Traffic crashes are the #1 killer of teens in the U.S
Drivers between 15 and 20 years old account for less than 7% of America’s drivers, yet are responsible for over 20% of the nation’s traffic crash fatalities. Each year, more than 5,000 teens (ages 16-20) are killed in passenger vehicle crashes.
During 2006, a teen died in a traffic crash an average of once every hour on weekends and nearly once every two hours during the week. Drivers between 15 and 20 years old are more often involved is alcohol related crashes that any other age group.
Underage drinking is a factor in 30% of all teen automobile crashes.
One in three people will be impacted by a DUI.
Nationally in 2006, 25 percent of the young drivers ages 15-20 who were killed in crashes had Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels of .08 or higher at the time of the crash.
Nationally in 2006, 4,842 teen passenger vehicle occupants, ages 16 to 20, were killed in motor vehicle crashes, and 58 percent (2,813) were unrestrained at the time of the fatal crash.
Facts About California's Driving Teen Population
The Baby Boom echo — more than half the increase is attributable to children born to the Baby Boom generation, many of whom delayed child-bearing. These children born between 1980 and 1993 are often referred to as Generation Y.
The driving teen population, 15-19 years of age, will increase 33.5 percent within the next ten years as a result of the following: High birth rates among a variety of demographic groups.
[Source: California Department of Transporation]
