Passenger vehicle occupants | 2007

2007
All Fatality Facts topics

By far the largest number of motor vehicle crash deaths are 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 and size to absorb crash energy, so more injurious forces can reach their occupants in crashes. People in lighter vehicles are at a disadvantage in collisions with heavier vehicles. Kahane, C.J. 2003. Vehicle weight, fatality risk and crash compatibility of model year 1991-99 passenger cars and light trucks. Report no. DOT HS-809-662. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pickups and SUVs are proportionally 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   Guide to SUV size groups   Guide to pickup size groups
Curb weight Shadow
(overall length x width in square feet)		     Curb weight     Curb weight
≤ 80 81-90 91-100 101-110 > 110   Small ≤ 3,750 lbs   Small ≤ 4,000 lbs
≤ 2,500 lbs Mini Small Small Small Midsize   Midsize 3,751-4,750 lbs   Large > 4,000 lbs and carrying capacity = 1/2 ton
2,501-3,000 lbs Small Small Midsize Midsize Midsize   Large 4,751-5,750 lbs   Very large > 4,000 lbs and carrying capacity > 1/2 ton
3,001-3,500 lbs Small Midsize Midsize Large Large   Very large > 5,750 lbs or shadow > 115 sq ft    
3,501-4,000 lbs Small Midsize Large Large Very large      
> 4,000 lbs Midsize Midsize Large Very large Very large    
Note: Passenger versions of vans often referred to as minivans are classified as cars.    

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and The Polk Company's National Vehicle Population Profile.

Data subsections:

Trends

A total of 28,896 passenger vehicle occupants died in 2007, 6 percent less than in 1975. However, the distribution of vehicle types among these crashes has changed. Car occupant deaths have declined 31 percent since 1975, while pickup occupant deaths have risen 55 percent and SUV occupant deaths are more than 10 times as high.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by vehicle type, 1975-2007

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by vehicle type, 1975-2007
Year Car occupants Pickup occupants SUV occupants All passenger vehicle occupants
1975 25,715 3,674 455 30,601
1976 26,163 4,225 577 31,724
1977 26,698 4,512 729 32,823
1978 27,898 5,103 852 34,923
1979 27,518 5,423 945 35,026
1980 27,281 5,489 1,124 34,995
1981 26,406 5,236 1,021 33,711
1982 23,142 4,779 862 29,654
1983 22,800 4,660 920 29,153
1984 23,480 4,884 886 30,091
1985 23,076 4,892 1,024 29,847
1986 24,880 5,334 1,131 32,224
1987 25,115 5,795 1,269 33,145
1988 25,825 6,089 1,320 34,105
1989 25,269 6,016 1,373 33,599
1990 24,413 6,032 1,480 32,711
1991 22,738 5,858 1,521 30,810
1992 21,824 5,476 1,390 29,457
1993 22,117 5,611 1,552 29,994
1994 22,618 5,604 1,809 30,816
1995 23,124 5,973 2,006 31,913
1996 23,426 5,928 2,210 32,353
1997 23,151 5,922 2,415 32,331
1998 22,355 5,904 2,711 31,779
1999 22,119 6,095 3,019 32,008
2000 21,985 5,996 3,337 32,109
2001 21,604 6,121 3,521 31,938
2002 22,007 6,058 4,022 32,724
2003 21,053 5,833 4,463 32,166
2004 20,560 5,716 4,772 31,750
2005 19,892 6,040 4,847 31,455
2006 19,034 5,877 4,973 30,628
2007 17,657 5,711 4,951 28,896

A total of 20,381 passenger vehicle drivers died in 2007, 6 percent less than in 2006 but 5 percent more than in 1975. Sixty-one percent of passenger vehicle driver deaths in 2007 were car drivers. However, the proportion of deaths involving pickup and SUV drivers is growing as the popularity of these vehicles increases.

