Teenagers | 2005

2005
All Fatality Facts topics

In every motorized country teenage drivers represent a major hazard. The problem is worse in the United States than elsewhere. Until the mid 1990s most states allowed teens to get full-privilege licenses at an earlier age than in most other countries, and little driving experience typically was required prior to licensure. The result was greatly elevated crash risk among young drivers. As more and more states have adopted graduated licensing systems, which phase in full driving privileges, the crash problem is expected to decrease. Teenagers drive less than all but the oldest people, but their numbers of crashes and crash deaths are disproportionately high. Based on crashes of all severities, the crash rate per mile driven for 16-19 year-olds is 4 times the risk for older drivers. Risk is highest at age 16. In fact, the crash rate per mile driven is twice as high for 16 year-olds as it is for 18-19 year-olds.

Crash rates for young drivers are high largely because of their immaturity combined with driving inexperience. The immaturity is apparent in young drivers' risky driving practices such as speeding and tailgating. At the same time, teenagers' lack of experience behind the wheel makes it difficult for them to recognize and respond to hazards. They get in trouble trying to handle unusual driving situations, even small emergencies, and these situations turn disastrous more often than when older people drive. Fatal crashes involving young drivers typically are single-vehicle crashes, primarily run-off-the-road crashes, that involve driver error and/or speeding. They often occur when other young people are in the vehicle with the young driver, so teenagers are disproportionately involved in crashes as passengers as well as drivers. Williams, A.F.; Preusser, D.F.; Ulmer, R.G.; and Weinstein, H.B. 1995. Characteristics of fatal crashes of 16-year-old drivers: implications for licensure policies. Journal of Public Health Policy 16:347-360. Williams, A.F. and Ferguson, S.A. 2002. Rationale for graduated licensing and the risks it should address. Injury Prevention 8(Suppl II):ii9-ii16. Williams, A.F. 2003. Teenage drivers: patterns of risk. Journal of Safety Research 34:5-15.

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Data subsections:

Trends

A total of 5,288 teenagers ages 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2005. This is 40 percent fewer than in 1975, and 6 percent fewer than in 2004. About 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2005 were males. Since 1975 teenage motor vehicle crash deaths have decreased more among males (47 percent) than among females (19 percent).

Teenage motor vehicle deaths by gender, 1975-2005

Motor vehicle crash deaths among 13-19 year-olds by gender, 1975-2005
Year Male Female Total*
Num % Num % Num
1975 6,532 75 2,215 25 8,748
1976 6,826 73 2,530 27 9,356
1977 6,983 72 2,650 28 9,633
1978 7,295 73 2,645 27 9,940
1979 7,280 73 2,639 27 9,920
1980 6,932 73 2,591 27 9,524
1981 6,014 72 2,301 28 8,315
1982 5,354 73 1,969 27 7,323
1983 4,850 71 1,955 29 6,805
1984 4,947 71 2,005 29 6,952
1985 4,715 70 2,022 30 6,737
1986 5,280 71 2,182 29 7,466
1987 5,107 70 2,186 30 7,293
1988 5,036 70 2,204 30 7,242
1989 4,528 68 2,158 32 6,688
1990 4,420 69 1,944 31 6,364
1991 3,891 68 1,867 32 5,760
1992 3,495 67 1,713 33 5,215
1993 3,678 68 1,742 32 5,421
1994 3,770 67 1,859 33 5,632
1995 3,702 65 1,970 35 5,675
1996 3,855 66 1,963 34 5,819
1997 3,715 65 2,014 35 5,730
1998 3,649 65 1,960 35 5,610
1999 3,745 65 2,007 35 5,752
2000 3,759 66 1,925 34 5,685
2001 3,735 67 1,859 33 5,594
2002 3,939 66 2,015 34 5,954
2003 3,772 66 1,946 34 5,718
2004 3,696 65 1,948 35 5,645
2005 3,491 66 1,796 34 5,288
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Teenagers accounted for 10 percent of the US population in 2005 and 12 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths. They comprised 14 percent of passenger vehicle (cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans) occupant deaths among all ages, 7 percent of pedestrian deaths, 5 percent of motorcyclist deaths, and 13 percent of bicyclist deaths.

