The largest number of motor vehicle crash deaths occurs among occupants of passenger vehicles, including cars, minivans, pickups, SUVs, and cargo/large passenger vans. The likelihood of crash death varies markedly among these vehicle types according to size. Small/light vehicles have less structure to absorb crash energy, so crash forces on occupants will be higher. People in lighter vehicles are at a disadvantage in collisions with heavier vehicles.
Puckett, S. M. & Kindelberger, J. C. (2016). Relationships between fatality risk, mass, and footprint in model year 2003-2010 passenger cars and LTVs – Preliminary report (Docket No. NHTSA-2016-0068). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Pickups and SUVs are more likely than cars to be in fatal single-vehicle crashes, especially rollovers. However, pickups and SUVs generally are heavier than cars, so occupant deaths in SUVs and pickups are less likely to occur in multiple-vehicle crashes.
Guide to car size groups
Curb weight
Shadow (overall length x width in square feet)
70-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
> 110
Note: Includes minivans.
2,001-2,500 lbs
Mini
Small
Small
Small
Midsize
2,501-3,000 lbs
Small
Small
Midsize
Midsize
Midsize
3,001-3,500 lbs
Small
Midsize
Midsize
Large
Large
3,501-4,000 lbs
Small
Midsize
Large
Large
Very large
> 4,000 lbs
Midsize
Midsize
Large
Very large
Very large
Guide to SUV size groups
Curb weight
Small
3,001-3,750 lbs
Midsize
3,751-4,750 lbs
Large
4,751-5,750 lbs
Very large
> 5,750 lbs or shadow > 115 sq ft
Guide to pickup size groups
Curb weight
Small
≤ 4,000 lbs
Large
> 4,000 lbs and carrying capacity = 1/2 ton
Very large
> 4,000 lbs and carrying capacity > 1/2 ton
The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System and IHS Markit.
Posted May 2023.
Trends
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths represented 62% of the 42,939 motor vehicle crash deaths in 2021.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths vs. total motor vehicle crash deaths, 1975-2021
Year
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths
Other deaths
All motor vehicle crash deaths
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
1975
30,601
69
13,924
31
44,525
100
1976
31,724
70
13,799
30
45,523
100
1977
32,823
69
15,055
31
47,878
100
1978
34,923
69
15,408
31
50,331
100
1979
35,026
69
16,067
31
51,093
100
1980
34,996
68
16,095
32
51,091
100
1981
33,711
68
15,590
32
49,301
100
1982
29,656
67
14,289
33
43,945
100
1983
29,154
68
13,435
32
42,589
100
1984
30,094
68
14,163
32
44,257
100
1985
29,848
68
13,977
32
43,825
100
1986
32,224
70
13,863
30
46,087
100
1987
33,145
71
13,245
29
46,390
100
1988
34,105
72
12,982
28
47,087
100
1989
33,599
74
11,983
26
45,582
100
1990
32,711
73
11,888
27
44,599
100
1991
30,810
74
10,698
26
41,508
100
1992
29,457
75
9,793
25
39,250
100
1993
29,994
75
10,156
25
40,150
100
1994
30,820
76
9,896
24
40,716
100
1995
31,914
76
9,903
24
41,817
100
1996
32,353
77
9,712
23
42,065
100
1997
32,343
77
9,670
23
42,013
100
1998
31,781
77
9,720
23
41,501
100
1999
32,008
77
9,709
23
41,717
100
2000
32,109
77
9,836
23
41,945
100
2001
31,938
76
10,258
24
42,196
100
2002
32,724
76
10,281
24
43,005
100
2003
32,166
75
10,718
25
42,884
100
2004
31,750
74
11,086
26
42,836
100
2005
31,455
72
12,055
28
43,510
100
2006
30,628
72
12,080
28
42,708
100
2007
29,155
71
12,104
29
41,259
100
2008
25,547
68
11,876
32
37,423
100
2009
23,507
69
10,376
31
33,883
100
2010
22,351
68
10,648
32
32,999
100
2011
21,413
66
11,066
34
32,479
100
2012
21,906
65
11,876
35
33,782
100
2013
21,361
65
11,533
35
32,894
100
2014
21,131
65
11,613
35
32,744
100
2015
22,741
64
12,744
36
35,485
100
2016
23,957
63
13,849
37
37,806
100
2017
23,866
64
13,607
36
37,473
100
2018
23,046
63
13,789
37
36,835
100
2019
22,557
62
13,798
38
36,355
100
2020
24,135
62
14,872
38
39,007
100
2021
26,585
62
16,354
38
42,939
100
A total of 26,585 passenger vehicle occupants died in 2021, 13% fewer than in 1975. As pickups and SUVs have become more popular, the distribution of vehicle types in fatal crashes has changed. The number of car occupant deaths declined 43% since 1975, while pickup occupant deaths rose 32% and SUV occupant deaths increased more than 10 times over the same time period.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by vehicle type, 1975-2021
Year
Car occupants
Pickup occupants
SUV occupants
All passenger vehicle occupants
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
1975
25,715
84
3,674
12
455
1
30,601
100
1976
26,163
82
4,225
13
577
2
31,724
100
1977
26,698
81
4,512
14
729
2
32,823
100
1978
27,898
80
5,103
