Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for 36% of all deaths in this age group. The rate of motor vehicle fatalities is highest in the 16 year-old driver group. (CDC 2006 and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, 2005)

Crash risk is particularly high during the first year that teenagers are eligible to drive (IIHS 2006).

• Based on estimated miles traveled annually, 16-year-old drivers have a crash rate three times more than 17-year-olds, 5 times greater than 18-year-olds, and ten times that of 30-59 year-olds. (NHTSA, 2001)

In Indiana, only 6.6% of all licensed drivers are between the ages of 16 and 20, however, this age group accounted for 20.4% of all single vehicle fatal crashes and more than 15% of all fatal crashes.

Every year in the U.S., more than 5,000 teens ages 15-19 die of injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes, and more than 1/2 million teens sustain nonfatal injuries severe enough to require treatment in an emergency department (CDC 2006).

The annual estimated economic cost of police-reported crashes involving drivers between 15 and 20 years old is $42.3 billion. (NHTSA)

Young drivers represent a significant highway safety problem to all motorists and non-motorists.

In 2004, 7,386 people were killed in crashes nationwide involving young drivers ages 16-20. Of those killed, 3,523 were the young driver. The rest were their passengers or other motorists, pedestrians or bicyclists. (NHTSA, 2005)

Each year, roughly 1,000 16-year-old drivers are involved in fatal crashes. Of these, approximately 400 of the fatalities are the 16-year-old drivers.

• There are nearly 100,000 involved in injury crashes with 10,000+ resulting in incapacitating injuries.

From 1995-2004, here in Indiana, 887 lives were lost in crashes involving young novice drivers. Of these deaths, 40% were the young drivers themselves. The remaining 60% were their passengers, other motorists, pedestrians or bicyclists.

Risk Factors

Teen drivers are far more likely than other drivers to be involved in fatal crashes because they lack driving experience, underestimate hazardous or dangerous situations, and tend to take greater risks due to their immaturity.

Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter headways (the distance from the front of one vehicle to the front of the next).

Statistics show that the crash risk for teen drivers increases dramatically as the number of passengers increases. By adding one passenger, the crash risk doubles. With two passengers, the risk nearly triples. And with three or more passengers, the risk is five-fold. (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety)

• Half of the crash deaths that involve 16-year-old drivers occur when the beginners are driving with teen passengers. (IIHS)

Each year, more than 40% of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. with the majority occurring between 9 p.m. and midnight. More than half occur on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday (IIHS 2006).

Nearly 80% of collisions involve some form of driver inattention. One study showed that the risk of having a collision increased by up to 400% when talking on a cell phone while driving. It also slows the average person's reaction time to that of a 70-year-old.

Graduated Driver's Licensing Facts

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) is a system that is effective in reducing young driver crash fatalities. It is designed to introduce young drivers to the driving experience gradually, by phasing in full driving privileges over time and in lower-risk settings.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the IIHS have found that passenger restrictions for young drivers could save hundreds of lives each year. If 100% of teen drivers drove by themselves, rather than riding with other young drivers, 275 lives could be saved each year. (IIHS, 1999)

Studies show that nighttime driving restrictions typically are associated with crash reductions of about 40 to 60 percent during the restricted hours.

Requiring longer learner's permit periods (at least 6 months) provides more time for beginners to practice driving, through various seasons and weather conditions, under the supervision of adults.

Supervised practice driving is imperative to helping novice drivers gain valuable experience. Currently 40 states require parents to certify that their children have acquired a minimum amount of practice time, typically 50 hours. Indiana currently requires NO practice driving time.

• A survey conducted in Michigan indicates that parents are very positive of the 50-hour requirement. These parents also reported an average of 75 hours of supervised driving.

Does GDL work?

Yes! All 50 States and the District of Columbia have some form of a GDL law, but they vary from state to state. Therefore the effectiveness varies as well. However, research has shown that GDL has had positive effects on reducing young driver crashes.

A study, released this year by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, shows that more comprehensive programs have the greatest results. The findings revealed that if a state has a GDL program with at least five of the seven common components, 16 year-old drivers were involved in 38 percent fewer fatal crashes and 40 percent fewer crashes that resulted in injuries. No state currently has all seven components. All states surrounding Indiana have 3 or more components in place, with Kentucky having the most comprehensive law of all. Indiana currently has only 2 components, making it very weak in comparison.

Do parents support graduated licensing?

Yes, parents strongly favor it. An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety survey of parents of young drivers in California who had gone through the graduated licensing process found:

• 95% in support of a 6-month period of supervised driving (permit holding time)
• 94% favored night driving restrictions
• 84% favored restricting teenage passengers during the first 6 months
• 97% said they favored a licensing system that includes all of these components The survey was conducted in 2000.

A 2001 Harris Poll shows nearly unanimous support (95%) for at least 30 to 50 hours of practice driving with an adult and an equally large majority (92%) responding in favor of a six month holding period. In addition, a three-to-one majority (74% to 23%) supports limiting the number of teen passengers in the car with a teen driver and supervised driving during high-risk periods, such as nighttime.

A 2007 survey of Indiana residents (primarily parents of teen drivers or upcoming teen drivers) found that:

• 80% support increasing the licensing age by 6 months
• 92% support a 6 month permit holding period
• 88% support night time driving restrictions, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for the first 6 months
• 92% support passenger restrictions for 6 months
• 85% support a 50-hour driving log
• 97% support a restriction on using cell phones or other handheld devices while driving

Resources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS); AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety