Teen driving statistics
Posted: Sunday, September 25, 2005
by smartfindsmarketing
SmartFinds Internet Marketing
As a parent, if you search for any information about Teen Driving Statistics you will find statistics similar to those below. I have reviewed various websites to summarize the information from these sources, however, please feel free to search the web for “teen driving statistics" for more websites and information on this subject.
The information allows us to ponder if teen driving needs to be revisited on a national level. How are teen drivers being educated by driving schools? Do we need to increase the amount of time for driver training? How about requiring higher levels of car driving education (not just traffic education, but how do drive a car education)? Should driver’s licenses only be issued at age 18? What are the economic implications to increasing the driving age? We will visit these questions in the next article. For now we need to understand what is happening on our roads today.
As parents we must take the responsibility of protecting our children. Should you reconsider your decision the next time your teen asks to take the car?
The Facts from reliable Sources
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
In 2003, 3,657 (3,827 in 2002) drivers 15 to 20 years old were killed, and an additional 308,000 (324,000 in 2002) were injured, in motor vehicle crashes. Nearly 31 percent of teen drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2003 had been drinking and 74 percent of this group was not wearing their safety belts.
National Safety Council
- In 2000, 6,495 people between the ages of 15 and 20 were killed in motor vehicle crashes—the leading cause of death for this age group. And although young drivers represent only 6.6% of the nation's licensed drivers, they are involved in 14.8% of fatal crashes. The National Safety Council urges all parents to familiarize themselves with the risks associated with young, inexperienced drivers.
- Traffic crashes are the number one cause of death among children and young adults.
- More than 3,800 young drivers age 15-20 are killed every year in traffic crashes.
- More than 326,000 young drivers are injured.
- Young drivers are involved in fatal traffic crashes at over twice the rate as the rest of the population.
- Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving at an unsafe speed is the most common error in fatal accidents.
- About 30% of crashes killing young drivers involve alcohol.
- More than 1,000 young drivers lose their lives every year in crashes because of an impaired driver... be it themselves, or someone else.
- The number one cause of death for 15-20 year olds is car collisions.
- This age group makes up 7% of licensed drivers, but suffers 14% of fatalities and 20% of all reported collisions.
- 53% of teen driver deaths occur on weekends.
- Teen drivers killed in motor vehicle collisions had a youth passenger in the automobile 45% of the time.
- In 2002, The National Center for Statistics and Analysis reported that 8,278 adolescents (ages 15-20) were involved in fatal crashes.
- 324,000 teens were injured in collisions in 2002.
- 65% of teen passenger deaths occur with a teen driving.
- Teen lifestyle of staying up late make teen drivers a high risk to have an automobile collision due to drowsiness.
- More than any age group, teens are likely to be involved in a single vehicle crash.
Melih Oztalay, CEO
Auto Safety Magnets
www.autosafetymagnets.com
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More commentsGreat site
Well i just turned 17 and all last year i got in 4 car wrecks, but i was not the driver i never got in a wreck as being the driver, yes i was with a teen friend but we were the ones to get hit, and it was not buy another teen driver it was by and adult ages between 30-55 all of them, 2 of the 4 were because the other driver had been drinking, so dont sit there and say the a majority of wrecks are by teens!!!!!!!!!That's right people say that its just teens who cause accidents but really have they even looked at the rate of older people killing younger people from things like drinking and driving. Come On Get Real!!
People need to stop critisizing that kid who spelled imature wrong. Leave him alone. and the driving age should be raised to 18!
Some of the comment are right about how bad teens are with driving but I'm betting that most were underage drinking, fooling around, or was hit by the other driver were they were also drunk. ( no offense) But some of these comments don't improve on what we teens are trying to say. Saying what a great site this ( if you can find it )is just making it look like the average teen is anouther stupid kid behind the wheel of metal can that can wreck havac anywhere. I'm saying we are not stupid kids We are developing adults that have a tendency of making mistakes. So you ADULTS quit dissin us teenagers so much cause you also made mistakes in your youth as well. NO Excuses. We have our own troubles with school our future and how we are getting there. So either help us or leave us alone. > P
I personally feel that the Driving age should be left at 16 but only we start the GDL program where if your 16 you still get a lisence you just have a curfew and when you turn 18 you get the full lisence and you can drive all day
I think that you should still get your lisence at 16 but get your permit earlier than 15 so you can have more experience on the road than just one year.
there is no percentage about wearing set belts
personally I believe the the driving age should be 18 but just to get your lisence, i think at 16 you should still be able to get your permit and just have the two years of learning to drive with an experienced driver. There are way to many teen accidents but it is not just the teens. Look at the big picture it's all drivers, they just leave that part out to make us teens look like the dumb ones. What's with that. If anything old people should have to retake their test because come on now they are old and still driving, causing accidents as well.
People need to just calm down, the statistics are obviously averaged out, so if you specifically are a good teenage driver than good for you, but there are others who aren't as informed or as safe as you. I am 18, just became an adults and I got two tickets in the last 3 months, those were mistakes, because I was late to work or school and I deserved those tickets. I have made the decision to make better choices when I get behind the wheel. Anyways, I believe that High School should have a drivers education program required for graduation, then every teen is made to take it and learn the how to drive safely, regardless if they use it or not. I am actually making a speech on this particular subject for my Speech Communication class, that is why I visited this site.
I do not believe that the age limit should be raised to 18 becaus how are people like me, contry kids, supposed to get work? We need our licences so we can earn a living. Also if its raised to 18, which is also the legal drinking age to, how are people supposed to learn to drive without the infuence of alcohol? I also think that all students should be made to take a safe driving course in school.
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