16-YEAR-OLD DRIVERS HAVE HIGHEST FATAL CRASH RATE

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ARE LEADING CAUSE OF TEEN DEATHS (SOURCE: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION)

An average of 15-20 teens die every day in the U.S. from fatal traffic accidents!

MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES - 41%
HOMICIDE - 14%
SUICIDE - 11%
MALIGNANT TUMORS - 5%
HEART DISEASE - 3%

TEEN DRIVERS IN FATAL ACCIDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN OLDER DRIVERS TO MAKE THESE DRIVING ERRORS OR BEHAVIORS THAT INCREASE LIKLIHOOD OF AN ACCIDENTS:(SOURCE-USA TODAY, MARCH 1, 2005)

SPEEDING
RUNNING OFF THE ROAD
MORE LIKELY TO ROLL THEIR VEHICLES
CARRYING TWO OR MORE PASSENGERS
HAVE SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASHES
OVERCORRECT THEIR VEHICLE
NOT WEAR SEAT BELTS
DESIRE TO TAKE RISKS AND ACT IMPULSIVELY PEAKS AROUND AGE 19 OR 20 (SOURCE: MARVIN ZUCKERMAN, A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST)
BOYS ARE 75% MORE LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT
ACCIDENTS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE WHEN A MALE IS IN THE CAR
TEENS PERCEPTION OF THEIR DRIVING SKILLS IS PURELY SUBJECTIVE -" AVERAGE" DRIVING SKILLS OCCUR AFTER 6 YEARS OF DRIVING

SCW