In every motorized country, teenage drivers represent a major hazard. The problem is worse in the United States than elsewhere. Until recently, most states have allowed teens to get full-privilege licenses at an earlier age than in most other countries, and little driving experience typically was required prior to licensure. The result is greatly elevated crash risk among young drivers. As states adopt graduated licensing systems, which phase in full driving privileges, the problem is expected to decrease. Teenagers drive less than all but the oldest people, but their numbers of crashes and crash deaths are disproportionately high. The risk of crash involvement per mile driven among 16-19 years-old is 4 times the risk among older drivers. Risk is highest at age 16-17. In fact, the crash rate per mile driven is almost 3 times as high among 16 year- olds as it is among 18-19 year-olds.

Crash rates are high largely because of young drivers' immaturity combined with driving inexperience. The immaturity is apparent in young drivers' risky driving practices like speeding and tailgating. At the same time, teenagers' lack of experience behind the wheel makes it difficult for them to recognize and respond to hazards. They get in trouble trying to handle unusual driving situations, even small emergencies. More often than when older people drive, these turn disastrous. Crashes involving young drivers typically are single-vehicle crashes, primarily run-off-the-road crashes, that involve driver error and/or speeding. They often occur when other young people are in the vehicle with the young driver, so teenagers are disproportionately involved in crashes as passengers as well as drivers.

The population of 16-19 year-olds decreased during the 1980s which, in turn, held down the problem of teenage drivers. However, this trend ended in 1992. Now the population of 16-19 year-olds is increasing, and so are motor vehicle crash deaths.

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System:

• 5,749 teenagers died in motor vehicle crashes in 1999. This is 34 percent fewer than in 1975.
• Teenagers accounted for 10 percent of the U.S. population in 1999 and 14 percent of motor vehicle deaths. They represented 16 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 1999, 7 percent of pedestrian deaths, 5 percent of motorcycle deaths, and 18 percent of bicycle deaths.
• Eighty-eight percent of teen motor vehicle deaths in 1999 were passenger vehicle occupants. The rest were pedestrians (6 percent), motorcyclists (2 percent), bicyclists (2 percent), and people in other kinds of vehicles (2 percent).
• Thirty-eight percent of deaths of 16-19 year-olds in 1998 from all causes occurred in crashes. This is the latest year for which this information is available.

DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS

• Motor vehicle death rates per 100,000 people in 1999 peaked at ages 18 and 19 for drivers and at age 18 for passengers.
• About half of teenage passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 1999 were drivers (54 percent), and about half were passengers (45 percent).
• Sixty-three percent of teenage passenger deaths in 1999 occurred in crashes in which another teenager was driving. Among people of all ages, 20 percent of passenger deaths in 1999 occurred when a teenager was driving.

• About 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 1999 were males.
• Since 1975, teenage motor vehicle deaths have decreased more among males (43 percent) than among females (9 percent).
• Death rates were higher in 1999 among male drivers age 16-19 than among females -- 22 per 100,000 people compared with 11 per 100,000.
• The rate of nighttime fatal crashes per 100 million miles traveled in 1995-96 by male drivers 16-19 years old was about 4 times the rate for 30-54-year-old male drivers. The corresponding comparison for females is more than 3 times the rate.

ALCOHOL INVOLVEMENT

• Among drivers who aren't legally permitted to buy alcohol (16-20 years old), 22 percent of fatally injured drivers in 1999 had blood alcohol concentrations at or above 0.10 percent, down from 49 percent in 1980. This decline is greater than declines among older drivers.
• Among teenage drivers (16-19 years old), 23 percent of fatally injured male drivers and 10 percent of fatally injured female drivers in 1999 had blood alcohol concentrations at or above 0.10 percent.
• Male drivers (age 16-20) with blood alcohol concentrations in the 0.05-0.08 percent range are 17 times more likely than sober teenagers to be killed in single-vehicle crashes. The corresponding comparison for females is 7 times more likely. At BACs of 0.08-0.10, risks are even higher, 52 times for males, 15 times for females. ¹

WHEN THEY DIED

• Fifty-five percent of teenage motor vehicle deaths in 1999 occurred on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
• Forty-one percent of teenage motor vehicle deaths in 1999 occurred between 9 pm and 6 am.

TABLES