Vehicle occupant identification and safety systems and methods include an RFID equipped vehicle having a computer system for controlling operating functions of the vehicle, an RFID emitter for use by a passenger of the vehicle, and processing logic associated with the computer system for determining when a vehicle operator has discontinued vehicle operation and for detecting a signal from the passenger RFID emitter so that the computer system may be activated to send a distress signal when the passenger has remained in the vehicle after a predetermined time from when the operator discontinued operation of the vehicle.