The number of 16 and 17-year-old drivers facing their own demise behind the wheel increased by 19 percent in the first six months of 2012, compared to the previous year.
According to a report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, the figure is based on preliminary data from across the nation.
Deaths of 16-year-old drivers increased from 86 to 107 (a 24 percent change), while the number for 17-year-old drivers went from 116 to 133 (a 15 percent change), a cumulative increase of 19 percent.
“Based on 2011 final data and the early look at 2012, it appears that we are headed the wrong direction when it comes to deaths of 16- and 17-year-old drivers,” Dr. Allan Williams, a researcher and author of the report, said in a statement.
If the final data holds, 2012 would be the second year in a row of increases in teen driver deaths after eight years of decline. The increase coincides with a projection from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that all traffic deaths increased by 8 percent.
Williams, a former chief scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, attributed much of the increase to the fact that the benefit of state GDL programs could be leveling off, as most of these laws have been in place for some time.
He also speculated that improving economic conditions are contributing to an increase in teen driving, thus increasing their exposure to risk. Williams also pointed out that while an increase in deaths certainly isn’t good news, these figures overall are still less than they have been in the past.
“We are still at a much better place than we were ten or even five years earlier. However, the goal is to strive toward zero deaths, so our aim would be that these deaths should go down every year,” Williams said.
Renewed efforts to achieve further reductions in teen driver deaths include: strengthening GDL systems (and improving compliance with existing provisions); improved driver education and training programs; scientifically-based evaluation of the many programs addressing young drivers; and concentration of resources on those shown to have positive effects.
“Any increase in highway deaths is unacceptable, particularly among our teens. We know from research and experience that teen drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but also a danger to others on the roadways. So these numbers are a cause for concern,” Kendell Poole, GHSA chairman and director of Tennessee’s Governor’s Highway Safety Office, said in a statement.
Poole said a widespread strengthening of laws is still possible and utilizing effective tools outside of GDL should be a focus. These include improving driver education and ensuring that scientifically based educational programs are available to new drivers.
“In my state of Tennessee, we have worked extensively to keep teen drivers safe. Despite our efforts, teens remain our most vulnerable population,” Poole said. “With the advances in technology, we suspect distracted driving deaths among teen drivers are rising. We continue to work with teens, parents, educators and law enforcement to address this problem.”
Barbara Harsha, GHSA’s executive director, stressed that while data are preliminary, she is concerned that signs point to a significant increase in 16- and-17-year-old driver deaths for 2012.
She advised states to focus on strengthening GDL and programs that are data-driven, such as parent programs to help parents keep their teens safe.
“Parents have a huge responsibility to ensure safe teen driving behavior,” Harsha said in a statement. “States can facilitate this by providing innovative programs that bring parents and teens together around this issue.”