US teenage and total population, 2005
Teen population Total population % Teens of total population
29,589,854 296,410,404 10
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths as percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths, 2005
Death type Teen motor
vehicle deaths		 Motor vehicle
deaths for all ages		 % Teen motor vehicle
deaths of all motor vehicle deaths
Passenger vehicle occupant 4,440 31,322 14
Pedestrian 326 4,881 7
Motorcyclist 237 4,439 5
Bicyclist 100 782 13
Other 99 2,019 5
Total 5,288 43,443 12

Eighty-four percent of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2005 were passenger vehicle occupants. The others were pedestrians (6 percent), motorcyclists (4 percent), bicyclists (2 percent), riders of all-terrain vehicles (2 percent), and people in other kinds of vehicles (2 percent).

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by type and age, 2005
Age Passenger vehicle deaths Motorcyclist deaths Pedestrian deaths Bicyclist deaths All-terrain vehicle deaths Other Total motor vehicle deaths*
Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num
13 107 61 8 5 29 17 14 8 8 5 9 5 175
14 155 62 8 3 34 13 31 12 6 2 18 7 252
15 289 72 14 3 49 12 18 4 20 5 12 3 402
16 722 88 14 2 49 6 6 1 21 3 12 1 824
17 909 88 36 3 50 5 14 1 8 1 14 1 1,031
18 1,154 89 53 4 52 4 10 1 8 1 18 1 1,295
19 1,104 84 104 8 63 5 7 1 15 1 16 1 1,309
Total 4,440 84 237 4 326 6 100 2 86 2 99 2 5,288
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2004, the latest year for which data are available, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death among 13-19-year-old males and females in the United States. Thirty-six percent of deaths among 13-19 year-olds occurred in motor vehicle crashes, 41 percent among females and 34 percent among males.

Leading causes of death among teenagers by gender, 2004
Cause of death Male Female Total
Motor vehicles 3,662 1,967 5,629
Homicide 1,727 337 2,064
Suicide 1,481 435 1,916
Malignant neoplasms 559 396 955
Motor vehicle crash deaths as a percent of deaths from all causes by gender and age, 2004
Age Male Female Total*
Motor vehicle
deaths		 All deaths % Motor vehicle
deaths		 All deaths % Motor vehicle
deaths		 All deaths %
<5 327 18,367 2 306 14,354 2 633 32,721 2
5-9 343 1,645 21 271 1,243 22 614 2,888 21
10-12 232 1,119 21 166 773 21 398 1,892 21
13-15 578 2,226 26 399 1,355 29 977 3,581 27
16-17 1,264 3,364 38 721 1,588 46 1,985 4,922 40
18-19 1,854 5,323 35 828 1,934 43 2,683 7,257 37
20-24 4,335 14,909 29 1,398 4,806 29 5,733 19,715 29
25-29 2,853 13,554 21 932 5,217 18 3,786 18,771 20
30-59 12,713 253,045 5 4,966 153,274 3 17,680 406,319 4
60-69 1,977 183,087 1 1,151 132,431 1 3,128 315,518 1
≥ 70 2,967 684,755 <1 2,249 898,930 <1 5,219 1,583,685 <1
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
NOTE: Data on motor vehicle crashes come from FARS. Data on other causes
of death come from US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Drivers and passengers in passenger vehicles

Fifty-four percent of teenage passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2005 were drivers.

Passenger vehicle teenage occupant deaths by age and seating position, 2005
Age Driver Passenger Total*
Num % Num % Num
13 3 3 102 95 107
14 16 10 138 89 155
15 57 20 231 80 289
16 356 49 365 51 722
17 519 57 386 42 909
18 736 64 415 36 1,154
19 724 66 380 34 1,104
Total 2,411 54 2,017 45 4,440
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixty-one percent of teenage passenger deaths in 2005 occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 19 percent occurred when a teenager was driving.

