Did you know...
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. In 2008, nine teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries. Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.
- In 2007 young drivers (between 16 and 20 years old) accounted for 5 percent of total licensed drivers and yet 10 percent of all drivers involved in fatal and personal injury crashes were between the ages of 16 and 20.
- In Westchester County, 251 drivers between the ages of 16 and 21 were killed in speed-related motor vehicle crashes in 2007.
- Many high school students fail to use their seat belts even when riding with adults who are buckled up.
- Male high school students are less likely to use seat belts compared to female high school students.
- When you don't wear your seat belt, you increase your chances of being ejected from the vehicle. Unbelted occupants are four times more likely to die if they are thrown from the car than if they remained inside.
- Law enforcement officers know that teens are at a higher risk in car crashes; therefore, they are always on special alert for anyone not wearing their seat belt or speeding.
- In Westchester County, 22,582 seat belt tickets and 52,080 speeding tickets were issued in 2007. (Tally of all police agencies)
These statistics were taken from the databases of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, and Center for Disease Control and Prevention.