What share of people killed in cars weren't wearing a seat belt?
In 2024, 48% of the people killed in passenger cars, SUVs, pickups and vans weren't wearing a seat belt (9,758 people), counting only those whose belt use is known; it was unknown for about 1 in 9. The share has fallen as more people buckle up: it was over 90% in the early 1980s, before most states had seat belt laws, and about 60% in 2000.
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Source and date
- Data as of
- Published
The data
| Year | Percent of occupants killed (known belt use) |
|---|---|
| 1982 | 97.2 |
| 1983 | 96.5 |
| 1984 | 95.1 |
| 1985 | 90.2 |
| 1986 | 85.2 |
| 1987 | 81.9 |
| 1988 | 79.7 |
| 1989 | 78.3 |
| 1990 | 76.9 |
| 1991 | 73.6 |
| 1992 | 71.2 |
| 1993 | 68.1 |
| 1994 | 65.9 |
| 1995 | 65.3 |
| 1996 | 63.8 |
| 1997 | 62.9 |
| 1998 | 61.6 |
| 1999 | 62.1 |
| 2000 | 60.2 |
| 2001 | 59.5 |
| 2002 | 58.7 |
| 2003 | 56.4 |
| 2004 | 55.4 |
| 2005 | 55.4 |
| 2006 | 55.2 |
| 2007 | 54 |
| 2008 | 54.7 |
| 2009 | 53.1 |
| 2010 | 51.5 |
| 2011 | 51.9 |
| 2012 | 51.6 |
| 2013 | 49.4 |
| 2014 | 48.6 |
| 2015 | 48.1 |
| 2016 | 48 |
| 2017 | 46.8 |
| 2018 | 47.1 |
| 2019 | 46.6 |
| 2020 | 50.9 |
| 2021 | 50 |
| 2022 | 49.8 |
| 2023 | 49.3 |
| 2024 | 48.4 |