Passenger vehicle passenger deaths by passenger age and driver age, 2005
Passenger age Driver age All ages*
13-19 20-24 25-29 30-59 60-69 ≥ 70
Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num
<13 96 9 172 16 213 20 543 51 27 3 6 1 1,062
13-19 1,222 61 384 19 110 5 266 13 17 1 6 <1 2,017
20-24 250 18 718 51 216 15 207 15 4 <1 5 <1 1,417
25-29 53 7 213 28 261 35 211 28 6 1 2 <1 754
30-59 138 6 281 12 286 12 1,483 62 119 5 52 2 2,385
60-69 11 2 10 2 15 3 201 40 176 35 87 17 503
≥ 70 14 1 15 1 25 2 341 29 157 13 623 53 1,177
All ages* 1,787 19 1,810 19 1,131 12 3,272 35 508 5 784 8 9,369
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2005 belt use among fatally injured drivers ages 16-19 (41 percent) was higher than among drivers ages 20-29 (34 percent). Belt use among fatally injured passengers ages 16-19 (31 percent) was considerably lower than among teenage drivers (41 percent). Note that belt use among those fatally injured is not always accurately recorded, but it gives an indication of relative belt use rates in serious crashes by age group.

Seat belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants by age and seating position, 2005
Age Drivers Passengers
Belt used Unbelted Unknown Belt used Unbelted Unknown
Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num %
13 0 0 2 67 1 33 35 34 53 52 14 14
14 1 6 12 75 3 19 48 35 73 53 17 12
15 23 40 32 56 2 4 66 29 147 64 18 8
16 159 45 173 49 24 7 112 31 219 60 34 9
17 217 42 261 50 41 8 129 33 242 63 15 4
18 310 42 368 50 58 8 124 30 261 63 30 7
19 262 36 404 56 58 8 110 29 234 62 36 9
20-24 1,113 35 1,881 58 224 7 376 27 921 65 120 8
25-29 698 33 1,234 59 170 8 201 27 491 65 62 8
30-59 3,768 40 5,072 54 603 6 832 35 1,373 58 180 8
60-69 968 52 776 42 114 6 275 55 192 38 36 7
≥ 70 1,763 62 881 31 184 7 799 68 310 26 68 6
Total* 9,288 42 11,103 51 1,489 7 3,695 39 4,962 53 712 8
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Population and mileage rates

From 1975 to 2005 the rate of deaths per 100,000 people declined by 39 percent for teenagers (from 29 to 18 per 100,000). In contrast, the death rate declined by 63 percent for people 12 and younger (from 8 to 3 per 100,000), 26 percent for people ages 20-69 (from 22 to 17 per 100,000), and 27 percent for people 70 and older (from 26 to 19 per 100,000).

