Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among U.S. teenagers. In 2005, 7,460 teens age 15 to 20 years old were involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash. Of these teens killed half (3,467) were driving at the time of the crash. How parents can help.
Approximately 28 percent of teen drivers who were killed in motor vehicle crashes were drinking at the time of the crash. A quarter of the teens drinking while driving had a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) of .08 or higher. The severity of crashes increase with alcohol and statistics show that teen drivers are less likely to wear seat belts when they have been drinking. In 2005, 74 percent of young drivers involved in a fatal crash were not wearing seat belts.
- There are approximately 219,326 licensed drivers age 16-20 in Colorado, representing nearly 7 percent of the licensed Colorado drivers.
- Per mile driven, teens 16-19 year olds have higher crash rates than those for all other age group.
- Ninety-six 16-20 year olds died on Colorado roadways in 2004. Of those, 44 were 16-17 year olds.
- In 2006, 62 Colorado teens were killed in motor vehicle crashes. This number has decreased from 98 in 2005 and is attributed to Colorado's Graduate Drivers Licensing and education to teens and their parents on the risks (inexperience and distractions) new teen drivers face their first year of driving.
The Injury Prevention program at Denver Health has created a teen driving program titled Too Fast, Too Furious, Too Deadly. The program is available to teachers and educators, at no charge. It comes with the Too Fast, Too Furious, Too Deadly video/DVD and a teaching curriculum with updated statistics, lessons, school and community activities and resources on teen driving. The video is a life-like crash reenactment that teaches teens the risks associated with driving, inexperience, alcohol/drugs, distractions, speeding and seat belt use. Request the program and video.