(percent)

Embedded Dataset Excel:

Dataset Excel:

Notes:

Occupants of commercial and emergency vehicles are excluded. Passengers in cars and light trucks include right front only.

Description:

KEY: U = data are not available.

^a Seat belt use is as of the Fall each year except in 1999 (December), 2001 (June), 2002 (June), 2003 (June), 2004 (June), 2005 (June).  Motorcycle helmet use is as of the Fall each year except in 1996 (January), 2002 (June), 2004 (June), and 2005 (June).

^b Beginning in 2003, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) no longer computes an overall light truck belt use estimate.  Instead, belt use is computed separately for motorists in: (1) vans and sport utility vehicles, and (2) pickup trucks. Additionally, NHTSA no longer reports separate statistics for passengers and drivers, except at the overall level.

^c Includes pickup trucks, vans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles.

^d  In 1994, Riders (Operators) and Passengers were counted as helmeted if wearing any type of helmet.  Since then, only those Riders (Operators) and Passengers wearing safety helmets that met U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards were counted. Those safety helmets that do not meet DOT standards were treated as if the operator/rider were not wearing a helmet. 

Source:

Safety belt use:

1994-2002: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safety Belt and Helmet Use in 2002 -- Overall Results, DOT HS 809 500 (Washington, DC: 2002), table 1 and 4, available at https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/809500 as of Jul. 17, 2020. 

2003-22: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts - Research Note, Seat Belt Use in 2021–Overall Results, (Washington, DC, Annual issues), Table 1, and similar tables in previous years' publications, available at https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/ as of  Jan. 24, 2023.

Motorcycle helmet use:

1994-98: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Research Note, Observed Safety Belt Use in 1998 (Washington, DC: September 1999), table 3 as of Jan. 2003. 

2000, 2002: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safety Belt and Helmet Use in 2002 -- Overall Results, DOT HS 809 500 (Washington, DC: 2002), table 6 as of Jan. 2003.

2004-22: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts - Research Note,  Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2020–Overall Results, (Washington, DC, Annual issues), Table 1, and similar tables in previous years' publications, available at https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/ as of Nov. 3, 2023.