Report: Teen deaths from car crashes up

HealthDay

The number of U.S. teens who lost their lives in car accidents jumped 11 percent in the first half of 2011, the first increase in eight years, a new report finds.

Over all, traffic fatalities fell during the first half of 2011, but deaths of 16- and 17-year-olds rose from 190 to 211, according to the report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

"More work can and should be done to save teen lives," report author Allan Williams, formerly the chief scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said. To compile the report, Williams pored over data from GHSA member groups.

At the same time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that total motor vehicle deaths for people of any age during the first six months of 2011 dropped 0.9 percent.

But deaths among 16-year-old drivers went up from 80 to 93, a 16 percent rise, while deaths among 17-year-olds rose from 110 to 118, or 7 percent, the GHSA report said.

Among the states, 23 reported jumps in teen traffic deaths, 19 had decreases and eight states plus the District of Columbia saw no change. For most states the increases in teen traffic deaths was small, but for Florida, Texas and North Carolina, there were significant increases.

Williams speculated that much of the increase may be due to the leveling off of initial benefits from states' Graduated Driver Licensing laws, which have been around for a while. The economy may be a factor, putting more teens behind the wheel and increasing the risk.