Good Evening:
One of the saddest experiences of my life was attending the funeral of a colleagues 16 year old son. He and his best friend had been killed in his brand new car. Too much confidence, too much speed, too many distractions and too little experience. Below are some accident statistics for teen drivers. Just as pilots review accidents and statistics in the hope that we can learn from the mistakes of others and not repeat them, drivers of all ages should do the same. Obeying traffic laws and the things you learned in drivers education will go a long way in keeping you, your friends, your families and my family safe.
There are two web sites listed that contain a vast amount of useful information and tips for drivers of all ages.
National Teen Driving Statistics
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers.
- 16 year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age.
- 16-year-olds are three times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than the average of all drivers.
- 3,490 drivers age 15-20 died in car crashes in 2006, up slightly from 2005.
- Drivers age 15-20 accounted for 12.9 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes and 16 percent of all the drivers involved in police-reported crashes in 2006.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates the economic impact of auto accidents involving 15-20 year old drivers is over $40 billion.
- A recent report by AAA estimates the cost of crashes involving 15-17 year olds to be $34 billion.
- Graduated drivers license programs appear to be making a difference. Fatal crashes involving 15- to 20-year olds in 2005 were down 6.5 percent from 7,979 in 1995, to the lowest level in ten years.
- Fewer 16-year-olds are driving. In 2006 only 30 percent of 16-year-olds had their driver's licenses compared to 40% in 1998 according to the Federal Highway Administration.
- According to a 2005 survey of 1,000 people ages 15 and 17, conducted by the Allstate Foundation
- More than half (56 percent) of young drivers use cell phones while driving,
- 69 percent said that they speed to keep up with traffic
- 64 percent said they speed to go through a yellow light.
- 47 percent said that passengers sometimes distract them.
- Nearly half said they believed that most crashes involving teens result from drunk driving.
- 31 percent of teen drivers killed in 2006 had been drinking, according to NHTSA. 25 percent had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.
- Statistics show that 16 and 17-year-old driver death rates increase with each additional passenger (IIHS).
|
Your safe driving resolutions for 2009 Teens: Always practice safe driving and obey the driving laws of your state or locality. Don't text or use your cell phone while driving. Buckle up for safety and make sure all passengers use their safety belts as well. Don't drink and drive--or use drugs and drive or ride in the car with anyone whose is drinking or on drugs. Be a courteous driver on the road Encourage safe driving at your school and in your community Let your parents know where you're going and when you'll be back. Parents: Set a good driving example for your teens by obeying the driving laws of your state or locality. Spend 100 hours of in car training for teens learning to drive Provide a safe car for teens to drive Give your teen constructive critiques of their driving and keep your temper in check Set realistic goals, expectations, and consequences for your new teen driver. Have a safe 2009, Teendriving.com |
|---|
Michigan Wing CAP, Health Services Officer
ATP, CFI, ASMELI
MAS - Human Factors, Safety
Aviation Medical Examiner
| Next > |
|---|