15
852
2
34,923
100
1979
27,518
79
5,423
15
945
3
35,026
100
1980
27,282
78
5,489
16
1,124
3
34,996
100
1981
26,406
78
5,236
16
1,021
3
33,711
100
1982
23,144
78
4,779
16
862
3
29,656
100
1983
22,801
78
4,660
16
920
3
29,154
100
1984
23,484
78
4,884
16
886
3
30,094
100
1985
23,084
77
4,892
16
1,024
3
29,848
100
1986
24,898
77
5,334
17
1,131
4
32,224
100
1987
25,160
76
5,795
17
1,269
4
33,145
100
1988
25,876
76
6,089
18
1,320
4
34,105
100
1989
25,334
75
6,016
18
1,373
4
33,599
100
1990
24,463
75
6,032
18
1,480
5
32,711
100
1991
22,794
74
5,858
19
1,521
5
30,810
100
1992
21,889
74
5,476
19
1,390
5
29,457
100
1993
22,166
74
5,611
19
1,552
5
29,994
100
1994
22,708
74
5,604
18
1,809
6
30,820
100
1995
23,219
73
5,973
19
2,006
6
31,914
100
1996
23,526
73
5,928
18
2,210
7
32,353
100
1997
23,243
72
5,922
18
2,416
7
32,343
100
1998
22,475
71
5,904
19
2,711
9
31,781
100
1999
22,209
69
6,095
19
3,019
9
32,008
100
2000
22,091
69
5,996
19
3,337
10
32,109
100
2001
21,688
68
6,121
19
3,521
11
31,938
100
2002
22,114
68
6,058
19
4,022
12
32,724
100
2003
21,125
66
5,833
18
4,463
14
32,166
100
2004
20,623
65
5,716
18
4,772
15
31,750
100
2005
19,956
63
6,040
19
4,847
15
31,455
100
2006
19,087
62
5,877
19
4,973
16
30,628
100
2007
17,805
61
5,758
20
4,975
17
29,155
100
2008
15,725
62
5,021
20
4,350
17
25,547
100
2009
14,124
60
4,719
20
4,254
18
23,507
100
2010
13,433
60
4,443
20
4,130
18
22,351
100
2011
12,738
59
4,245
20
4,095
19
21,413
100
2012
13,112
60
4,339
20
4,171
19
21,906
100
2013
12,731
60
4,215
20
4,098
19
21,361
100
2014
12,543
59
4,223
20
4,103
19
21,131
100
2015
13,320
59
4,490
20
4,577
20
22,741
100
2016
14,057
59
4,625
19
4,908
20
23,957
100
2017
13,902
58
4,434
19
5,186
22
23,866
100
2018
13,260
58
4,380
19
5,059
22
23,046
100
2019
12,535
56
4,284
19
5,365
24
22,557
100
2020
13,654
57
4,407
18
5,781
24
24,135
100
2021
14,744
55
4,855
18
6,636
25
26,585
100
A total of 20,261 passenger vehicle drivers died in 2021, 11% more than in 2020 and 5% more than in 1975. Fifty-five percent of passenger vehicle driver deaths in 2021 were car drivers, 20% were pickup drivers, and 24% were SUV drivers.
Passenger vehicle driver deaths by vehicle type, 1975-2021
Year
Car drivers
Pickup drivers
SUV drivers
All passenger vehicle drivers
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
1975
16,141
83
2,481
13
270
1
19,349
100
1976
16,385
82
2,890
14
347
2
20,091
100
1977
16,903
81
3,076
15
434
2
20,941
100
1978
18,047
79
3,535
16
519
2
22,758
100
1979
18,064
78
3,734
16
596
3
23,109
100
1980
17,848
78
3,776
16
684
3
22,991
100
1981
17,553
78
3,687
16
623
3
22,506
100
1982
15,235
77
3,345
17
549
3
19,664
100
1983
15,058
78
3,219
17
575
3
19,338
100
1984
15,787
78
3,422
17
557
3
20,300
100
1985
15,437
77
3,446
17
645
3
20,058
100
1986
16,519
77
3,764
18
690
3
21,503
100
1987
16,751
76
4,082
18
765
3
22,157
100
1988
17,209
75
4,332
19
850
4
22,884
100
1989
16,811
75
4,365
19
877
4
22,554
100
1990
16,237
74
4,307
20
951
4
21,953
100
1991
14,974
73
4,256
21
943
5
20,551
100
1992
14,372
73
3,958
20
863
4
19,573
100
1993
14,577
73
4,105
20
977
5
20,036
100
1994
14,975
73
4,130
20
1,140
6
20,647
100
1995
15,386
72
4,431
21
1,248
6
21,457
100
1996
15,453
71
4,402
20
1,399
6
21,631
100
1997
15,375
71
4,376
20
1,537
7
21,711
100
1998
15,106
70
4,452
21
1,686
8
21,627
100
1999
14,874
68
4,658
21
1,986
9
21,899
100
2000
14,791
68
4,535
21
2,086
10
21,819
100
2001
14,611
67
4,641
21
2,265
10
21,862
100
2002
14,969
66
4,658
21
2,599
12
22,537
100
2003
14,426
65
4,522
20
2,829
13
22,200
100
2004
14,092
64
4,344
20
3,139
14
21,952
100
2005
13,775
63
4,642
21
3,171
14
21,953
100
2006
13,277
61
4,528
21
3,347
16
21,592
100
2007
12,455
61
4,451
22
3,269
16
20,542
100
2008
11,081
61
3,929
22
2,975
16
18,266
100
2009
10,040
60
3,670
22
2,872
17
16,834
100
2010
9,542
60
3,484
22
2,801
17
16,029
100
2011
9,216
59
3,335
21
2,802
18
15,561
100
2012
9,425
59
3,395
21
2,903
18
15,915
100
2013
9,261
59
3,291
21
2,828
18
15,577
100
2014
9,049
58
3,338
22
2,941
19
15,495
100
2015
9,652
58
3,544
21
3,216
19
16,629
100
2016
10,292
58
3,684
21
3,432
19
17,641
100
2017
10,227
58
3,613
20
3,688
21
17,751
100
2018
9,864
57
3,546
21
3,629
21
17,263
100
2019
9,287
55
3,500
21
3,852
23
16,878
100
2020
10,244
56
3,569
19
4,302
23
18,316
100
2021
11,115
55
4,027
20
4,865
24
20,261
100
The majority (76%) of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2021 were drivers. The ratio of driver to passenger fatalities depends both on the number of passengers carried and on the safety systems available to those passengers. Pickups had the highest proportion of driver fatalities (83%).
