Teenagers | 2007

2007
All Fatality Facts topics

In every motorized country teenage drivers represent a major hazard. Until the mid 1990s most US 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 has decreased 10-30 percent. Ulmer, R.G.; Preusser, D.F.; Williams, A.F.; Ferguson, S.A.; and Farmer, C.M. 2000. Effect of Florida's graduated licensing program on the crash rate of teenage drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention 32:527-32. Shope, J.T.; Molnar, L.J.; Elliott, M.R.; and Waller, P.F. 2001. Graduated driver licensing in Michigan: early impact on motor vehicle crashes among 16-year-old drivers. Journal of the American Medical Association 286:1593-98. Foss, R.D.; Feaganes, J.R.; and Rodgman, E.A. 2001. Initial effects of graduated driver licensing on 16-year-old driver crashes in North Carolina. Journal of the American Medical Association 286:1588-92. Governor's Highway Safety Office. 2001. Review of Ohio's graduated driver license program. Columbus, OH: Ohio Department of Public Safety. Mayhew, D.R.; Simpson, H.M.; Des Groseilliers, M.; and Williams, A.F. 2001. Impact of the graduated driver licensing program in Nova Scotia. Journal of Crash Prevention and Injury Control 2:179-92. Zwicker, T.J.; Williams, A.F.; Chaudhary, N.K.; and Farmer, C.M. 2006. Evaluation of California's graduated licensing system. Arlington, VA: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Teenagers drive less than all but the oldest people, but their numbers of crashes and crash deaths are disproportionately high. Lyman, S.; Ferguson, S.A.; Braver, E.R.; and Williams, A.F. 2002. Older driver involvements in police reported crashes and fatal crashes: trends and projections. Injury Prevention 8:116-20. 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. Fatal crashes involving young drivers typically are single-vehicle crashes and often 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. Chen, L-H.; Baker, S.P.; Braver, E.R.; and Li, G. 2000. Carrying passengers as a risk factor for crashes fatal to 16- and 17-yar-old drivers. Journal of the American Medical Association 283:1578-82.

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

Data subsections:

Overiew

A total of 4,946 teenagers ages 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2007. This is 43 percent fewer than in 1975, and 4 percent fewer than in 2006. About 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2007 were males. Since 1975 teenage motor vehicle crash deaths have decreased more among males (50 percent) than among females (24 percent).

Teenage motor vehicle deaths by gender, 1975-2007

Motor vehicle crash deaths among 13-19 year-olds by gender, 1975-2007
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 3,496 66 1,803 34 5,300
2006 3,415 66 1,744 34 5,159
2007 3,258 66 1,687 34 4,946
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Teenagers accounted for 10 percent of the US population in 2007 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 12 percent of bicyclist deaths.

US teenage and total population, 2007
Teen population Total population % Teens of total population
29,775,943 301,621,157 10
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths as percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths, 2007
Death type Teen motor vehicle deaths Motor vehicle deaths for all ages % Teen motor vehicle deaths
of all motor vehicle deaths
Passenger vehicle occupant 4,149 28,896 14
Pedestrian 342 4,654 7
Motorcyclist 228 5,037 5
Bicyclist 87 696 12
Other 61 1,776 3
Total 4,946 41,059 12

Eighty-four percent of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2007 were passenger vehicle occupants. The others were pedestrians (7 percent), motorcyclists (5 percent), bicyclists (2 percent), riders of all-terrain vehicles (2 percent), and people in other kinds of vehicles (1 percent).

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by type and age, 2007
Age Passenger vehicle occupants Motorcyclists Pedestrians Bicyclists All-terrain vehicle riders Other Total motor vehicle deaths*
Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num
13 102 62 1 1 27 16 17 10 11 7 7 4 165
14 166 69 13 5 34 14 16 7 8 3 4 2 241
15 268 76 6 2 48 14 16 5 9 3 5 1 352
16 615 87 10 1 49 7 11 2 10 1 9 1 704
17 865 89 21 2 56 6 12 1 16 2 7 1 977
18 1,104 88 56 4 75 6 5 <1 8 1 13 1 1,261
19 1,029 83 121 10 53 4 10 1 17 1 16 1 1,246
Total 4,149 84 228 5 342 7 87 2 79 2 61 1 4,946
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2005, 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-three percent of deaths among 13-19 year-olds occurred in motor vehicle crashes, 40 percent among females and 31 percent among males.