Passenger vehicle driver deaths by vehicle type, 1975-2007
Year Car drivers Pickup drivers SUV drivers All passenger vehicle drivers
Num % Num % Num % Num
1975 16,141 83 2,481 13 270 1 19,349
1976 16,385 82 2,890 14 347 2 20,091
1977 16,903 81 3,076 15 434 2 20,941
1978 18,047 79 3,535 16 519 2 22,758
1979 18,064 78 3,734 16 596 3 23,109
1980 17,847 78 3,776 16 684 3 22,990
1981 17,553 78 3,687 16 623 3 22,506
1982 15,234 77 3,345 17 549 3 19,663
1983 15,057 78 3,219 17 575 3 19,337
1984 15,785 78 3,422 17 557 3 20,298
1985 15,430 77 3,446 17 645 3 20,057
1986 16,503 77 3,764 18 690 3 21,503
1987 16,722 75 4,082 18 765 3 22,157
1988 17,183 75 4,332 19 850 4 22,884
1989 16,775 74 4,365 19 877 4 22,554
1990 16,200 74 4,307 20 951 4 21,953
1991 14,938 73 4,256 21 943 5 20,551
1992 14,337 73 3,958 20 863 4 19,573
1993 14,547 73 4,105 20 977 5 20,036
1994 14,913 72 4,130 20 1,140 6 20,644
1995 15,323 71 4,431 21 1,248 6 21,456
1996 15,379 71 4,402 20 1,399 6 21,631
1997 15,308 71 4,376 20 1,537 7 21,702
1998 15,035 70 4,452 21 1,686 8 21,627
1999 14,809 68 4,658 21 1,986 9 21,899
2000 14,719 67 4,535 21 2,086 10 21,819
2001 14,553 67 4,641 21 2,265 10 21,862
2002 14,897 66 4,658 21 2,599 12 22,537
2003 14,380 65 4,522 20 2,829 13 22,200
2004 14,040 64 4,344 20 3,139 14 21,952
2005 13,728 63 4,642 21 3,171 14 21,953
2006 13,235 61 4,528 21 3,347 16 21,592
2007 12,358 61 4,411 22 3,264 16 20,381

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths represented 70 percent of the 41,059 motor vehicle crash deaths in 2007.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths vs. all motor vehicle crash deaths, 1975-2007
Year Passenger vehicle occupant deaths Other deaths All motor vehicle crash deaths
Num % Num % Num
1975 30,601 69 13,924 31 44,525
1976 31,724 70 13,799 30 45,523
1977 32,823 69 15,055 31 47,878
1978 34,923 69 15,408 31 50,331
1979 35,026 69 16,067 31 51,093
1980 34,995 68 16,096 32 51,091
1981 33,711 68 15,590 32 49,301
1982 29,654 67 14,291 33 43,945
1983 29,153 68 13,436 32 42,589
1984 30,091 68 14,166 32 44,257
1985 29,847 68 13,978 32 43,825
1986 32,224 70 13,863 30 46,087
1987 33,145 71 13,245 29 46,390
1988 34,105 72 12,982 28 47,087
1989 33,599 74 11,983 26 45,582
1990 32,711 73 11,888 27 44,599
1991 30,810 74 10,698 26 41,508
1992 29,457 75 9,793 25 39,250
1993 29,994 75 10,156 25 40,150
1994 30,816 76 9,900 24 40,716
1995 31,913 76 9,904 24 41,817
1996 32,353 77 9,712 23 42,065
1997 32,331 77 9,682 23 42,013
1998 31,779 77 9,722 23 41,501
1999 32,008 77 9,709 23 41,717
2000 32,109 77 9,836 23 41,945
2001 31,938 76 10,258 24 42,196
2002 32,724 76 10,281 24 43,005
2003 32,166 75 10,718 25 42,884
2004 31,750 74 11,086 26 42,836
2005 31,455 72 12,055 28 43,510
2006 30,628 72 12,080 28 42,708
2007 28,896 70 12,163 30 41,059