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by age group, 1975-2005
  <13 13-19 20-69 ≥ 70
Population Num Rate Population Num Rate Population Num Rate Population Num Rate
1975 45,851,304 3,643 7.9 29,795,023 8,748 29.4 125,762,927 28,154 22.4 14,563,945 3,775 25.9
1976 45,000,704 3,424 7.6 29,909,414 9,356 31.3 128,164,926 28,654 22.4 14,960,120 3,896 26.0
1977 44,337,332 3,347 7.5 29,800,313 9,633 32.3 130,700,531 30,747 23.5 15,401,249 3,859 25.1
1978 43,907,467 3,367 7.7 29,543,252 9,940 33.6 133,257,285 32,906 24.7 15,876,541 3,824 24.1
1979 43,778,959 3,171 7.2 29,077,607 9,920 34.1 135,810,304 33,907 25.0 16,388,617 3,772 23.0
1980 43,914,342 3,048 6.9 28,486,487 9,524 33.4 137,925,913 34,329 24.9 16,897,977 3,861 22.8
1981 44,049,940 2,733 6.2 27,743,947 8,315 30.0 140,349,007 33,837 24.1 17,322,714 3,871 22.3
1982 44,131,596 2,573 5.8 27,160,586 7,323 27.0 142,588,426 30,150 21.1 17,783,888 3,655 20.6
1983 44,119,297 2,518 5.7 26,737,497 6,805 25.5 144,701,358 29,341 20.3 18,233,751 3,734 20.5
1984 43,978,044 2,422 5.5 26,435,885 6,952 26.3 146,747,916 30,585 20.8 18,662,938 4,052 21.7
1985 44,260,136 2,469 5.6 26,001,247 6,737 25.9 148,589,564 30,157 20.3 19,072,785 4,206 22.1
1986 44,755,454 2,537 5.7 25,592,481 7,466 29.2 150,321,426 31,395 20.9 19,463,480 4,445 22.8
1987 45,348,247 2,654 5.9 25,209,615 7,293 28.9 151,840,344 31,750 20.9 19,890,817 4,555 22.9
1988 45,942,966 2,701 5.9 25,004,445 7,242 29.0 153,249,145 32,071 20.9 20,302,280 4,925 24.3
1989 46,690,604 2,658 5.7 24,664,300 6,688 27.1 154,744,818 31,163 20.1 20,719,397 4,943 23.9
1990 47,472,527 2,332 4.9 24,404,795 6,364 26.1 156,422,791 30,934 19.8 21,164,283 4,844 22.9
1991 48,240,747 2,257 4.7 24,066,587 5,760 23.9 158,093,861 28,536 18.1 21,751,897 4,843 22.3
1992 48,903,668 2,165 4.4 24,163,175 5,215 21.6 159,641,639 26,859 16.8 22,321,217 4,901 22.0
1993 49,335,864 2,164 4.4 24,664,091 5,421 22.0 160,981,980 27,204 16.9 22,800,673 5,221 22.9
1994 49,692,462 2,301 4.6 25,219,838 5,632 22.3 162,170,876 27,271 16.8 23,243,845 5,425 23.3
1995 49,920,484 2,201 4.4 25,764,300 5,675 22.0 163,424,735 28,348 17.3 23,693,757 5,509 23.3
1996 50,085,188 2,186 4.4 26,357,198 5,819 22.1 164,729,863 28,365 17.2 24,056,323 5,578 23.2
1997 50,364,983 2,108 4.2 26,730,812 5,730 21.4 166,278,995 28,194 17.0 24,408,817 5,872 24.1
1998 50,527,476 2,032 4.0 27,174,728 5,610 20.6 167,752,248 27,970 16.7 24,793,551 5,798 23.4
1999 50,667,139 1,997 3.9 27,518,156 5,752 20.9 169,412,713 28,224 16.7 25,092,805 5,657 22.5
2000 52,219,423 1,888 3.6 28,326,412 5,685 20.1 176,086,448 28,874 16.4 25,559,879 5,379 21.0
2001 52,341,395 1,751 3.3 28,437,711 5,594 19.7 178,525,502 29,309 16.4 25,797,467 5,425 21.0
2002 52,332,306 1,617 3.1 28,644,313 5,954 20.8 180,959,275 29,983 16.6 26,005,326 5,332 20.5
2003 52,187,602 1,643 3.1 29,028,500 5,718 19.7 183,371,928 30,070 16.4 26,200,946 5,363 20.5
2004 52,151,406 1,645 3.2 29,400,392 5,645 19.2 185,766,088 30,327 16.3 26,337,518 5,106 19.4
2005 52,149,395 1,519 2.9 29,589,854 5,288 17.9 188,012,486 31,347 16.7 26,658,669 5,032 18.9

The rate of deaths per 100,000 people in 2005 peaked at ages 18-19 for male drivers (25 per 100,000) and male passengers (11 per 100,000). Death rates peaked at age 18 for female drivers (11 per 100,000) and female passengers (9 per 100,000).

Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age, and gender, 2005

Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age, and gender, 2005
Age Male Female Total
Population Driver deaths Passenger deaths Population Driver deaths Passenger deaths Population Driver deaths * Passenger deaths *
Num Rate Num Rate Num Rate Num Rate Num Rate Num Rate
<13 26,679,527 0 0.0 537 2.0 25,469,868 0 0.0 524 2.1 52,149,395 0 0.0 1,061 2.0
13 2,170,136 2 0.1 57 2.6 2,071,284 1 0.0 44 2.1 4,241,420 3 0.1 101 2.4
14 2,206,915 10 0.5 75 3.4 2,102,530 6 0.3 63 3.0 4,309,445 16 0.4 138 3.2
15 2,248,891 39 1.7 108 4.8 2,137,565 18 0.8 123 5.8 4,386,456 57 1.3 231 5.3
16 2,164,016 232 10.7 201 9.3 2,059,223 124 6.0 164 8.0 4,223,239 356 8.4 365 8.6
17 2,131,941 336 15.8 221 10.4 2,028,088 183 9.0 165 8.1 4,160,029 519 12.5 386 9.3
18 2,111,871 522 24.7 242 11.5 2,007,230 214 10.7 173 8.6 4,119,101 736 17.9 415 10.1
19 2,133,504 543 25.5 240 11.2 2,016,660 181 9.0 140 6.9 4,150,164 724 17.4 380 9.2
20-24 10,856,936 2,469 22.7 958 8.8 10,180,924 749 7.4 459 4.5 21,037,860 3,218 15.3 1,417 6.7
25-29 10,268,169 1,596 15.5 504 4.9 9,797,533 506 5.2 250 2.6 20,065,702 2,102 10.5 754 3.8
30-59 61,413,555 6,627 10.8 1,212 2.0 62,362,062 2,816 4.5 1,173 1.9 123,775,617 9,443 7.6 2,385 1.9
60-69 10,923,439 1,232 11.3 164 1.5 12,209,868 626 5.1 339 2.8 23,133,307 1,858 8.0 503 2.2
≥ 70 10,690,846 1,892 17.7 357 3.3 15,967,823 935 5.9 820 5.1 26,658,669 2,827 10.6 1,177 4.4
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