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by type, 2021
Vehicle type
Driver
Passenger
Total*
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Car
11,115
75
3,608
24
14,744
100
Pickup
4,027
83
814
17
4,855
100
SUV
4,865
73
1,764
27
6,636
100
Total*
20,261
76
6,282
24
26,585
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Crash types
Frontal impacts accounted for 59% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2021. Side impacts accounted for another 22% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in all crashes by impact point and vehicle type, 2021
Point of initial impact
Car occupants
Pickup occupants
SUV occupants
All occupants
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Frontal
8,742
59
2,891
60
3,892
59
15,742
59
Side
3,662
25
843
17
1,258
19
5,824
22
Rear
853
6
181
4
369
6
1,423
5
Other (mostly rollover)
1,487
10
940
19
1,117
17
3,596
14
Total*
14,744
100
4,855
100
6,636
100
26,585
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in single-vehicle crashes by impact point and vehicle type, 2021
Point of initial impact
Car occupants
Pickup occupants
SUV occupants
All occupants
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Frontal
3,465
61
1,432
54
1,731
56
6,702
58
Side
867
15
333
12
292
9
1,511
13
Rear
88
2
31
1
33
1
153
1
Other (mostly rollover)
1,296
23
878
33
1,036
34
3,257
28
Total*
5,716
100
2,674
100
3,092
100
11,623
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes by impact point and vehicle type, 2021
Point of initial impact
Car occupants
Pickup occupants
SUV occupants
All occupants
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Frontal
5,277
58
1,459
67
2,161
61
9,040
60
Side
2,795
31
510
23
966
27
4,313
29
Rear
765
8
150
7
336
9
1,270
8
Other (mostly rollover)
191
2
62
3
81
2
339
2
Total*
9,028
100
2,181
100
3,544
100
14,962
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Thirty-nine percent of car occupant deaths in 2021 occurred in single-vehicle crashes (and 61% occurred in multiple-vehicle crashes). In contrast, single-vehicle crashes accounted for 55% of pickup occupant deaths and 47% of SUV occupant deaths.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by vehicle and crash type, 2021
Vehicle type
Deaths in single-vehicle crashes
Deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes
Deaths in all crashes*
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Cars
5,716
39
9,028
61
14,744
100
Pickups
2,674
55
2,181
45
4,855
100
SUVs
3,092
47
3,544
53
6,636
100
Other
141
40
209
60
350
100
All passenger vehicles
11,623
44
14,962
56
26,585
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Age and sex differences
Twenty-three percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2021 were younger than 25.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by age, 2021
Age
All occupants
Number
%
<25
6,178
23
25-29
2,794
11
30-34
2,521
9
35-39
2,071
8
40-44
1,757
7
45-49
1,445
5
50-54
1,646
6
55-59
1,563
6
60-64
1,505
6
65-69
1,257
5
70+
3,766
14
Total*
26,585
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
The majority of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2021 were male. This was true of both drivers (72%) and all occupants (66%), and these values were mostly consistent across age.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by age, type and sex, 2021
Age
Drivers
All occupants
Male
Female
Total*
Male
Female
Total*
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
<16
34
76
11
24
45
100
536
53
472
47
1,011
100
16-19
918
72
362
28
1,282
100
1,367
66
710
34
2,080
100
20-24
1,651
72
641
28
2,294
100
2,093
68
990
32
3,087
100
25-29
1,631
74
587
26
2,219
100
1,945
70
847
30
2,794
100
30-34
1,497
72
577
28
2,082
100
1,733
69
779
31
2,521
100
35-39
1,205
70
514
30
1,719
100
1,377
66
694
34
2,071
100
40-44
1,059
73
400
27
1,460
100
1,204
69
551
31
1,757
100
45-49
879
73
332
27
1,212
100
987
68
456
32
1,445
100
50-54
1,006
71
406
29
1,412
100
1,122
68
524
32
1,646
100
55-59
968
73
351
27
1,320
100
1,082
69
480
31
1,563
100
60-64
930
73
349
27
1,280
100
1,014
67
490
33
1,505
100
65-69
774
74
276
26
1,051
100
837
67
419
33
1,257
100
≥70
1,929
68
921
32
2,853
100
2,184
58
1,577
42
3,766
100
Total*
14,498
72
5,735
28
20,261
100
17,525
66
9,017
34
26,585
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Just 7% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths were in the second or third row; 29% of these were younger than 13.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by seating position and age, 2021
Seating position
<13 years
13-19 years
≥20 years
Total*
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Driver
1
0
1,326
7
18,902
93
20,261
100
Front-row passenger
106
3
572
14
3,379
83
4,075
100
Second-row passenger
505
28
384
21
890
49
1,801
100
Third-row passenger
29
40
14
19
29
40
72
100
Total*
715
3
2,376
9
23,412
88
26,585
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Driver death rates
Computing driver death rates per million registered passenger vehicles allows for comparisons of fatal crash risk across vehicle groups. The computed rates reflect the influence of vehicle designs plus their patterns of use and the demographics of their drivers. Driver death rates for each year are based on vehicles that were 1-3 years old at the time of the crash so as to minimize the effects of vehicle aging. Death rates calculated from vehicles with fewer than 120,000 registrations are considered unreliable and are not included.