Crash types

Frontal impacts accounted for 50 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2007. Side impacts accounted for another 28 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in single-vehicle crashes by impact point and vehicle type, 2007
Point of principal impact Car occupants Pickup occupants SUV occupants All occupants
Num % Num % Num % Num %
Frontal 3,904 50 1,742 48 1,245 40 7,038 47
Side 1,949 25 622 17 487 15 3,096 21
Rear 250 3 63 2 40 1 354 2
Other (mostly rollover) 1,697 22 1,175 33 1,370 44 4,350 29
All* 7,800 100 3,602 100 3,142 100 14,838 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes by impact point and vehicle type, 2007
Point of principal impact Car occupants Pickup occupants SUV occupants All occupants
Num % Num % Num % Num %
Frontal 4,963 50 1,331 63 997 55 7,473 53
Side 3,943 40 577 27 541 30 5,126 37
Rear 662 7 100 5 159 9 944 7
Other (mostly rollover) 278 3 95 5 107 6 491 3
All* 9,846 100 2,103 100 1,804 100 14,034 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in all crashes by impact point and vehicle type, 2007
Point of principal impact Car occupants Pickup occupants SUV occupants All occupants
Num % Num % Num % Num %
Frontal 8,876 50 3,078 54 2,246 45 14,530 50
Side 5,894 33 1,200 21 1,028 21 8,225 28
Rear 912 5 163 3 200 4 1,299 4
Other (mostly rollover) 1,975 11 1,270 22 1,477 30 4,842 17
All* 17,657 100 5,711 100 4,951 100 28,896 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Forty-four percent of car occupant deaths in 2007 occurred in single-vehicle crashes and 56 percent occurred in multiple-vehicle crashes. In contrast, single-vehicle crashes accounted for 63 percent of both SUV occupant deaths and pickup occupant deaths.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by vehicle and crash type, 2007
Vehicle type Deaths in single-vehicle crashes Deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes Deaths in all crashes*
Num % Num % Num
Cars 7,800 44 9,846 56 17,657
Pickups 3,602 63 2,103 37 5,711
SUVs 3,142 63 1,804 36 4,951
Other 294 51 281 49 577
All passenger vehicles 14,838 51 14,034 49 28,896
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Age and gender differences

Thirty-three percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2007 were younger than 25.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by age, 2007
Age All occupants
Num %
<25 9,464 33
25-29 2,838 10
30-34 1,939 7
35-39 1,907 7
40-44 1,862 6
45-49 1,935 7
50-54 1,679 6
55-59 1,494 5
60-64 1,148 4
65-69 943 3
≥ 70 3,617 13
All * 28,896 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Seventy-one percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2007 were drivers; 71 percent of these drivers were males.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by occupant age, type, and gender, 2007
Age Drivers All occupants
Male Female Total* Male Female Total*
Num % Num % Num Num % Num % Num
<16 53 73 20 27 73 741 52 693 48 1,434
16-19 1,454 69 645 31 2,099 2,336 65 1,276 35 3,613
20-24 2,395 77 729 23 3,125 3,255 74 1,161 26 4,417
25-29 1,600 75 534 25 2,134 2,050 72 788 28 2,838
30-34 1,099 73 406 27 1,505 1,378 71 561 29 1,939
35-39 1,099 73 413 27 1,512 1,317 69 590 31 1,907
40-44 1,026 69 464 31 1,490 1,219 65 643 35 1,862
45-49 1,069 69 487 31 1,556 1,276 66 659 34 1,935
50-54 959 70 403 30 1,362 1,103 66 576 34 1,679
55-59 876 71 366 29 1,242 973 65 521 35 1,494
60-64 627 68 300 32 927 700 61 448 39 1,148
65-69 497 68 237 32 734 559 59 384 41 943
≥ 70 1,746 67 857 33 2,603 2,058 57 1,559 43 3,617
All* 14,512 71 5,865 29 20,381 19,010 66 9,878 34 28,896
*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 are based on 1-3-year-old vehicles only so as to minimize the effects of vehicle aging. Rates based on fewer than 120,000 vehicle 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, 1978-2007
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 139 182 141 144 208 257 227 213
1986 128 172 134 133 196 239 224 202
1987 130 178 136 136 197 248 232 205
1988 134 186 121 140 206 251 198 211
1989 130 185 116 137 200 255 185 207
1990 122 179 126 131 188 245 201 197
1991 108 169 109 117 169 229 175 178
1992 102 151 88 108 160 200 151 165
1993 97 137 93 102 153 187 141 156
1994 100 134 87 104 160 178 148 161
1995 103 134 102 107 160 180 157 162
1996 107 127 98 108 168 178 150 167
1997 96 118 93 99 153 161 146 153
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 89 125 170 116 131
2002 84 123 76 88 126 162 122 131
2003 81 116 72 85 122 152 115 126
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 93 44 67 103 126 69 98

For each vehicle type (car, pickup, SUV), the rates of driver deaths per million registered vehicles in 2007 were lower for the larger and heavier vehicles.

Driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 2007

Note: Pickups and SUVs are typically heavier than most passenger cars.

Driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 2007
  Registered vehicles Deaths Rate
Cars Mini 789,954 64 81
Small 6,761,792 649 96
Midsize 9,249,896 577 62
Large 5,264,226 337 64
Very large 3,189,367 111 35
All cars 25,255,403 1,756 70
Pickups Small 1,608,249 168 104
Large 4,263,343 385 90
Very large 1,861,523 160 86
All pickups 7,733,115 722 93
SUVs Small 2,761,921 132 48
Midsize 6,075,871 248 41
Large 2,273,475 97 43
Very large 658,117 31 47
All SUVs 11,769,384 521 44
All passenger vehicles All 45,471,729 3,045 67

Multiple-vehicle crashes accounted for 33 driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles in 2007, while there were 34 deaths per million in single-vehicle crashes. In single-vehicle crashes, pickups had the highest number of deaths per registered vehicle (59 per million) in 2007. In multiple-vehicle crashes, cars had the highest number of deaths per registered vehicle (38 per million), and SUVs had the lowest number of deaths per registered vehicle (20 per million).

Driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old by crash type, 2007
  Multiple-vehicle Single-vehicle Single-vehicle rollover All crashes
Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate
Cars Mini 36 46 28 35 15 19 64 81
Small 344 51 305 45 144 21 649 96
Midsize 308 33 269 29 123 13 577 62
Large 195 37 141 27 60 11 337 64
Very large 75 24 36 11 11 3 111 35
All cars 969 38 786 31 356 14 1,756 70
Pickups Small 67 42 101 63 58 36 168 104
Large 142 33 242 57 143 34 385 90
Very large 50 27 110 59 88 47 160 86
All pickups 263 34 458 59 290 38 722 93
SUVs Small 66 24 66 24 39 14 132 48
Midsize 114 19 134 22 92 15 248 41
Large 36 16 61 27 41 18 97 43
Very large 13 20 18 27 12 18 31 47
All SUVs 233 20 288 24 191 16 521 44
All passenger vehicles All 1,489 33 1,552 34 847 19 3,045 67
Driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, by crash type, 2007, by 2WD and 4WD for pickups and SUVs
  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 47 48 20 32 61 62 40 64 32 33 26 41 108 110 60 96
Large 86 39 56 27 120 55 122 59 68 31 75 36 207 94 178 86
Very large 14 36 36 24 19 49 91 62 14 36 74 50 33 84 127 86
All pickups 147 41 112 27 200 56 253 61 114 32 175 42 348 98 365 88
SUVs Small 25 22 41 25 22 19 44 27 11 10 28 17 47 41 85 52
Midsize 65 33 49 12 53 27 81 20 39 20 53 13 118 59 130 32
Large 12 15 24 16 22 27 39 27 13 16 28 19 34 42 63 43
Very large 5 25 8 17 7 35 11 24 4 20 8 17 12 60 19 41
All SUVs 107 26 122 16 104 25 175 23 67 16 117 15 211 51 297 39

Frontal impacts accounted for 18 driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2007 compared with 11 deaths per million in side impacts and 2 deaths per million in rear impacts.

Driver deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 2007
  Frontal impacts Side impacts Rear impacts Other Total
Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate
Cars 520 21 371 15 51 2 13 <1 969 38
Pickups 166 21 74 10 12 2 5 <1 263 34
SUVs 135 11 65 6 19 2 8 <1 233 20
All passenger vehicles 838 18 514 11 82 2 28 <1 1,489 33
Driver deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 2007, by passenger vehicle sizes
  Frontal impacts Side impacts Rear impacts Other Total
Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate
Cars Mini 20 25 14 18 1 1 0 0 36 46
Small 173 26 142 21 15 2 9 1 344 51
Midsize 175 19 104 11 20 2 3 <1 308 33
Large 103 20 79 15 10 2 1 <1 195 37
Very large 41 13 29 9 5 2 0 0 75 24
All cars 520 21 371 15 51 2 13 <1 969 38
Pickups Small 41 25 23 14 1 <1 1 <1 67 42
Large 93 22 35 8 9 2 3 <1 142 33
Very large 29 16 15 8 2 1 1 <1 50 27
All pickups 166 21 74 10 12 2 5 <1 263 34
SUVs Small 36 13 20 7 5 2 5 2 66 24
Midsize 63 10 36 6 9 1 2 <1 114 19
Large 22 10 7 3 4 2 1 <1 36 16
Very large 12 18 0 0 1 2 0 0 13 20
All SUVs 135 11 65 6 19 2 8 <1 233 20
All passenger vehicles All 838 18 514 11 82 2 28 <1 1,489 33