The rate of fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled in 2001-02 was highest at ages 16-17 for male drivers and at age 16 for female drivers. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Unpublished study. Analysis of data from the US Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the National Household Travel Survey. Arlington, VA.

Fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled by driver age and gender, April 2001-March 2002
Age Males Females Total*
Crash involvements Miles Rate Crash involvements Miles Rate Crash involvements Miles Rate
16 645 5,813,200,812 11.1 376 5,178,574,303 7.3 1,021 10,991,775,116 9.3
17 981 8,852,565,188 11.1 429 8,154,664,768 5.3 1,410 17,007,229,957 8.3
18 1,282 16,804,407,940 7.6 508 10,771,468,174 4.7 1,790 27,575,876,114 6.5
19 1,347 14,957,220,070 9.0 538 11,159,768,859 4.8 1,885 26,116,988,928 7.2
20-24 5,365 94,285,456,443 5.7 1,819 72,854,283,338 2.5 7,184 167,139,739,780 4.3
25-29 3,528 131,714,125,417 2.7 1,344 83,429,400,617 1.6 4,873 215,143,526,035 2.3
30-59 14,904 845,507,965,689 1.8 6,927 551,350,306,430 1.3 21,831 1396858272119 1.6
60-69 2,088 128,814,817,845 1.6 1,006 64,778,212,790 1.6 3,094 193,593,030,635 1.6
≥ 70 3,145 76,991,652,560 4.1 1,571 39,093,332,009 4.0 4,716 116,084,984,569 4.1
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

The rate of nighttime fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled in 2001-02 was almost 6 times higher for male drivers ages 16-19 than for male drivers ages 30-59. The corresponding comparison for females yields 3 times the rate. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Unpublished study. Analysis of data from the US Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the National Household Travel Survey. Arlington, VA.  

Nighttime (9pm-6am) fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements
per 100 million miles traveled by age and gender, April 2001-March 2002
Age Males Females
Crash involvements Miles Rate Crash involvements Miles Rate
16-19 1,753 6,868,242,230 25.5 558 5,288,492,858 10.6
20-29 4,387 34,863,762,486 12.6 1,021 16,250,031,866 6.3
30-59 4,659 100,198,843,583 4.6 1,499 42,841,189,821 3.5
60-69 334 8,575,497,349 3.9 97 3,894,479,517 2.5
≥ 70 243 3,451,274,299 7.0 73 1,370,058,296 5.3

When teenagers died

Fifty-four percent of motor vehicle crash deaths among teenagers in 2005 occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2005
Day of week Deaths %
Sunday 948 18
Monday 640 12
Tuesday 582 11
Wednesday 623 12
Thursday 590 11
Friday 853 16
Saturday 1,049 20
Total* 5,288 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Half of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2005 occurred between 3pm and midnight.

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2005
Time of day Deaths %
Midnight-3am 813 15
3am-6am 440 8
6am-9am 468 9
9am-noon 318 6
Noon-3pm 555 11
3pm-6pm 857 16
6pm-9pm 855 16
9pm-midnight 941 18
Total* 5,288 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Alcohol involvement

Young drivers are less likely than adults to drive after drinking alcohol, but their crash risk is substantially higher when they do. This is especially true at low and moderate blood alcohol concentrations (BACs). Mayhew, D.R.; Donelson, A.C.; Beirness, D.J.; and Simpson, H.M. 1986. Youth, alcohol, and relative risk of crash involvement. Accident Analysis and Prevention 18:273-87. Zador, P.L.; Krawchuck, S.A.; and Voas, R.B. 2000. Alcohol-related relative risk of driver fatalities and driver involvements in fatal crashes in relation to driver age and gender: an update using 1996 data. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 61:387-95. The estimated percentage of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17 who had BACs at or above 0.08 percent in 2005 was 15 percent, down 63 percent since 1982. Most of this decline took place in the 1980s. This age group experienced the greatest decline in alcohol involvement, compared with a 49 percent decline for drivers ages 18-20, a 21 percent decline for drivers ages 21-30, and a 35 percent decline for drivers older than 30.

Percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by driver age, 1982-2005

Estimated percent and number of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by age group, 1982-2005
Year 16-17 18-20 21-30 >30
Driver
deaths		 Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08 Driver deaths Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08 Driver deaths Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08 Driver deaths Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Num Num % Num Num % Num Num % Num Num %
1982 895 368 41 2,561 1,458 57 6,243 3,948 63 9,861 4,208 43
1983 899 345 38 2,427 1,336 55 6,053 3,859 64 9,844 3,943 40
1984 969 321 33 2,472 1,274 52 6,411 3,885 61 10,337 3,860 37
1985 935 250 27 2,292 1,009 44 6,262 3,659 58 10,441 3,713 36
1986 1,172 336 29 2,464 1,158 47 6,695 3,974 59 11,042 3,887 35
1987 1,192 311 26 2,438 1,004 41 6,802 3,975 58 11,579 4,016 35
1988 1,177 302 26 2,611 1,056 40 6,819 3,991 59 12,145 4,203 35
1989 1,060 234 22 2,476 991 40 6,475 3,675 57 12,401 4,272 34
1990 999 224 22 2,398 974 41 6,152 3,510 57 12,274 4,238 35
1991 902 193 21 2,119 852 40 5,623 3,183 57 11,801 3,993 34
1992 900 165 18 1,797 664 37 5,122 2,759 54 11,639 3,823 33
1993 935 152 16 1,870 643 34 5,065 2,658 52 12,038 3,851 32
1994 1,006 167 17 1,984 632 32 4,975 2,484 50 12,522 3,771 30
1995 1,015 150 15 1,968 575 29 5,081 2,585 51 13,246 4,155 31
1996 1,106 186 17 1,920 583 30 4,989 2,475 50 13,478 4,070 30
1997 1,090 180 17 1,944 593 31 4,772 2,272 48 13,773 4,001 29
1998 1,059 161 15 2,035 607 30 4,577 2,222 49 13,839 3,930 28
1999 1,092 172 16 2,169 677 31 4,653 2,260 49 13,870 3,866 28
2000 999 158 16 2,251 686 30 4,706 2,268 48 13,743 3,997 29
2001 993 132 13 2,254 691 31 4,735 2,358 50 13,790 4,005 29
2002 1,126 155 14 2,326 718 31 4,938 2,462 50 14,006 4,020 29
2003 994 159 16 2,266 699 31 4,852 2,308 48 13,957 3,930 28
2004 969 149 15 2,206 665 30 4,970 2,372 48 13,689 3,743 27
2005 875 134 15 2,103 609 29 5,040 2,502 50 13,766 3,842 28

Fatally injured female teenage drivers were less likely than male teenage drivers in 2005 to have high BACs. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17, 18 percent of males and 10 percent of females in 2005 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. Among fatally injured drivers ages 18-19, 30 percent of males and 16 percent of females had BACs at or above 0.08 percent.

Estimated percent and number of fatally injured passenger vehicle
drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by gender and age, 2005
Age Male Female Total*
Driver
deaths		 Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08 Driver
deaths		 Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08 Driver
deaths		 Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Num Num % Num Num % Num Num %
16-17 568 102 18 307 32 10 875 134 15
18-19 1,065 317 30 395 62 16 1,460 379 26
20 492 199 40 151 32 21 643 230 36
21-30 3,830 2,141 56 1,210 362 30 5,040 2,502 50
31-60 6,522 2,774 43 2,780 667 24 9,302 3,442 37
61-70 1,183 216 18 610 40 7 1,793 257 14
>70 1,789 115 6 881 28 3 2,671 143 5
All ages* 15,517 5,887 38 6,360 1,228 19 21,880 7,117 33
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

References