The number of teen deaths in automobile crashes is grievous. But compared to the number of crashes for other age groups, the statistics are particularly deplorable. Compared to all other drivers, teens are substantially over-involved in traffic crashes on Missouri roads.

There were 259,885 persons 15 through 18 years of age licensed in Missouri in 1999, accounting for 6.5 percent of the 3.9 million people licensed in the State. However, of all 1999 Missouri crashes, more than 31 percent involved a young driver 15 through 20 years of age. In fact, one person under the age of 21 was killed or injured in driver-related traffic crashes every 20 minutes in Missouri during 1999.

On a national basis, teens make up about 7 percent of the driving population, but they represent 14 percent of the motor vehicle deaths. In fact, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for youth age 15–20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Also, young drivers account for 16 percent of all the drivers involved in police-reported crashes.

Considering all the diseases, ailments and other causes from which people can die–including all forms of cancer, AIDS, homicide, suicide, drug dependency, and heart disease–one would think that motor vehicle crashes would be a minor threat to teens. But such car wrecks accounted for 127 deaths of Missouri teens age 15–18 during 1999, more than 45 percent of all the deaths that year for teens in the same age group. Obviously, no other form of injury or disease is as great a threat to teen safety as motor vehicle crashes in Missouri and across the country.

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