Frontal impacts accounted for 17 driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles in single-vehicle crashes in 2007 compared with 7 deaths per million in side impacts and fewer than 1 death per million in rear impacts.

Driver deaths in single-vehicle crashes per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 2007
  Frontal impacts Side impacts Rear impacts Other Total
Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate
Cars 424 17 184 7 27 1 128 5 786 31
Pickups 209 27 93 12 9 1 121 16 458 59
SUVs 143 12 44 4 2 <1 88 7 288 24
All passenger vehicles 788 17 325 7 38 <1 341 7 1,552 34
Driver deaths in single-vehicle crashes per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 2007, by passenger vehicle sizes
  Frontal impacts Side impacts Rear impacts Other Total
Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate Deaths Rate
Cars Mini 15 19 6 8 2 3 5 6 28 35
Small 153 23 85 13 10 1 45 7 305 45
Midsize 139 15 63 7 11 1 47 5 269 29
Large 84 16 28 5 4 <1 25 5 141 27
Very large 28 9 2 <1 0 0 5 2 36 11
All cars 424 17 184 7 27 1 128 5 786 31
Pickups Small 42 26 25 16 4 2 29 18 101 63
Large 129 30 36 8 4 <1 60 14 242 57
Very large 34 18 32 17 1 <1 32 17 110 59
All pickups 209 27 93 12 9 1 121 16 458 59
SUVs Small 40 14 6 2 0 0 19 7 66 24
Midsize 64 11 24 4 1 <1 39 6 134 22
Large 29 13 9 4 1 <1 20 9 61 27
Very large 6 9 5 8 0 0 6 9 18 27
All SUVs 143 12 44 4 2 <1 88 7 288 24
All passenger vehicles All 788 17 325 7 38 <1 341 7 1,552 34

Rollover

A vehicle is classified as rolling over if it tips onto its side or roof at any time during the crash. The rollover may occur subsequent to a frontal or side impact with another vehicle or 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 10,182 passenger vehicle occupants died in rollover crashes in 2007. Twenty-two percent of these did not involve any other impact.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in rollover crashes by impact point and vehicle type, 2007
Point of principal impact Car occupants Pickup occupants SUV occupants All occupants
Num % Num % Num % Num %
Frontal 1,769 40 1,001 38 931 32 3,794 37
Side 844 19 448 17 461 16 1,797 18
Rear 174 4 72 3 122 4 378 4
None 650 15 639 24 861 30 2,212 22
Other 943 22 477 18 535 18 2,001 20
All* 4,380 100 2,637 100 2,910 100 10,182 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Crashes in which a vehicle rolled over accounted for 35 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2007 (56 percent of single-vehicle occupant crash deaths and 13 percent of multiple-vehicle occupant crash deaths).