Since 1978, the overall rates of driver and occupant deaths per million registered vehicles have declined across all passenger vehicle types. Declines in death rates have been largest for SUV occupants.
Occupant deaths per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 1978-2021
Year
Drivers
All occupants
Cars
Pickups
SUVs
All passenger vehicles
Cars
Pickups
SUVs
All passenger vehicles
1978
155
237
273
169
235
346
438
256
1979
165
246
271
180
244
350
425
265
1980
167
221
287
177
248
316
494
263
1981
177
216
237
182
259
296
389
265
1982
155
188
229
159
231
263
392
236
1983
148
188
225
153
220
263
337
225
1984
147
190
143
151
218
259
218
222
1985
139
182
141
144
207
257
227
213
1986
128
172
134
133
196
239
224
202
1987
129
178
136
136
196
248
232
205
1988
133
186
121
140
205
251
198
211
1989
130
185
116
138
199
255
185
208
1990
122
179
126
131
187
245
201
197
1991
108
169
109
117
169
229
175
178
1992
101
151
88
108
160
200
151
165
1993
97
137
93
102
152
187
141
156
1994
100
134
87
104
159
178
148
161
1995
103
134
102
107
160
180
157
162
1996
107
127
98
109
167
178
150
167
1997
96
118
93
99
152
161
146
153
1998
90
119
86
94
141
158
141
144
1999
91
120
93
96
138
162
139
143
2000
83
117
81
89
127
155
135
134
2001
83
130
74
89
124
170
116
131
2002
84
123
76
88
126
162
122
131
2003
81
115
72
85
122
151
115
126
2004
76
107
66
79
114
145
103
117
2005
79
110
56
78
117
145
88
114
2006
77
101
49
73
112
137
74
106
2007
70
95
44
67
103
128
69
99
2008
65
87
35
61
92
114
52
85
2009
56
63
25
49
82
83
36
69
2010
49
64
20
43
71
80
29
61
2011
43
49
17
37
62
66
24
52
2012
42
44
16
35
61
56
23
49
2013
41
39
19
34
58
52
26
48
2014
37
38
18
32
53
47
24
44
2015
42
40
20
35
62
52
29
51
2016
44
39
21
36
63
48
32
51
2017
46
37
22
36
66
46
33
51
2018
48
34
23
36
70
42
32
51
2019
48
32
24
35
68
39
35
49
2020
53
35
25
37
72
46
34
50
2021
64
40
28
43
91
52
41
60
Historically, rates of driver deaths per million registered vehicles have been higher for smaller and lighter vehicles. The differences between large and small vehicles are less extreme today than they used to be.
Monfort, S. S., & Nolan, J. M. (2019). Trends in aggressivity and driver risk for cars, SUVs, and pickups: Vehicle incompatibility from 1989 to 2016. Traffic injury prevention, 20(sup1), S92-S96.
Driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 2021
Registered vehicles
Deaths
Rate
Cars
Mini
605,905
59
97
Small
5,337,716
406
76
Midsize
6,735,478
373
55
Large
1,550,954
126
81
Very large
1,344,045
34
25
All cars
15,574,098
999
64
Pickups
Small
1,655,155
68
41
Large
5,033,550
188
37
Very large
1,668,179
65
39
All pickups
8,356,884
333
40
SUVs
Small
10,170,204
356
35
Midsize
10,073,764
241
24
Large
1,489,792
24
16
Very large
426,294
7
16
All SUVs
22,160,054
630
28
All passenger vehicles
All
47,105,279
2,008
43
Overall in 2021, there were 16 driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles in single-vehicle crashes and 26 driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles in multiple-vehicle crashes. Cars had the highest number of deaths per registered vehicle both in single-vehicle crashes (24 per million) and in multiple-vehicle crashes (41 per million). SUVs had the lowest number of deaths per registered vehicle in single-vehicle crashes (11 per million) and multiple-vehicle crashes (18 per million).
Driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old by crash type, 2021
Multiple-vehicle
Single-vehicle
Single-vehicle rollover
All crashes
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Cars
Mini
45
74
14
23
4
7
59
97
Small
295
55
111
21
37
7
406
76
Midsize
210
31
163
24
49
7
373
55
Large
55
35
71
46
21
14
126
81
Very large
25
19
9
7
2
1
34
25
All cars
631
41
368
24
113
7
999
64
Pickups
Small
39
24
29
18
11
7
68
41
Large
90
18
98
19
32
6
188
37
Very large
32
19
33
20
14
8
65
39
All pickups
170
20
163
20
58
7
333
40
SUVs
Small
253
25
103
10
21
2
356
35
Midsize
123
12
118
12
50
5
241
24
Large
13
9
11
7
4
3
24
16
Very large
3
7
4
9
1
2
7
16
All SUVs
393
18
237
11
76
3
630
28
All passenger vehicles
All
1,233
26
775
16
249
5
2,008
43
Driver deaths per million 1-3 year old registered pickups and SUVs by crash type and 2WD/4WD, 2021
Multiple-vehicle
Single-vehicle
Single-vehicle rollover
All crashes
2WD
4WD
2WD
4WD
2WD
4WD
2WD
4WD
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Pickups
Small
19
34
20
18
8
14
21
19
4
7
7
6
27
48
41
38
Large
28
24
62
16
21
18
77
20
8
7
24
6
49
42
139
36
Very large
1
—
31
20
0
0
33
21
0
0
14
9
0
0
64
41
All pickups
48
26
113
17
29
16
131
20
12
7
45
7
77
42
244
37
SUVs
Small
126
29
125
22
48
11
55
9
5
1
16
3
174
40
180
31
Midsize
60
19
63
9
49
15
69
10
14
4
36
5
109
34
132
19
Large
4
12
9
8
3
9
8
7
1
3
3
3
7
21
17
15
Very large
1
—
2
6
1
—
3
10
0
—
1
3
2
—
11
35
All SUVs
191
24
199
14
101
13
135
10
20
3
56
4
292
37
334
24
In multiple-vehicle crashes, frontal impacts accounted for 18 driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles in 2021. By comparison, multiple-vehicle side impacts accounted for 6 deaths per million and multiple-vehicle rear impacts accounted for 2 deaths per million.
Driver deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 2021
Frontal impacts
Side impacts
Rear impacts
Other
Total
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Cars
413
27
151
10
54
3
3
<1
631
41
Pickups
130
16
32
4
6
<1
1
<1
170
20
SUVs
250
11
105
5
31
1
2
<1
393
18
All passenger vehicles
827
18
293
6
91
2
6
<1
1,233
26
Driver deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old by passenger vehicle size, 2021
Frontal impacts
Side impacts
Rear impacts
Other
Total
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Cars
Mini
27
45
16
26
2
3
0
<1
45
74
Small
190
36
77
14
25
5
1
<1
295
55
Midsize
137
20
46
7
19
3
1
<1
210
31
Large
37
24
11
7
5
3
1
<1
55
35
Very large
21
16
1
<1
3
2
0
<1
25
19
All cars
413
27
151
10
54
3
3
<1
631
41
Pickups
Small
23
14
12
7
3
2
1
<1
39
24
Large
75
15
13
3
2
<1
0
<1
90
18
Very large
25
15
5
3
1
<1
0
<1
32
19
All pickups
130
16
32
4
6
<1
1
<1
170
20
SUVs
Small
163
16
68
7
17
2
2
<1
253
25
Midsize
75
7
33
3
13
1
0
<1
123
12
Large
9
6
3
2
1
1
0
0
13
9
Very large
2
5
1
2
0
<1
0
<1
3
7
All SUVs
250
11
105
5
31
1
2
<1
393
18
All passenger vehicles
All
827
18
293
6
91
2
6
<1
1,233
26
In single-vehicle crashes, frontal impacts accounted for 12 driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles in 2021. By comparison, single-vehicle side impacts accounted for just 1 death per million and single-vehicle rear impacts for less than 1 death per million.
Driver deaths in single-vehicle crashes per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 2021
Frontal impacts
Side impacts
Rear impacts
Other
Total
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Cars
254
16
36
2
4
<1
27
2
368
24
Pickups
114
14
12
1
2
<1
18
2
163
20
SUVs
182
8
18
<1
0
0
23
1
237
11
All passenger vehicles
554
12
68
1
6
<1
69
1
775
16
Driver deaths in single-vehicle crashes per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old by passenger vehicle size, 2021
Frontal impacts
Side impacts
Rear impacts
Other
Total
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Deaths
Rate
Cars
Mini
13
21
0
<1
0
<1
0
<1
14
23
Small
83
16
9
2
1
<1
9
2
111
21
Midsize
102
15
22
3
2
<1
11
2
163
24
Large
48
31
4
3
1
<1
7
5
71
46
Very large
8
6
1
<1
0
<1
0
<1
9
7
All cars
254
16
36
2
4
<1
27
2
368
24
Pickups
Small
23
14
0
<1
0
<1
5
3
29
18
Large
74
15
7
1
1
<1
5
<1
98
19
Very large
16
10
5
3
1
<1
7
4
33
20
All pickups
114
14
12
1
2
<1
18
2
163
20
SUVs
Small
83
8
7
<1
0
<1
9
<1
103
10
Midsize
87
9
8
<1
0
<1
13
1
118
12
Large
8
5
2
1
0
0
1
1
11
7
Very large
3
7
1
2
0
<1
0
<1
4
9
All SUVs
182
8
18
<1
0
<1
23
1
237
11
All passenger vehicles
All
554
12
68
1
6
<1
69
1
775
16
Rollover
A crash is classified as a rollover if the vehicle tips onto its side or roof at any time during the crash. The rollover may result from an impact with another vehicle or with a fixed object. Many rollovers occur after a vehicle leaves the roadway and may lead to occupants being ejected from the vehicle, increasing the likelihood of a fatality.
