GHSA research Show 19% Increase in Teen Driver Deaths

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GHSA research Show 19% Increase in Teen Driver Deaths

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February 27, 2013: Govenors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) New Study: Teen Driver Deaths Increase in 2012 Preliminary Data Indicate Deaths of 16- and 17-Year-Old Drivers Up 19 Percent
From the news release by GHSA:
  • WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new report released today by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reveals that the number of 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths in passenger vehicles increased dramatically for the first six months of 2012, based on preliminary data supplied by all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
    Overall, 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths increased from 202 to 240 – a 19 percent jump.
    The new report – the first state-by-state look at teen driver fatalities in 2012 – was completed by Dr. Allan Williams, a researcher who formerly served as chief scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Dr. Williams surveyed GHSA members, who reported fatality numbers for every state and D.C. The increase in teen driver deaths coincides with a projection from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in which all traffic deaths increased by 8 percent. It is particularly concerning that 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths appear to have increased at an even greater rate.
    • Deaths of 16-year-old drivers increased from 86 to 107 (a 24 percent change),
    • the number for 17-year-old drivers went from 116 to 133 (a 15 percent change),
    • a cumulative increase of 19 percent.
    • Twenty-five states reported increases,
    • 17 had decreases, and
    • eight states and the District of Columbia reported no change in the number of 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths.
    Dr. Williams attributes much of the increase to the fact that the benefit of state Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws may be leveling off, as most of these laws have been in place for some time.
    Dr. Williams stresses that while today’s news is certainly not good, deaths in this age group remain at a historically low level. He notes, “We are still at a much better place than we were ten or even five years earlier. However, the goal is to strive toward zero deaths, so our aim would be that these deaths should go down every year.”
    g parents and teens together around this issue.”
    The full report, including state-by-state data, is available online at http://www.ghsa.org. Image files are also available.