NCADD believes that national awareness must be combined with targeted efforts to reach the three most intractable groups of drunk drivers: 21 - 34 year old adults, chronic drunk drivers and underage drinkers.
The NCADD believes that 'as an age group underage drinkers remain disproportionately over represented in impaired driving statistics. They must be viewed not only as inexperienced new drivers, but also as inexperienced drinkers. Underage drivers are more likely to be in low BAC crashes than any other age group.'
For our purposes, as parents of teenagers, the NCADD has gone above and beyond the call of duty in providing factual information, on the Net and in print. It is our job to incorporate this information into our family structure.
Statistics
- In 1997, 5,477 young people died in motor vehicle crashes. Twenty-one percent of the young drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking.
- Young people age 15-20 make up 6.7 percent of the total driving population in this country but are involved in 14 percent of all fatal crashes.
- In 1997, over 60 percent of youth (16-20) that died in passenger vehicle crashes were not wearing seat belts.
- In 1997, almost one quarter (22 percent) of those who died in speed-related crashes were youth.
- In the last decade, over 68,000 teens have died in car crashes.
- Sixty-five percent of teen passenger deaths occur when another teenager is driving.
- Nearly half of the fatal crashes involving teenagers occur at nighttime (between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.).
- Forty-one percent of fatal crashes involving 16 year-old drivers were single vehicle crashes.
- One quarter of fatally injured teen drivers (16-20 years old) in 1995 had a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) at or above . 10 percent, even though all were under the minimum legal drinking age and are not legally permitted to purchase alcohol.
- Two out of three teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes are males.
Parenting Poll: Does your teen buckle up?
- Yes, even though he/she doesn't drive.
- Yes, especially when driving.
- Sometimes.
- No, I am constantly reminding him/her.
- I have no idea.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