A total of 7,640 passenger vehicle occupants died in rollover crashes in 2021. Although most rollovers (76%) were associated with a pre-rollover impact, a substantial proportion (24%) rolled over without having impacted anything beforehand.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in rollover crashes by impact point and vehicle type, 2021
Point of initial impact
Car occupants
Pickup occupants
SUV occupants
All occupants
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Frontal
1,532
50
853
44
1,107
44
3,542
46
Side
487
16
279
14
369
15
1,157
15
Rear
102
3
91
5
111
4
309
4
None
546
18
568
29
671
27
1,818
24
Other
393
13
164
8
249
10
814
11
Total*
3,060
100
1,955
100
2,507
100
7,640
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Crashes in which a vehicle rolled over accounted for 29% of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2021. The proportion of occupant deaths involving a rollover was much higher in single-vehicle crashes (49%) than it was for multiple-vehicle crashes (13%).
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by crash type, 1978-2021
Year
Deaths in single-vehicle crashes
Deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes
Deaths in all crashes*
Rollover
No rollover
Rollover
No rollover
Rollover
No rollover
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
1978
7,858
48
8,460
52
1,477
8
17,093
92
9,350
27
25,573
73
1979
8,010
48
8,542
52
1,666
9
16,779
91
9,691
28
25,335
72
1980
8,673
49
9,001
51
1,588
9
15,679
91
10,282
29
24,714
71
1981
8,211
50
8,188
50
1,588
9
15,692
91
9,812
29
23,899
71
1982
6,974
49
7,205
51
1,305
8
14,158
92
8,282
28
21,374
72
1983
6,951
50
7,079
50
1,256
8
13,868
92
8,207
28
20,947
72
1984
7,116
50
7,092
50
1,358
9
14,528
91
8,474
28
21,620
72
1985
6,900
50
6,779
50
1,361
8
14,805
92
8,262
28
21,586
72
1986
7,954
52
7,428
48
1,501
9
15,341
91
9,455
29
22,769
71
1987
8,162
53
7,363
47
1,629
9
15,991
91
9,791
30
23,354
70
1988
8,562
53
7,494
47
1,582
9
16,467
91
10,144
30
23,961
70
1989
8,060
52
7,558
48
1,620
9
16,361
91
9,680
29
23,919
71
1990
8,068
52
7,382
48
1,556
9
15,705
91
9,624
29
23,087
71
1991
7,749
52
7,131
48
1,523
10
14,407
90
9,272
30
21,538
70
1992
7,135
52
6,693
48
1,492
10
14,137
90
8,627
29
20,830
71
1993
7,002
51
6,821
49
1,524
9
14,647
91
8,526
28
21,468
72
1994
7,268
52
6,637
48
1,669
10
15,246
90
8,937
29
21,883
71
1995
7,802
53
6,940
47
1,708
10
15,464
90
9,510
30
22,404
70
1996
7,903
53
6,891
47
1,691
10
15,869
90
9,594
30
22,760
70
1997
7,712
53
6,743
47
1,774
10
16,114
90
9,486
29
22,857
71
1998
7,848
54
6,594
46
1,872
11
15,467
89
9,720
31
22,061
69
1999
8,255
56
6,502
44
1,839
11
15,412
89
10,094
32
21,914
68
2000
8,112
54
6,841
46
1,800
10
15,356
90
9,912
31
22,197
69
2001
8,375
55
6,786
45
1,747
10
15,030
90
10,122
32
21,816
68
2002
8,724
55
7,114
45
1,952
12
14,934
88
10,676
33
22,048
67
2003
8,462
55
6,936
45
1,940
12
14,828
88
10,402
32
21,764
68
2004
8,525
56
6,764
44
2,022
12
14,439
88
10,547
33
21,203
67
2005
8,730
57
6,713
43
2,095
13
13,902
87
10,825
34
20,630
66
2006
8,790
57
6,666
43
1,919
13
13,229
87
10,712
35
19,916
65
2007
8,429
56
6,528
44
1,844
13
12,330
87
10,274
35
18,881
65
2008
7,541
56
6,002
44
1,529
13
10,459
87
9,073
36
16,474
64
2009
6,868
55
5,538
45
1,451
13
9,630
87
8,322
35
15,185
65
2010
6,375
55
5,245
45
1,365
13
9,366
87
7,740
35
14,611
65
2011
6,148
55
5,076
45
1,293
13
8,896
87
7,441
35
13,972
65
2012
6,273
55
5,201
45
1,312
13
9,120
87
7,585
35
14,321
65
2013
5,825
53
5,168
47
1,257
12
9,111
88
7,082
33
14,279
67
2014
5,570
52
5,059
48
1,304
12
9,198
88
6,874
33
14,257
67
2015
5,802
53
5,138
47
1,458
12
10,343
88
7,260
32
15,481
68
2016
5,919
52
5,511
48
1,616
13
10,911
87
7,535
31
16,422
69
2017
5,617
51
5,455
49
1,651
13
11,143
87
7,268
30
16,598
70
2018
5,125
49
5,247
51
1,511
12
11,163
88
6,636
29
16,410
71
2019
4,877
49
5,159
51
1,500
12
11,021
88
6,377
28
