TEEN DRIVER STATISTICS U.S. Statistics Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds (NHTSA, 2001). In 2001, 3608 drivers 15-20 years of age were killed and 337,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents (NHTSA, 2001). Drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have the highest crash rate relative to all other age groups. The risk of crash involvement per mile driven for 16 to 19 year olds is 4 times that of older drivers. (IIHS, 2002) In 2000, 63% of 13-19 year old passenger deaths occurred when other teenagers were driving (Williams, 2001). In 2001, 54 percent of teen motor vehicle deaths occurred on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (IIHS, 2002). In 2001, 43 percent of teen motor vehicle deaths occurred between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (IIHS, 2002). Among 16-17 year old drivers, about 40% of their fatal crashes take place between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (Williams and Preusser, 1997). The following site provides national crash data for beginning drivers by age categories and carsh characteristics http://www.iihs.org/safety_facts/teens/beginning_drivers.htm/ Maryland Statistics In Maryland, the number of motor vehicle crashes involving teen drivers, per 10,000 licensed teen drivers, has been on the rise since 1996 (NSC, 2003, p.10). On average, during the period from 1996-2000, more than 1 out of every 10 licensed Maryland teen drivers was involved in a motor vehicle crash (NSC, 2003, p.10). From 1996-2000, alcohol use rates among teen drivers in Maryland were about 70% higher than among all other licensed drivers (NSC, 2003, p.9). In 2001, 12% of intoxicated drivers involved in an alcohol or drug-related crash in Maryland were 16 to 20 years of age. (NSC, 2001, chap. 3, p.2) In 1999, 5721 teen drivers age 16-20 were injured in motor vehicle crashes in the state of Maryland (NHTSA, 2000). During an 11-month period, from summer 2001 to summer 2002, ten teenagers died in automobile accidents in Southern Maryland. The drivers of these automobiles were all 15 to 18 years of age. (Sheinin, 2003, p. DO1) In 2001, 21,188 young drivers were involved in reported traffic crashes in Maryland (NSC, 2001, chap. 4, p.1). The following maryland statistics charts show the number of teens involved, injured, and killed in the last 5 years. U.S. Statistics Maryland Statistics Maryland Statistics Maryland Statistics Fatal Involvement Rate by age Fatal Involvement Rate per Vehicle Miles Traveled by Age, in 2001 Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2001). Fatal Involvement Rate per Vehicle Miles Traveled by Age. FARS Data. Crashes Involving Young Drivers (Age 16-20) Source: Maryland Highway Safety Office, Maryland Crash Outcome Evaluation System(CODES), National Study Center for Trauma/EMS, Univ of MD-Baltimore   Young Drivers Injured in Maryland (Age 16-20) Source: Maryland Highway Safety Office, Maryland Crash Outcome Evaluation System(CODES), National Study Center for Trauma/EMS, Univ of MD-Baltimore Young Drivers Killed in Maryland (Age 16-20) Source: Maryland Highway Safety Office, Maryland Crash Outcome Evaluation System(CODES), National Study Center for Trauma/EMS, Univ of MD-Baltimore Crashes Involving Teen Drivers Young Drivers Injured in Maryland Young Drivers Killed in Maryland   .