,274,700 | 341 | 22.3 |
1977 | 3,278,804 | 188 | 57.3 | 9,129,735 | 412 | 45.1 | 17,194,329 | 459 | 26.7 | 14,734,464 | 346 | 23.5 |
1978 | 3,326,388 | 192 | 57.7 | 9,317,815 | 406 | 43.6 | 16,838,903 | 455 | 27.0 | 14,424,361 | 342 | 23.7 |
1979 | 3,426,309 | 171 | 49.9 | 9,461,992 | 384 | 40.6 | 16,465,482 | 473 | 28.7 | 14,425,176 | 303 | 21.0 |
1980 | 3,559,861 | 190 | 53.4 | 9,763,803 | 396 | 40.6 | 15,994,363 | 403 | 25.2 | 14,596,315 | 342 | 23.4 |
1981 | 3,607,455 | 172 | 47.7 | 10,011,438 | 332 | 33.2 | 15,894,690 | 401 | 25.2 | 14,536,357 | 284 | 19.5 |
1982 | 3,643,586 | 164 | 45.0 | 10,287,129 | 352 | 34.2 | 15,997,832 | 365 | 22.8 | 14,203,049 | 277 | 19.5 |
1983 | 3,649,198 | 157 | 43.0 | 10,499,379 | 353 | 33.6 | 16,268,975 | 372 | 22.9 | 13,701,745 | 252 | 18.4 |
1984 | 3,571,921 | 132 | 37.0 | 10,605,208 | 301 | 28.4 | 16,592,564 | 377 | 22.7 | 13,208,351 | 271 | 20.5 |
1985 | 3,678,657 | 130 | 35.3 | 10,594,540 | 326 | 30.8 | 17,015,987 | 385 | 22.6 | 12,970,952 | 290 | 22.4 |
1986 | 3,699,568 | 130 | 35.1 | 10,653,722 | 360 | 33.8 | 17,338,168 | 409 | 23.6 | 13,063,996 | 289 | 22.1 |
1987 | 3,703,294 | 160 | 43.2 | 10,725,924 | 387 | 36.1 | 17,651,459 | 467 | 26.5 | 13,267,570 | 298 | 22.5 |
1988 | 3,756,541 | 183 | 48.7 | 10,882,631 | 385 | 35.4 | 17,801,235 | 484 | 27.2 | 13,502,559 | 302 | 22.4 |
1989 | 3,858,435 | 183 | 47.4 | 10,981,085 | 402 | 36.6 | 17,938,226 | 526 | 29.3 | 13,912,858 | 358 | 25.7 |
1990 | 3,987,662 | 162 | 40.6 | 11,168,053 | 343 | 30.7 | 18,082,010 | 447 | 24.7 | 14,234,802 | 316 | 22.2 |
1991 | 4,009,515 | 143 | 35.7 | 11,468,844 | 339 | 29.6 | 18,154,546 | 442 | 24.3 | 14,607,842 | 310 | 21.2 |
1992 | 3,982,857 | 127 | 31.9 | 11,739,325 | 349 | 29.7 | 18,296,744 | 442 | 24.2 | 14,884,742 | 315 | 21.2 |
1993 | 3,908,335 | 152 | 38.9 | 11,898,416 | 361 | 30.3 | 18,612,278 | 431 | 23.2 | 14,916,835 | 277 | 18.6 |
1994 | 3,854,882 | 160 | 41.5 | 11,821,298 | 379 | 32.1 | 18,958,858 | 486 | 25.6 | 15,057,424 | 319 | 21.2 |
1995 | 3,813,169 | 153 | 40.1 | 11,668,778 | 346 | 29.7 | 19,309,487 | 484 | 25.1 | 15,129,050 | 356 | 23.5 |
1996 | 3,769,544 | 178 | 47.2 | 11,499,426 | 346 | 30.1 | 19,610,009 | 486 | 24.8 | 15,206,209 | 336 | 22.1 |
1997 | 3,779,543 | 133 | 35.2 | 11,371,094 | 327 | 28.8 | 19,788,553 | 502 | 25.4 | 15,425,793 | 368 | 23.9 |
1998 | 3,790,645 | 138 | 36.4 | 11,301,476 | 304 | 26.9 | 19,814,280 | 512 | 25.8 | 15,621,075 | 379 | 24.3 |
1999 | 3,819,903 | 142 | 37.2 | 11,269,665 | 310 | 27.5 | 19,629,729 | 497 | 25.3 | 15,947,842 | 362 | 22.7 |
2000 | 3,867,754 | 131 | 33.9 | 11,425,866 | 311 | 27.2 | 20,146,324 | 458 | 22.7 | 16,779,479 | 364 | 21.7 |
2001 | 4,025,873 | 106 | 26.3 | 11,497,211 | 290 | 25.2 | 19,875,164 | 450 | 22.6 | 16,943,147 | 333 | 19.7 |
2002 | 3,984,989 | 107 | 26.9 | 11,733,679 | 272 | 23.2 | 19,662,203 | 405 | 20.6 | 16,951,435 | 347 | 20.5 |
2003 | 4,033,482 | 120 | 29.8 | 11,922,039 | 265 | 22.2 | 19,522,343 | 401 | 20.5 | 16,709,738 | 328 | 19.6 |
2004 | 4,077,188 | 121 | 29.7 | 12,086,916 | 301 | 24.9 | 19,473,829 | 406 | 20.8 | 16,513,473 | 345 | 20.9 |
2005 | 4,106,627 | 119 | 29.0 | 12,135,517 | 247 | 20.4 | 19,614,024 | 417 | 21.3 | 16,293,227 | 294 | 18.0 |