16,180
72
2020
5,611
50
5,674
50
1,627
13
11,223
87
7,238
30
16,897
70
2021
5,643
49
5,980
51
1,997
13
12,965
87
7,640
29
18,945
71
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
In 2021, rollover crashes accounted for 21% of occupant deaths in cars, 40% of occupant deaths in pickups, and 38% of occupant deaths in SUVs.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in rollover vs. no rollover crashes, 1978-2021
Year
Car occupants
Pickup occupants
SUV occupants
Rollover
No rollover
Rollover
No rollover
Rollover
No rollover
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
1978
6,422
23
21,476
77
1,989
39
3,114
61
520
61
332
39
1979
6,416
23
21,102
77
2,222
41
3,201
59
630
67
315
33
1980
6,862
25
20,420
75
2,263
41
3,226
59
735
65
389
35
1981
6,541
25
19,865
75
2,177
42
3,059
58
663
65
358
35
1982
5,477
24
17,667
76
1,935
40
2,844
60
571
66
291
34
1983
5,381
24
17,420
76
1,939
42
2,721
58
609
66
311
34
1984
5,525
24
17,959
76
2,048
42
2,836
58
587
66
299
34
1985
5,220
23
17,864
77
2,044
42
2,848
58
671
66
353
34
1986
6,000
24
18,898
76
2,371
44
2,963
56
737
65
394
35
1987
6,015
24
19,145
76
2,598
45
3,197
55
824
65
445
35
1988
6,246
24
19,630
76
2,762
45
3,327
55
815
62
505
38
1989
5,801
23
19,533
77
2,680
45
3,336
55
847
62
526
38
1990
5,714
23
18,749
77
2,713
45
3,319
55
910
61
570
39
1991
5,470
24
17,324
76
2,593
44
3,265
56
934
61
587
39
1992
4,968
23
16,921
77
2,479
45
2,997
55
879
63
511
37
1993
4,877
22
17,289
78
2,415
43
3,196
57
971
63
581
37
1994
5,149
23
17,559
77
2,393
43
3,211
57
1,102
61
707
39
1995
5,381
23
17,838
77
2,581
43
3,392
57
1,257
63
749
37
1996
5,357
23
18,170
77
2,539
43
3,389
57
1,429
65
781
35
1997
5,174
22
18,069
78
2,479
42
3,443
58
1,516
63
900
37
1998
5,177
23
17,298
77
2,537
43
3,367
57
1,703
63
1,008
37
1999
5,212
23
16,997
77
2,699
44
3,396
56
1,901
63
1,118
37
2000
5,030
23
17,061
77
2,529
42
3,467
58
2,067
62
1,270
38
2001
5,056
23
16,632
77
2,636
43
3,485
57
2,159
61
1,362
39
2002
5,279
24
16,835
76
2,715
45
3,343
55
2,474
62
1,548
38
2003
4,943
23
16,182
77
2,509
43
3,324
57
2,658
60
1,805
40
2004
4,801
23
15,822
77
2,519
44
3,197
56
2,949
62
1,823
38
2005
4,860
24
15,096
76
2,773
46
3,267
54
2,909
60
1,938
40
2006
4,754
25
14,333
75
2,781
47
3,096
53
2,919
59
2,054
41
2007
4,414
25
13,391
75
2,660
46
3,098
54
2,929
59
2,046
41
2008
3,994
25
11,731
75
2,368
47
2,653
53
2,510
58
1,840
42
2009
3,515
25
10,609
75
2,246
48
2,473
52
2,388
56
1,866
44
2010
3,202
24
10,231
76
2,057
46
2,386
54
2,340
57
1,790
43
2011
3,063
24
9,675
76
1,973
46
2,272
54
2,259
55
1,836
45
2012
3,208
24
9,904
76
1,987
46
2,352
54
2,287
55
1,884
45
2013
2,991
23
9,740
77
1,916
45
2,299
55
2,057
50
2,041
50
2014
2,818
22
9,725
78
1,871
44
2,352
56
2,070
50
2,033
50
2015
3,004
23
10,316
77
1,916
43
2,574
57
2,211
48
2,366
52
2016
3,124
22
10,933
78
1,973
43
2,652
57
2,305
47
2,603
53
2017
3,007
22
10,895
78
1,837
41
2,597
59
2,322
45
2,864
55
2018
2,677
20
10,583
80
1,741
40
2,639
60
2,113
42
2,946
58
2019
2,527
20
10,008
80
1,630
38
2,654
62
2,100
39
3,265
61
2020
3,017
22
10,637
78
1,804
41
2,603
59
2,326
40
3,455
60
2021
3,060
21
11,684
79
1,955
40
2,900
60
2,507
38
4,129
62
A total of 5,643 passenger vehicle occupants died in single-vehicle rollover crashes in 2021, which accounts for nearly three-quarters of all rollover deaths (7,640 in all). The number of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in single-vehicle rollovers was 28% lower than it was in 1978.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in single-vehicle rollover crashes, 1978-2021
Year
Car drivers
Pickup drivers
SUV drivers
All passenger vehicle drivers
All passenger vehicle occupants
1978
3,710
1,140
271
5,323
7,858
1979
3,610
1,263
329
5,396
8,010
1980
3,995
1,309
406
5,895
8,673
1981
3,826
1,291
364
5,687
8,211
1982
3,222
1,162
312
4,828
6,974
1983
3,169
1,120
319
4,732
6,951
1984
3,252
1,226
