How big is the problem?

In 2015, 2,333 teens in the United States ages 16–19 were killed and 235,845 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes.1 That means that six teens ages 16–19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries.

In 2013, young people ages 15-19 represented only 7% of the U.S. population. However, they accounted for 11% ($10 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries.

FATALITIES

• Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of death among teens in the U.S.

• The fatality rate for drivers age 16 to 19 is four times that of drivers age 25 to 69 years

• The crash fatality rate (crash fatalities/100,000 population) is highest for 16- to 17-year-olds within the first six months after getting their license — and remains high through age 24

• The top three predictors for fatality are non-use of seat belts, teen drivers and roads with speed limits of 45 mph or higher

• Approximately two-thirds of teen passenger deaths (ages 13 to 19) occur when other teenagers are driving 

CRASHES

• In their first year on the road, teens are almost 10 times more likely to be in a crash

• 20 percent of 11th graders report being in a crash as a driver in the past year

• 25 percent of 9th graders report being in a crash as a passenger in their lifetimes

• Crash risk increases incrementally with each mile per hour over the speed limit

• Current data on crashes involving 16-year-old drivers shows that having multiple teenage passengers in the vehicle is twice as likely to cause a fatal crash as alcohol-impaired driving

• Crashes are more common among young drivers than any other age group. In the United States, 1 in 4 crash fatalities involve someone 16 to 24 years old, nearly twice as high as other age groups

青春期小孩开车危险的原因主要有：1）大脑皮层还没有发育完全，因此risk taking是一种自然的本能。还记得小时候在楼顶围栏上相互追跑的壮举么？  2）刚刚开始看车的第一，二年，无论对路况，还是其他车辆行为的经验都很欠缺，即使是成人也是最容易犯错误的阶段，何况是青少年。3）同伴乘车时起哄架秧子，这个是不可避免的一种事。 Peer pressure永远会战胜对父母的畏惧和歉意的。