2006 | 4,130,153 | 115 | 27.8 | 12,265,881 | 247 | 20.1 | 19,809,458 | 375 | 18.9 | 16,101,416 | 276 | 17.1 |
2007 | 4,257,020 | 96 | 22.6 | 12,403,983 | 225 | 18.1 | 20,011,375 | 335 | 16.7 | 15,913,431 | 249 | 15.6 |
2008 | 4,313,132 | 78 | 18.1 | 12,568,765 | 163 | 13.0 | 20,289,522 | 269 | 13.3 | 15,758,360 | 189 | 12.0 |
2009 | 4,261,494 | 69 | 16.2 | 12,857,476 | 180 | 14.0 | 20,780,673 | 288 | 13.9 | 15,853,769 | 219 | 13.8 |
2010 | 3,951,495 | 59 | 14.9 | 12,160,572 | 178 | 14.6 | 20,283,919 | 256 | 12.6 | 16,541,292 | 160 | 9.7 |
2011 | 3,963,264 | 59 | 14.9 | 12,040,695 | 157 | 13.0 | 20,421,887 | 252 | 12.3 | 16,495,407 | 188 | 11.4 |
2012 | 3,926,731 | 54 | 13.8 | 11,941,356 | 191 | 16.0 | 20,521,866 | 237 | 11.5 | 16,465,108 | 159 | 9.7 |
2013 | 3,931,411 | 49 | 12.5 | 11,929,234 | 162 | 13.6 | 20,465,693 | 250 | 12.2 | 16,393,293 | 179 | 10.9 |
2014 | 3,954,973 | 47 | 11.9 | 11,917,426 | 135 | 11.3 | 20,424,691 | 249 | 12.2 | 16,379,290 | 173 | 10.6 |
2015 | 3,984,144 | 50 | 12.5 | 11,917,777 | 173 | 14.5 | 20,380,178 | 256 | 12.6 | 16,481,981 | 189 | 11.5 |
2016 | 3,963,268 | 63 | 15.9 | 11,981,228 | 178 | 14.9 | 20,261,729 | 284 | 14.0 | 16,604,990 | 205 | 12.3 |
2017 | 3,882,437 | 76 | 19.6 | 12,012,185 | 173 | 14.4 | 20,155,615 | 249 | 12.4 | 16,676,173 | 186 | 11.2 |
2018 | 3,826,908 | 61 | 15.9 | 11,929,712 | 160 | 13.4 | 20,176,658 | 238 | 11.8 | 16,620,321 | 182 | 11.0 |
2019 | 3,762,227 | 54 | 14.4 | 11,763,116 | 128 | 10.9 | 20,200,429 | 252 | 12.5 | 16,540,968 | 187 | 11.3 |
2020 | 3,735,010 | 53 | 14.2 | 11,548,435 | 130 | 11.3 | 20,176,890 | 245 | 12.1 | 16,426,812 | 190 | 11.6 |
2021 | 3,564,493 | 84 | 23.6 | 11,327,107 | 139 | 12.3 | 20,168,671 | 306 | 15.2 | 16,630,825 | 186 | 11.2 |
In 2021, passenger vehicle occupants accounted for the majority of motor vehicle crash deaths for all age groups of children. Pedestrian fatalities accounted for 7% of crash deaths for children younger than 1, 23% for ages 1-3, 15% for ages 4-8, and 13% for ages 9-12. Children ages 9-12 had a larger percentage (5%) of bicycle fatalities than younger children. All-terrain vehicle fatalities accounted for 1% and 3% of crash deaths on public roads for children ages 4-8 and 9-12, respectively.
Child motor vehicle crash deaths by type and age, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | Passenger vehicle occupants | Motorcyclists | Pedestrians | Bicyclists | All-terrain vehicle riders | Other | Total motor vehicle deaths* | |||||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
<1 | 84 | 92 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 91 | 100 |
1-3 | 139 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 186 | 100 |
4-8 | 306 | 79 | 1 | 0 | 58 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 386 | 100 |
9-12 | 186 | 72 | 5 | 2 | 33 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 259 | 100 |
Total | 715 | 78 | 6 | 1 | 139 | 15 | 23 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 29 | 3 | 922 | 100 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
The rate of motor vehicle crash deaths per million children in 2021 was higher for males than females.
