Why Do We Need Alive at 25?

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of teen fatalities, accounting for 44% of teen deaths in the U.S.

• Young drivers are involved in fatal crashes at more than twice the rate of all others.

• The first year for a newly licensed teenage driver is the most dangerous with more than one in five involved in crashes.

•  Each year nearly 6,000 teens are killed in vehicular accidents; more than 3,800 are drivers age 15-20.

• Annually, more than 326,000 young drivers are seriously injured.

• In 2006, in Indiana alone, 179 young drivers died in traffic crashes, 17.5% of drivers involved in collisions were under the age of 21.

• More than half the deaths occurred between Friday and Sunday; 41% occurred between 9:00pm and 6:00am.

• Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving at an unsafe speed is the most common error in fatal teenage accidents.

• More than 1,000 young drivers lose their lives each year in crashes because of an impaired driver, be it themselves or someone else.

• Although this group represents about 14% of the nations’ licensed drivers, they are involved in nearly 30% of all fatal crashes.

Research shows the leading cause of young driver accidents involve one or a combination of the following factors:

• Lack of awareness to the consequences of risk-taking behavior.

• Inexperience with complexities of driving.

• Peers in vehicle with the youthful driver.

• Driving as a social activity.

• Impaired driving to due road conditions, including driving at night.

• Speeding.

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

As a young driver or passenger, you can greatly reduce your risk by taking control of the situation. Committing to learning or changing your driving behavior makes personal, legal and financial sense.