The study describes the estimates of occurrence of injury due to traffic accidents among the Brazilian population based on data obtained from the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD). It is a probabilistic sample, in which 391,868 people were interviewed. in three stages, namely municipalities, census sectors and households. The traffic accident (TA) and the safety belt usage variables were described according to socio-demographic variables and region of residence. Proportions, 95% confidence intervals, χ² tests and p values were calculated. 2.5% (CI95% 2.4-2.6%) of the population reported higher traffic accident (TA) incidence among males (3.5%; CI95%: 3.4-3.6), youths (4.4%; CI95%: 4.2-4.6) and residents in the Central-West region (3.3% CI95%3.0-3.6). Most of the events involved drivers or passengers of cars or vans (53.9%), followed by motorcyclists or pillion passengers (30.1%), cyclists (7.6%) and pedestrians (5.25%). The front seat safety belt is used by 73.2% (CI95% 72.2-74.2) and the rear seat safety belt is only used by 37.4% (CI95% 36.6-38.2). Traffic accidents led to the abandonment of their habitual activities by 30.7% of those involved. The severity of injuries in traffic accidents demands further preventive and legislative measures to reduce such incidents.