Teen Drivers and Traffic Safety
Access to Alcohol
Teens face a significantly higher risk of death in alcohol-related crashes compared to the general population, despite being below the legal drinking age in every state.
- Among 15- to 20-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2006:
- 31% of the drivers killed had been drinking
- 77% of these drivers were unrestrained
High-visibility enforcement of underage alcohol purchase, possession, and provision laws helps:
- Deter violations of youth access laws
- Reduce alcohol consumption
- Decrease alcohol-related crash involvement
NHTSA strategies to reduce youth access to alcohol include:
- Targeting adults:
- Media campaigns on adult responsibility
- Keg registration laws
- Enforcement of laws prohibiting alcohol sales to minors
- Targeting youth:
- Tamper-proof licenses
- “Use-and-lose” laws (confiscation of underage drivers’ licenses)
- Law enforcement party patrols
- Peer education programs
- Targeting alcohol vendors:
- Point-of-sale training
- Compliance checks
- Comprehensive community programs:
- Collaboration between community groups and agencies
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)
- Young, novice drivers, especially 16- and 17-year-olds, are overrepresented in fatal crashes.
- Immaturity and inexperience are primary contributing factors.
Three-stage GDL laws reduce high-risk exposure for novice drivers. Research shows GDL adoption leads to 20–50% reductions in crashes among young drivers.
NHTSA strategies for strengthening GDL laws:
- Enact three-stage GDL legislation containing NHTSA-recommended components
- Ensure highly publicized enforcement of GDL laws
- Increase parental monitoring of novice drivers’ compliance
Seat Belt Use
NHTSA strategies to increase teen seat belt use include:
- Primary enforcement seat belt laws
- Highly publicized seat belt enforcement campaigns
- Educational programs supporting seat belt laws and enforcement
Youth Traffic Safety Statistics
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S.
- Each year, more than 5,000 teens (ages 16–20) die in passenger vehicle crashes.
- In 2006, a teen died in a traffic crash roughly every hour on weekends, and nearly every two hours during the week.
- 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.
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teenage drivers and passengers are among those least likely to wear their seat belts.
- While all teens are at a high-risk of experiencing a fatal crash, according to NHTSA, young males, pickup truck drivers and passengers, as well as people living in rural areas are also among those least likely to buckle up.
Notes:
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
The BAC is measured as a percentage by weight of alcohol in the blood (grams/deciliter). A positive BAC level (.01 g/dL and higher) indicates that alcohol was consumed by the person tested; a BAC level of .01 to .07 g/dL indicates that the person was impaired; a BAC level of .08 g/dL or more indicates that the person was intoxicated.
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)
A system designed to phase in young beginning drivers to full driving privileges as they become more mature and develop their driving skills.