Teenagers | 2011

2011
All Fatality Facts topics

In the United States, teenagers drive less than all but the oldest people, but their numbers of crashes and crash deaths are disproportionately high. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 2013. [Unpublished analysis of 2008 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Household Travel Survey, General Estimates System, and Fatality Analysis Reporting System]. Arlington, VA. In the United States, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16-19 year-olds is nearly 3 times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over. Risk is highest at ages 16-17. In fact, the fatal crash rate per mile driven is nearly twice as high for 16-17 year-olds as it is for 18-19 year-olds.

Beginning in the mid 1990s, all states have adopted graduated licensing systems, which phase in full driving privileges. In states that adopted elements of graduated licensing, the crash rates among teenage drivers declined about 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. and Molnar, L.J. 2004. Michigan's graduated driver licensing program: evaluation of the first four years. Journal of Safety and Research 35:337-44. 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. Zhu, M.; Chu, H.; and Li, G. 2009. Effects of graduated driver licensing on licensure and traffic injury rates in upstate New York. Accident Analysis and Prevention 41:531-35. Hallmark, S.L.; Veneziano, D.A.; Falb, S.; Pawlovich, M.; and Witt, D. 2008. Evaluation of Iowa's graduated driver's licensing program. Accident Analysis and Prevention 40:1401-05. National studies of graduated licensing found that strong laws were associated with substantially lower fatal crash rates and substantially lower insurance claim rates among young teen drivers covered by the laws. Strong restrictions on nighttime driving and teen passengers, as well as raising the licensing age, reduced rates of fatal crashes and insurance collision claims. McCartt, A.T.; Teoh, E.R.; Fields, M.; Braitman, K.A.; and Hellinga, L.A. 2010. Graduated licensing laws and fatal crashes of teenage drivers: a national study. Traffic Injury Prevention 11:240-48. Trempel, R.E. 2009. Graduated driver licensing laws and insurance collision claim frequencies of teenage drivers. Arlington, VA: Highway Loss Data Institute.

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 3,023 teenagers ages 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2011. This is 65 percent fewer than in 1975 and 3 percent fewer than in 2010. About 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in crashes in 2011 were males. Since 1975 teenage crash deaths have decreased more among males (70 percent) than among females (53 percent).

Motor vehicle crash deaths among 13-19 year-olds by gender, 1975-2011
YearMale Female Total*
Number%Number%Number%
1975 6,532 75 2,215 25 8,748 100
1976 6,826 73 2,530 27 9,356 100
1977 6,983 72 2,650 28 9,633 100
1978 7,295 73 2,645 27 9,940 100
1979 7,280 73 2,639 27 9,920 100
1980 6,932 73 2,591 27 9,524 100
1981 6,014 72 2,301 28 8,315 100
1982 5,354 73 1,969 27 7,323 100
1983 4,850 71 1,955 29 6,805 100
1984 4,947 71 2,005 29 6,952 100
1985 4,715 70 2,022 30 6,737 100
1986 5,280 71 2,182 29 7,466 100
1987 5,107 70 2,186 30 7,293 100
1988 5,036 70 2,204 30 7,242 100
1989 4,528 68 2,158 32 6,688 100
1990 4,420 69 1,944 31 6,364 100
1991 3,891 68 1,867 32 5,760 100
1992 3,495 67 1,713 33 5,215 100
1993 3,678 68 1,742 32 5,421 100
1994 3,770 67 1,859 33 5,632 100
1995 3,702 65 1,970 35 5,675 100
1996 3,855 66 1,963 34 5,819 100
1997 3,715 65 2,014 35 5,730 100
1998 3,649 65 1,960 35 5,610 100
1999 3,745 65 2,007 35 5,752 100
2000 3,759 66 1,925 34 5,685 100
2001 3,735 67 1,859 33 5,594 100
2002 3,939 66 2,015 34 5,954 100
2003 3,772 66 1,946 34 5,718 100
2004 3,696 65 1,948 35 5,645 100
2005 3,496 66 1,803 34 5,300 100
2006 3,415 66 1,744 34 5,159 100
2007 3,280 66 1,701 34 4,981 100
2008 2,694 66 1,373 34 4,070 100
2009 2,222 64 1,257 36 3,480 100
2010 2,034 65 1,087 35 3,121 100
2011 1,986 66 1,036 34 3,023 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2011, teenagers accounted for 10 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths. They comprised 11 percent of passenger vehicle (cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans) occupant deaths among all ages, 7 percent of pedestrian deaths, 3 percent of motorcyclist deaths, 10 percent of bicyclist deaths and 15 percent of all-terrain vehicle rider deaths.