Motor vehicle crash deaths per million children younger than 13 by sex, 2021 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Sex | Number of children | Deaths | Rate |
Male | 26,442,279 | 503 | 19.0 |
Female | 25,248,817 | 414 | 16.4 |
Total* | 51,691,096 | 922 | 17.8 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
Fifty-five percent of children younger than 13 who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2021 were male. The sex difference in fatalities was greater among child bicyclists (74% males, 22% females) than among child pedestrians (58% males, 40% females) or occupants of passenger vehicles (53% males, 47% females).
Motor vehicle crash deaths among children younger than 13 by type and sex, 2021 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male | Female | Total* | ||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
Passenger vehicle occupants | 376 | 53 | 337 | 47 | 715 | 100 |
Pedestrians | 81 | 58 | 56 | 40 | 139 | 100 |
Bicyclists | 17 | 74 | 5 | 22 | 23 | 100 |
Total* | 503 | 55 | 414 | 45 | 922 | 100 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
Restraint use
The proportion of fatally injured children who are restrained has risen greatly during the past 35 years, from 15% in 1985 to 56% in 2021. According to a national observational survey, restraint use among children younger than 13 years was 90% in 2021.
Restraint use among fatally injured children in passenger vehicles by age, 1985 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | Unrestrained | Seat belt | Child safety seat | Total restrained | Unknown | Total | ||||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
<1 | 85 | 65 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 22 | 31 | 24 | 14 | 11 | 130 | 100 |
1-3 | 230 | 71 | 18 | 6 | 55 | 17 | 73 | 22 | 23 | 7 | 326 | 100 |
4-8 | 267 | 69 | 41 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 48 | 12 | 70 | 18 | 385 | 100 |
9-12 | 223 | 77 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 46 | 16 | 290 | 100 |
Total | 805 | 71 | 82 | 7 | 91 | 8 | 173 | 15 | 153 | 14 | 1,131 | 100 |
Restraint use among fatally injured children in passenger vehicles by age, 2021 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | Unrestrained | Seat belt | Child safety seat | Total restrained | Unknown | Total | ||||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
<1 | 26 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 61 | 51 | 61 | 7 | 8 | 84 | 100 |
1-3 | 35 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 88 | 63 | 93 | 67 | 11 | 8 | 139 | 100 |
4-8 | 107 | 35 | 74 | 24 | 84 | 27 | 158 | 52 | 41 | 13 | 306 | 100 |
9-12 | 61 | 33 | 98 | 53 | 1 | 1 | 99 | 53 | 26 | 14 | 186 | 100 |
Total | 229 | 32 | 177 | 25 | 224 | 31 | 401 | 56 | 85 | 12 | 715 | 100 |
When they died
More children were killed in motor vehicle crashes on Saturdays and Sundays in 2021 (18% and 19%, respectively) than on any other day of the week.
Motor vehicle crash deaths among children younger than 13 by day of week, 2021 | ||
---|---|---|
Day of week | Deaths | % |
Sunday | 172 | 19 |
Monday | 107 | 12 |
Tuesday | 112 | 12 |
Wednesday | 105 | 11 |
Thursday | 128 | 14 |
Friday | 136 | 15 |
Saturday | 162 | 18 |
Total | 922 | 100 |
Twenty-two percent of the deaths of children in motor vehicle crashes in 2021 occurred between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and 20% occurred between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Motor vehicle crash deaths among children younger than 13 by time of day, 2021 | ||
---|---|---|
Time of day | Number | % |
Midnight - 3 a.m. | 57 | 6 |
3 a.m. - 6 a.m. | 30 | 3 |
6 a.m. - 9 a.m. | 82 | 9 |
9 a.m. - noon | 94 | 10 |
Noon - 3 p.m. | 139 | 15 |
3 p.m. - 6 p.m. | 201 | 22 |
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. | 189 | 20 |
9 p.m. - midnight | 123 | 13 |
Total* | 922 | 100 |
*Total includes other and/or unknowns |
The proportion of children killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2021 was highest during the month of May (11%) compared with other months of the year.
Motor vehicle crash deaths among children younger than 13 by month, 2021 | ||
---|---|---|
Month | Number | % |
January | 53 | 6 |
February | 48 | 5 |
March | 81 | 9 |
April | 85 | 9 |
May | 98 | 11 |
June | 96 | 10 |
July | 93 | 10 |
August | 71 | 8 |
September | 56 | 6 |
October | 80 | 9 |
November | 83 | 9 |
December | 78 | 8 |
Total | 922 | 100 |