| As a parent, if you search for any information | | | | National Safety Council |
| about Teen Driving Statistics you will find statistics | | | | In 2000, 6,495 people between the ages of 15 |
| similar to those below. I have reviewed various | | | | and 20 were killed in motor vehicle crashes-the |
| websites to summarize the information from | | | | leading cause of death for this age group. And |
| these sources, however, please feel free to | | | | although young drivers represent only 6.6% of |
| search the web for "teen driving statistics" for | | | | the nation's licensed drivers, they are involved in |
| more websites and information on this subject. | | | | 14.8% of fatal crashes. The National Safety |
| The information allows us to ponder if teen driving | | | | Council urges all parents to familiarize themselves |
| needs to be revisited on a national level. How are | | | | with the risks associated with young, |
| teen drivers being educated by driving schools? | | | | inexperienced drivers. |
| Do we need to increase the amount of time for | | | | Traffic crashes are the number one cause of |
| driver training? How about requiring higher levels | | | | death among children and young adults. |
| of car driving education (not just traffic education, | | | | More than 3,800 young drivers age 15-20 are |
| but how do drive a car education)? Should driver's | | | | killed every year in traffic crashes. |
| licenses only be issued at age 18? What are the | | | | More than 326,000 young drivers are injured. |
| economic implications to increasing the driving | | | | Young drivers are involved in fatal traffic crashes |
| age? We will visit these questions in the next | | | | at over twice the rate as the rest of the |
| article. For now we need to understand what is | | | | population. |
| happening on our roads today. | | | | Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving at an |
| We know that the current requirements for | | | | unsafe speed is the most common error in fatal |
| driver education are not sufficient. Both | | | | accidents. |
| commercially and by parents. We can add that a | | | | About 30% of crashes killing young drivers |
| younger age teen is not mature enough to control | | | | involve alcohol. |
| a vehicle and might as well be considered to be | | | | More than 1,000 young drivers lose their lives |
| driving a deadly weapon. Teens with permit | | | | every year in crashes because of an impaired |
| licenses are driving with their parents in an | | | | driver... be it themselves, or someone else. |
| unmarked family vehicle only increase the | | | | Sean Mullsteff Teen Driving Foundation |
| likelihood of accidents. Using car magnets that are | | | | The number one cause of death for 15-20 year |
| thick, reflective for the night and are durable can | | | | olds is car collisions. |
| help reduce this likelihood. These types of auto | | | | This age group makes up 7% of licensed drivers, |
| safety magnets can be found at Auto Safety | | | | but suffers 14% of fatalities and 20% of all |
| Magnets. Identifying these almost 2 million vehicles | | | | reported collisions. |
| on the road should be a requirement on a national | | | | 53% of teen driver deaths occur on weekends. |
| level. | | | | Teen drivers killed in motor vehicle collisions had a |
| As parents we must take the responsibility of | | | | youth passenger in the automobile 45% of the |
| protecting our children. Should you reconsider your | | | | time. |
| decision the next time your teen asks to take | | | | In 2002, The National Center for Statistics and |
| the car? | | | | Analysis reported that 8,278 adolescents (ages |
| The Facts from reliable Sources | | | | 15-20) were involved in fatal crashes. |
| National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | | | | 324,000 teens were injured in collisions in 2002. |
| In 2003, 3,657 (3,827 in 2002) drivers 15 to 20 | | | | 65% of teen passenger deaths occur with a teen |
| years old were killed, and an additional 308,000 | | | | driving. |
| (324,000 in 2002) were injured, in motor vehicle | | | | Teen lifestyle of staying up late make teen |
| crashes. Nearly 31 percent of teen drivers killed in | | | | drivers a high risk to have an automobile collision |
| motor vehicle crashes in 2003 had been drinking | | | | due to drowsiness. |
| and 74 percent of this group was not wearing | | | | More than any age group, teens are likely to be |
| their safety belts. | | | | involved in a single vehicle crash. |