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths as percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths, 2011
Death typeTeen crash deathsCrash deaths for all ages% Teen crash deaths of all crash deaths
Passenger vehicle occupant 2,405 21,347 11
Pedestrian 294 4,432 7
Motorcyclist 143 4,388 3
Bicyclist 65 675 10
All-terrain vehicle riders 47 305 15
Other 69 1,220 6
Total* 3,023 32,367 10
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Eighty percent of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2011 were passenger vehicle occupants. The others were pedestrians (10 percent), motorcyclists (5 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, 2011
AgePassenger vehicle occupantsMotorcyclists Pedestrians Bicyclists All-terrain vehicle riders Other Total motor vehicle deaths*
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
13 46 51 3 3 27 30 5 5 5 5 5 5 91 100
14 76 55 6 4 32 23 14 10 6 4 5 4 139 100
15 141 70 3 1 34 17 7 3 6 3 10 5 201 100
16 336 82 9 2 39 9 11 3 9 2 7 2 411 100
17 433 84 11 2 39 8 7 1 9 2 16 3 515 100
18 654 82 47 6 66 8 12 1 6 1 16 2 801 100
19 719 83 64 7 57 7 9 1 6 1 10 1 865 100
Total 2,405 80 143 5 294 10 65 2 47 2 69 2 3,023 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2010, 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. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. 2013. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), 2010 fatal injury data. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available: http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html.

Leading causes of death among teenagers by gender, 2010
Cause of deathMale Female Total
Motor vehicles 2,030 1,085 3,115
Homicide 1,648 279 1,927
Suicide 1,459 404 1,863
Malignant neoplasms 462 330 792

Passenger vehicle occupants

In 2011, 59 percent of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.

Teenage passenger vehicle occupant deaths by age and seating position, 2011
AgeDriver PassengerTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
13 2 4 43 93 46 100
14 8 11 68 89 76 100
15 13 9 127 90 141 100
16 173 51 160 48 336 100
17 250 58 183 42 433 100
18 386 59 267 41 654 100
19 460 64 256 36 719 100
Total 1,292 54 1,104 46 2,405 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2011, 59 percent of the deaths of teenage passengers in passenger vehicles occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 16 percent occurred when a teenager was driving.

Passenger vehicle passenger deaths by passenger age and driver age, 2011
Passenger ageDriver AgeAll ages*
13-19 years 20-24 years 25-29 years 30-59 years 60-69 years ≥70 yearsUnknown
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number
<13 54 8 100 15 136 21 340 52 20 3 6 100 656
13-19 646 59 198 18 62 6 172 16 11 1 5<1 10 1 1,104
20-24 120 14 467 53 152 17 125 14 8 1 3<1 10 1 885
25-29 26 5 116 24 179 37 157 32 5 1 2<1 4 1 490
30-59 83 6 129 9 180 12 960 65 93 6 30 2 5<1 1,481
60-69 8 2 8 2 16 5 136 39 125 35 58 16 2 1 353
≥70 8 1 18 2 10 1 205 25 118 15 445 55 1<1 805
Unknown 1 6 5 29 2 12 5 29 2 12 2 1200 17
All ages* 946 16 1,041 18 737 13 2,100 36 382 7 551 10 32 1 5,791
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2011, belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-19 (42 percent) was higher than among fatally injured drivers ages 20-29 (36 percent) but lower than among drivers 30 and older combined (49 percent). Among fatally injured 16-19 year-old occupants, belt use among passengers (32 percent) was considerably lower than among drivers (42 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.