331
4,964
7,116
1985
3,076
1,202
360
4,773
6,900
1986
3,477
1,401
375
5,400
7,954
1987
3,436
1,535
403
5,528
8,162
1988
3,679
1,656
447
5,925
8,562
1989
3,314
1,629
463
5,551
8,060
1990
3,301
1,563
486
5,477
8,068
1991
3,105
1,595
470
5,282
7,749
1992
2,806
1,492
442
4,848
7,135
1993
2,670
1,462
494
4,729
7,002
1994
2,838
1,403
522
4,879
7,268
1995
3,024
1,556
602
5,284
7,802
1996
2,953
1,514
720
5,294
7,903
1997
2,836
1,469
754
5,178
7,712
1998
2,878
1,545
808
5,328
7,848
1999
2,882
1,667
999
5,644
8,255
2000
2,813
1,526
1,035
5,466
8,112
2001
2,852
1,651
1,063
5,654
8,375
2002
2,998
1,668
1,224
5,967
8,724
2003
2,762
1,595
1,331
5,789
8,462
2004
2,715
1,540
1,490
5,853
8,525
2005
2,779
1,711
1,478
6,074
8,730
2006
2,776
1,754
1,555
6,198
8,790
2007
2,640
1,683
1,516
5,934
8,429
2008
2,362
1,537
1,398
5,380
7,541
2009
2,103
1,478
1,273
4,913
6,868
2010
1,954
1,324
1,226
4,548
6,375
2011
1,851
1,297
1,218
4,430
6,148
2012
1,955
1,288
1,287
4,567
6,273
2013
1,808
1,219
1,112
4,181
5,825
2014
1,674
1,195
1,185
4,100
5,570
2015
1,798
1,206
1,210
4,269
5,802
2016
1,894
1,221
1,208
4,377
5,919
2017
1,809
1,155
1,245
4,244
5,617
2018
1,605
1,110
1,128
3,880
5,125
2019
1,482
1,042
1,120
3,691
4,877
2020
1,846
1,173
1,289
4,343
5,611
2021
1,815
1,232
1,342
4,441
5,643
In 2021, single-vehicle rollover crashes accounted for 16% of occupant deaths in cars, 30% of occupant deaths in pickups, and 27% of occupant deaths in SUVs.
Deaths in single-vehicle rollover crashes as a percent of total occupant deaths, 2021
Drivers
All occupants
Single-vehicle rollover
All crashes
Single-vehicle rollover
All crashes
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Cars
Mini
74
14
539
100
95
13
708
100
Small
503
15
3,437
100
633
14
4,503
100
Midsize
787
17
4,571
100
1,003
16
6,084
100
Large
332
19
1,749
100
428
19
2,305
100
Very large
106
15
706
100
135
14
1,000
100
All cars
1,815
16
11,115
100
2,311
16
14,744
100
Pickups
Small
263
26
1,016
100
323
27
1,188
100
Large
642
29
2,229
100
780
29
2,723
100
Very large
306
45
686
100
348
42
829
100
All pickups
1,232
31
4,027
100
1,475
30
4,855
100
SUVs
Small
285
17
1,668
100
366
16
2,253
100
Midsize
684
31
2,210
100
920
30
3,036
100
Large
266
38
691
100
359
38
947
100
Very large
104
39
267
100
136
37
365
100
All SUVs
1,342
28
4,865
100
1,784
27
6,636
100
All passenger vehicles
All
4,441
22
20,261
100
5,643
21
26,585
100
Deaths in single-vehicle rollover crashes as a percent of total driver deaths for pickups and SUVs by 2WD/4WD, 2021
2WD
4WD
Single-vehicle rollover
All crashes
Single-vehicle rollover
All crashes
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Pickups
Small
177
26
684
100
86
26
332
100
Large
284
26
1,091
100
358
31
1,138
100
Very large
42
30
138
100
264
48
548
100
All pickups
503
26
1,914
100
708
35
2,018
100
SUVs
Small
89
12
730
100
196
21
933
100
Midsize
259
28
940
100
425
33
1,270
100
Large
121
39
313
100
145
38
378
100
Very large
35
34
103
100
69
42
164
100
All SUVs
504
24
2,086
100
835
30
2,745
100
Deaths in single-vehicle rollover crashes as a percent of total occupant deaths for pickups and SUVs by 2WD/4WD, 2021
2WD
4WD
Single-vehicle rollover
All crashes
Single-vehicle rollover
All crashes
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Pickups
Small
214
27
799
100
109
28
389
100
Large
352
26
1,333
100
428
31
1,390
100
Very large
50
29
173
100
298
45
656
100
All pickups
616
27
2,306
100
835
34
2,435
100
SUVs
Small
118
12
1,017
100
248
20
1,230
100
Midsize
339
26
1,284
100
581
33
1,752
100
Large
169
39
433
100
190
37
514
100
Very large
51
36
141
100
85
38
224
100
All SUVs
677
24
2,875
100
1,104
30
3,720
100
Since 1978, driver death rates for single-vehicle rollover crashes have declined across all passenger vehicle types, particularly among SUVs.
Driver deaths in single-vehicle rollover crashes per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 1978-2021