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by crash type, 1978-2007
Year Deaths in single-vehicle crashes Deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes Deaths in all crashes*
Rollover No rollover Rollover No rollover Rollover No rollover
Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num %
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 9,000 51 1,588 9 15,679 91 10,282 29 24,713 71
1981 8,211 50 8,188 50 1,588 9 15,692 91 9,812 29 23,899 71
1982 6,974 49 7,204 51 1,305 8 14,157 92 8,282 28 21,372 72
1983 6,951 50 7,079 50 1,256 8 13,867 92 8,207 28 20,946 72
1984 7,116 50 7,090 50 1,358 9 14,527 91 8,474 28 21,617 72
1985 6,900 50 6,779 50 1,361 8 14,804 92 8,262 28 21,585 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 6,636 48 1,669 10 15,243 90 8,937 29 21,879 71
1995 7,802 53 6,940 47 1,708 10 15,463 90 9,510 30 22,403 70
1996 7,903 53 6,891 47 1,691 10 15,868 90 9,594 30 22,759 70
1997 7,711 53 6,737 47 1,774 10 16,109 90 9,485 29 22,846 71
1998 7,846 54 6,594 46 1,872 11 15,467 89 9,718 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 8,366 56 6,472 44 1,816 13 12,218 87 10,182 35 18,714 65
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Since 1978 pickups and SUVs have a consistently higher percentage of rollover deaths than cars.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in rollover vs. no rollover crashes, 1978-2007
Year Car occupants Pickup occupants SUV occupants
Rollover No rollover Rollover No rollover Rollover No rollover
Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num %
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 20,419 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 17,665 76 1,935 40 2,844 60 571 66 291 34
1983 5,381 24 17,419 76 1,939 42 2,721 58 609 66 311 34
1984 5,525 24 17,955 76 2,048 42 2,836 58 587 66 299 34
1985 5,219 23 17,857 77 2,044 42 2,848 58 671 66 353 34
1986 5,996 24 18,884 76 2,371 44 2,963 56 737 65 394 35
1987 5,997 24 19,118 76 2,598 45 3,197 55 824 65 445 35
1988 6,227 24 19,598 76 2,762 45 3,327 55 815 62 505 38
1989 5,784 23 19,485 77 2,680 45 3,336 55 847 62 526 38
1990 5,695 23 18,718 77 2,713 45 3,319 55 910 61 570 39
1991 5,443 24 17,295 76 2,593 44 3,265 56 934 61 587 39
1992 4,944 23 16,880 77 2,479 45 2,997 55 879 63 511 37
1993 4,865 22 17,252 78 2,415 43 3,196 57 971 63 581 37
1994 5,112 23 17,506 77 2,393 43 3,211 57 1,102 61 707 39
1995 5,340 23 17,784 77 2,581 43 3,392 57 1,257 63 749 37
1996 5,323 23 18,103 77 2,539 43 3,389 57 1,429 65 781 35
1997 5,142 22 18,009 78 2,479 42 3,443 58 1,516 63 899 37
1998 5,120 23 17,235 77 2,537 43 3,367 57 1,703 63 1,008 37
1999 5,174 23 16,945 77 2,699 44 3,396 56 1,901 63 1,118 37
2000 4,997 23 16,988 77 2,529 42 3,467 58 2,067 62 1,270 38
2001 5,028 23 16,576 77 2,636 43 3,485 57 2,159 61 1,362 39
2002 5,243 24 16,764 76 2,715 45 3,343 55 2,474 62 1,548 38
2003 4,916 23 16,137 77 2,509 43 3,324 57 2,658 60 1,805 40
2004 4,781 23 15,779 77 2,519 44 3,197 56 2,949 62 1,823 38
2005 4,830 24 15,062 76 2,773 46 3,267 54 2,909 60 1,938 40
2006 4,739 25 14,295 75 2,781 47 3,096 53 2,919 59 2,054 41
2007 4,380 25 13,277 75 2,637 46 3,074 54 2,910 59 2,041 41

More than three-fourths of fatal rollovers are single-vehicle crashes.[ Error ] The remaining facts will concentrate on single-vehicle rollovers.

A total of 8,366 passenger vehicle occupants died in single-vehicle rollover crashes in 2007, 5 percent less than in 2006 but 6 percent more than in 1978.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in single-vehicle rollover crashes, 1978-2007
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 3,474 1,401 375 5,400 7,954
1987 3,427 1,535 403 5,528 8,162
1988 3,675 1,656 447 5,925 8,562
1989 3,309 1,629 463 5,551 8,060
1990 3,291 1,563 486 5,477 8,068
1991 3,092 1,595 470 5,282 7,749
1992 2,800 1,492 442 4,848 7,135
1993 2,664 1,462 494 4,729 7,002
1994 2,826 1,403 522 4,879 7,268
1995 3,005 1,556 602 5,284 7,802
1996 2,932 1,514 720 5,294 7,903
1997 2,817 1,469 754 5,177 7,711
1998 2,857 1,545 808 5,328 7,846
1999 2,866 1,667 999 5,644 8,255
2000 2,795 1,526 1,035 5,466 8,112
2001 2,836 1,651 1,063 5,654 8,375
2002 2,977 1,668 1,224 5,967 8,724
2003 2,755 1,595 1,331 5,789 8,462
2004 2,706 1,540 1,490 5,853 8,525
2005 2,761 1,711 1,478 6,074 8,730
2006 2,764 1,754 1,555 6,198 8,790
2007 2,623 1,670 1,512 5,892 8,366

Single-vehicle rollover crashes accounted for 47 percent of occupant deaths in SUVs in 2007, compared with 38 percent of occupant deaths in pickups and 21 percent in cars.