Leading causes of death among teenagers by gender, 2005
Cause of death Male Female Total
Motor vehicles 3,452 1,801 5,253
Homicide 1,915 304 2,219
Suicide 1,445 364 1,809
Malignant neoplasms 576 405 981
Motor vehicle crash deaths as a percent of deaths from all causes by gender and age, 2005
Age Male Female Total*
Motor vehicle deaths All deaths % Motor vehicle deaths All deaths % Motor vehicle deaths All deaths %
<5 325 18,783 2 270 14,413 2 596 33,196 2
5- 9 316 1,556 20 268 1,281 21 585 2,837 21
10-12 198 1,022 19 150 735 20 348 1,757 20
13-15 501 2,303 22 329 1,219 27 831 3,522 24
16-17 1,165 3,379 34 695 1,487 47 1,860 4,866 38
18-19 1,830 5,479 33 779 1,844 42 2,609 7,323 36
20-24 4,526 15,623 29 1,375 4,908 28 5,901 20,531 29
25-29 2,982 14,242 21 895 5,326 17 3,878 19,568 20
30-59 13,310 260,810 5 5,111 157,340 3 18,421 418,150 4
60-69 2,169 185,853 1 1,145 134,206 1 3,314 320,059 1
≥ 70 3,025 698,426 <1 2,138 917,527 <1 5,167 1,615,953 <1
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Note: Data on motor vehicle crashes come from FARS.
Data on other causes of death come from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Drivers and passengers in passenger vehicles

In 2007, 58 percent of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.

Passenger vehicle teenage occupant deaths by age and seating position, 2007
Age Driver Passenger Total*
Num % Num % Num
13 3 3 99 97 102
14 15 9 151 91 166
15 51 19 217 81 268
16 294 48 321 52 615
17 478 55 384 44 865
18 668 61 429 39 1,104
19 659 64 367 36 1,029
Total 2,168 52 1,968 47 4,149
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixty-one percent of teenage passenger deaths in 2007 occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 20 percent occurred when a teenager was driving.

Passenger vehicle passenger deaths by passenger age and driver age, 2007
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 78 9 145 16 172 19 465 52 23 3 6 1 894
13-19 1,200 61 381 19 90 5 264 13 8 <1 4 <1 1,968
20-24 207 16 660 52 206 16 181 14 3 <1 0 0 1,277
25-29 43 6 198 29 214 31 215 31 4 1 3 <1 687
30-59 99 5 244 12 263 12 1,323 62 120 6 40 2 2,120
60-69 5 1 9 2 12 3 179 42 159 37 64 15 430
≥ 70 12 1 15 1 12 1 274 27 142 14 556 55 1,014
All ages* 1,649 20 1,659 20 978 12 2,918 35 462 5 675 8 8,439
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2007, belt use among fatally injured drivers ages 16-19 (40 percent) was higher than among fatally injured drivers ages 20-29 (34 percent) but lower than among drivers 30 and older. Among fatally injured 16-19 year-old occupants, belt use among passengers (31 percent) was considerably lower than among drivers (40 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, 2007
Age Drivers Passengers
Belt used Unbelted Unknown Belt used Unbelted Unknown
Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num %
13 1 33 1 33 1 33 40 40 52 53 7 7
14 3 20 12 80 0 0 52 34 89 59 10 7
15 16 31 32 63 3 6 60 28 131 60 26 12
16 130 44 141 48 23 8 119 37 175 55 27 8
17 215 45 234 49 29 6 122 32 234 61 28 7
18 270 40 342 51 56 8 125 29 258 60 46 11
19 226 34 368 56 65 10 104 28 217 59 46 13
20-24 1,062 34 1,820 58 243 8 343 27 782 61 152 12
25-29 734 34 1,217 57 183 9 168 24 449 65 70 10
30-59 3,640 42 4,389 51 638 7 777 37 1,151 54 192 9
60-69 916 55 646 39 99 6 254 59 149 35 27 6
≥ 70 1,637 63 790 30 176 7 710 70 261 26 43 4
Total* 8,857 43 9,999 49 1,525 7 3,388 40 4,311 51 740 9
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Among passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-19 involved in fatal crashes in 2007, 48 percent were involved in single-vehicle crashes. This was similar to the proportion for drivers ages 20-24 (47 percent) but higher than for drivers ages 25 and older (37 percent).

Passenger vehicle drivers in fatal crashes by age and crash type, 2007
  Single vehicle Multiple vehicle All crashes *
Num % Num % Num
16-19 2,357 48 2,568 52 4,927
20-24 3,202 47 3,579 53 6,782
25-29 2,100 43 2,804 57 4,907
30-59 7,477 38 12,277 62 19,771
60-69 1,036 32 2,251 68 3,288
≥ 70 1,098 28 2,859 72 3,961
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Population and mileage rates

From 1975 to 2007, the rate of deaths per 100,000 people declined by 43 percent for teenagers (from 29.4 to 16.6 per 100,000). In contrast, the death rate declined by 70 percent for people 12 and younger (from 7.9 to 2.4 per 100,000), 30 percent for people ages 20-69 (from 22.4 to 15.7 per 100,000), and 35 percent for people 70 and older (from 25.9 to 16.9 per 100,000).

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by age group, 1975-2007
  <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 1,529 2.9 29,589,854 5,300 17.9 188,012,486 31,514 16.8 26,658,669 5,047 18.9
2006 52,306,908 1,430 2.7 29,772,198 5,159 17.3 190,434,580 31,375 16.5 26,884,798 4,636 17.2
2007 52,585,809 1,264 2.4 29,775,943 4,946 16.6 192,123,888 30,123 15.7 27,135,517 4,598 16.9

The rate of deaths per 100,000 people in 2007 peaked at age 19 for male drivers (22.5 per 100,000) and at age 18 for male passengers (12.4 per 100,000). Death rates peaked at age 18 for female drivers (9.5 per 100,000) and at age 17 and 18 for female passengers (7.6 per 100,000).

Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age, and gender, 2007

Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age, and gender, 2007
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 26,897,714 4 0.0 448 1.7 25,688,095 0 0.0 446 1.7 52,585,809 4 0.0 894 1.7
13 2,104,123 1 0.0 54 2.6 2,004,839 2 0.1 45 2.2 4,108,962 3 0.1 99 2.4
14 2,149,525 11 0.5 78 3.6 2,043,766 4 0.2 73 3.6 4,193,291 15 0.4 151 3.6
15 2,182,145 37 1.7 108 4.9 2,082,738 14 0.7 109 5.2 4,264,883 51 1.2 217 5.1
16 2,219,866 183 8.2 168 7.6 2,114,399 111 5.2 153 7.2 4,334,265 294 6.8 321 7.4
17 2,264,262 315 13.9 220 9.7 2,150,261 163 7.6 164 7.6 4,414,523 478 10.8 384 8.7
18 2,183,797 471 21.6 271 12.4 2,074,160 197 9.5 158 7.6 4,257,957 668 15.7 429 10.1
19 2,156,799 485 22.5 215 10.0 2,045,263 174 8.5 151 7.4 4,202,062 659 15.7 366 8.7
20-24 10,852,937 2,395 22.1 847 7.8 10,179,459 729 7.2 430 4.2 21,032,396 3,124 14.9 1,277 6.1
25-29 10,776,189 1,600 14.8 438 4.1 10,281,517 534 5.2 249 2.4 21,057,706 2,134 10.1 687 3.3
30-59 61,967,230 6,128 9.9 1,117 1.8 62,838,298 2,539 4.0 1,003 1.6 124,805,528 8,667 6.9 2,120 1.7
60-69 11,946,929 1,124 9.4 135 1.1 13,281,329 537 4.0 295 2.2 25,228,258 1,661 6.6 430 1.7
≥ 70 10,957,382 1,746 15.9 312 2.8 16,178,135 857 5.3 702 4.3 27,135,517 2,603 9.6 1,014 3.7
*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. 2008. [Unpublished 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. 2008. [Unpublished 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 driver 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-five percent of motor vehicle crash deaths among teenagers in 2007 occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2007
Day of week Deaths %
Sunday 953 19
Monday 568 12
Tuesday 531 11
Wednesday 566 11
Thursday 571 12
Friday 795 16
Saturday 962 20
Total* 4,946 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Thirty-four percent of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2007 occurred between 6 pm and midnight.

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2007
Time of day Deaths %
Midnight-3am 747 15
3am-6am 470 10
6am-9am 393 8
9am-noon 301 6
Noon-3pm 498 10
3pm-6pm 822 17
6pm-9pm 776 16
9pm-midnight 900 18
Total* 4,946 100
*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). Peck, R.C.; Gebers, M.A.; Voas, R.B.; and Romano, E. 2008. The relationship between blood alcohol concentration (BAC), age, and crash risk. Journal of Safety Research 39:311-19. The estimated percentage of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17 who had BACs at or above 0.08 percent in 2007 was 18 percent, down 57 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 44 percent decline for drivers ages 18-20, a 18 percent decline for drivers ages 21-30, and a 31 percent decline for drivers older than 30.

Percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by age, 1982-2007

Estimated percent and number of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by age group, 1982-2007
Year Ages 16-17 Ages 18-20 Ages 21-30 Ages >30
Drivers killed Estimated drivers killed with BAC ≥ 0.08 Drivers killed Estimated drivers killed with BAC ≥ 0.08 Drivers killed Estimated drivers killed with BAC ≥ 0.08 Drivers killed Estimated drivers killed with BAC ≥ 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 879 132 15 2,106 603 29 5,067 2,492 49 13,809 3,852 28
2006 859 151 18 2,161 680 31 5,159 2,535 49 13,321 3,779 28
2007 772 137 18 1,939 615 32 5,002 2,577 52 12,576 3,686 29

Fatally injured female teenage drivers were less likely than male teenage drivers in 2007 to have high BACs. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17, 22 percent of males and 11 percent of females in 2007 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. Among fatally injured drivers ages 18-19, 32 percent of males and 18 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, 2007
Age Male Female Total*
Drivers killed Estimated drivers killed with BAC ≥ 0.08 Drivers killed Estimated drivers killed with BAC ≥ 0.08 Drivers killed Estimated drivers killed with BAC ≥ 0.08
Num Num % Num Num % Num Num %
16-17 498 108 22 274 29 11 772 137 18
18-19 956 308 32 371 67 18 1,327 375 28
20 444 202 46 168 38 23 612 240 39
21-30 3,812 2,170 57 1,189 407 34 5,002 2,577 52
31-60 6,001 2,678 45 2,515 615 24 8,516 3,293 39
61-70 1,088 211 19 509 36 7 1,597 247 15
>70 1,648 126 8 815 21 3 2,463 147 6
All ages* 14,512 5,824 40 5,865 1,217 21 20,381 7,042 35
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

References