Deaths in single-vehicle rollover crashes as a percent of all occupant deaths, 2007
  Drivers All occupants
Single-vehicle rollover All crashes Single-vehicle rollover All crashes
Num % Num Num % Num
Cars Mini 188 19 991 244 18 1,335
Small 847 22 3,910 1,204 21 5,610
Midsize 865 23 3,800 1,167 22 5,358
Large 568 21 2,685 815 21 3,914
Very large 114 15 786 182 15 1,206
All cars 2,623 21 12,358 3,662 21 17,657
Pickups Small 563 34 1,640 698 35 2,006
Large 778 39 2,019 1,035 39 2,644
Very large 286 47 607 395 46 854
All pickups 1,670 38 4,411 2,195 38 5,711
SUVs Small 373 41 917 521 40 1,293
Midsize 807 47 1,711 1,253 48 2,584
Large 217 52 414 360 52 694
Very large 91 52 176 170 53 322
All SUVs 1,512 46 3,264 2,334 47 4,951
All passenger vehicles All 5,892 29 20,381 8,366 29 28,896


Deaths in single-vehicle rollover crashes as a percent of all driver deaths, 2007, by 2WD and 4WD for pickups and SUVs
  2WD 4WD
Single-vehicle rollover All crashes Single-vehicle rollover All crashes
Num % Num Num % Num
Pickups Small 343 29 1,175 220 47 465
Large 403 33 1,208 375 46 811
Very large 68 33 203 218 54 404
All pickups 814 31 2,586 813 48 1,680
SUVs Small 95 36 265 278 43 652
Midsize 313 47 661 494 47 1,050
Large 84 54 155 133 51 259
Very large 35 48 73 56 54 103
All SUVs 527 46 1,154 961 47 2,064
Deaths in single-vehicle rollover crashes as a percent of all occupant deaths, 2007, by 2WD and 4WD for pickups and SUVs
  2WD 4WD
Single-vehicle rollover All crashes Single-vehicle rollover All crashes
Num % Num Num % Num
Pickups Small 437 30 1,449 261 47 557
Large 542 34 1,589 493 47 1,055
Very large 94 33 288 301 53 566
All pickups 1,073 32 3,326 1,055 48 2,178
SUVs Small 137 35 387 384 42 906
Midsize 523 50 1,042 730 47 1,542
Large 141 52 273 219 52 421
Very large 70 53 131 100 52 191
All SUVs 871 48 1,833 1,433 47 3,060

Since 1978, driver death rates for single-vehicle rollover crashes have declined across all passenger vehicle types, particularly for SUVs. Single-vehicle crashes involving rollover accounted for 19 driver deaths per million registered passenger vehicles in 2007.

Driver deaths in single-vehicle rollover crashes per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 1978-2007
Year Car drivers Pickup drivers SUV drivers All passenger vehicles
1978 32 78 141 41
1979 31 90 155 43
1980 37 83 168 47
1981 35 76 137 44
1982 31 65 129 38
1983 29 62 126 35
1984 27 72 69 34
1985 25 61 73 32
1986 24 70 62 32
1987 24 68 67 33
1988 26 70 55 34
1989 24 68 60 33
1990 25 68 60 34
1991 23 66 54 31
1992 20 56 40 27
1993 19 50 51 26
1994 19 42 37 25
1995 20 49 45 27
1996 24 47 55 31
1997 21 44 43 27
1998 21 43 43 28
1999 20 49 47 29
2000 18 46 42 27
2001 18 53 36 27
2002 18 52 36 28
2003 16 47 34 25
2004 15 44 30 23
2005 16 46 24 23
2006 15 44 19 21
2007 14 38 16 19

References