Safety belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants by age and seating position, 2011
AgePassengersDrivers
Belt usedUnknown Unbelted Belt usedUnknown Unbelted
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
13 10 23 4 9 29 670000 2 100
14 26 38 7 10 35 51 2 2500 6 75
15 45 35 3 2 79 62 4 31 1 8 8 62
16 48 30 18 11 94 59 79 46 11 6 83 48
17 61 33 17 9 105 57 112 45 15 6 123 49
18 81 30 25 9 161 60 166 43 32 8 188 49
19 84 33 17 7 155 61 177 38 39 8 244 53
20-24 232 26 96 11 557 63 777 36 171 8 1,215 56
25-29 125 26 56 11 309 63 561 35 125 8 919 57
30-59 542 37 118 8 821 55 2,770 42 476 7 3,325 51
60-69 215 61 25 7 113 32 869 55 104 7 604 38
≥70 579 72 45 5 181 22 1,504 66 175 8 613 27
Total* 2,346 41 484 8 2,865 49 7,024 45 1,152 7 7,336 47
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Among passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-19 involved in fatal crashes in 2011, 49 percent were involved in single-vehicle crashes. This was higher than for drivers ages 20 and older (40 percent).

Passenger vehicle drivers in fatal crashes by age and crash type, 2011
Single vehicle Multiple vehicleAll crashes *
Number%Number%Number%
16-19 1,457 49 1,515 51 2,972 100
20-24 2,328 48 2,570 52 4,898 100
25-29 1,752 46 2,053 54 3,805 100
30-59 6,249 40 9,553 60 15,802 100
60-69 1,159 37 2,004 63 3,163 100
70+ 1,062 30 2,473 70 3,535 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Population and mileage rates

From 1975 to 2011, the rate of passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 people declined by 64 percent for teenagers ages 16-19 (from 47.6 to 17.0 per 100,000 people), 52 percent for people ages 20-34 (from 38.7 to 18.6 per 100,000 people), 43 percent for people ages 35-69 (from 20.5 to 11.6 per 100,000 people) and 19 percent for people 70 and older (from 15.4 to 12.4 per 100,000 people).

Passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 people by age group, 1975-2011
16-19 years 20-34 years 35-69 years 70+ years
PopulationNumberRatePopulationNumberRatePopulationNumberRatePopulationNumberRate
1975 17,016,355 8,09447.6 50,998,09819,71538.7 74,764,82915,32520.5 14,563,945 2,24915.4
1976 17,194,079 8,45749.2 52,745,00519,84737.6 75,419,92115,12720.1 14,960,120 2,39516.0
1977 17,276,153 8,96851.9 54,497,44821,53039.5 76,203,08315,71020.6 15,401,249 2,38715.5
1978 17,287,835 9,29753.8 55,909,06323,28441.6 77,348,22216,32321.1 15,876,541 2,52415.9
1979 17,242,116 9,24053.6 57,499,19723,99141.7 78,311,10716,07520.5 16,388,617 2,38614.6
1980 17,112,117 8,63750.5 58,814,39123,95740.7 79,111,52216,00220.2 16,897,977 2,37514.1
1981 16,756,984 7,80046.5 60,563,41623,75839.2 79,785,59116,13120.2 17,322,714 2,48714.4
1982 16,280,287 6,50940.0 61,099,52420,84834.1 81,488,90214,49117.8 17,783,888 2,52214.2
1983 15,783,684 6,25339.6 61,840,15419,95532.3 82,861,20414,45917.4 18,233,751 2,57414.1
1984 15,257,750 6,46442.4 62,491,25520,96433.5 84,256,66115,07917.9 18,662,938 2,77014.8
1985 14,969,843 6,27641.9 62,961,15420,83733.1 85,628,41015,26517.8 19,072,785 3,00515.8
1986 14,981,380 7,01746.8 63,115,88922,00834.9 87,205,53715,73618.0 19,463,480 3,23516.6
1987 15,172,917 7,02146.3 63,032,29822,38735.5 88,808,04616,74918.9 19,890,817 3,37617.0
1988 15,159,185 7,24947.8 62,784,73922,36735.6 90,464,40617,50119.3 20,302,280 3,62317.8
1989 14,874,579 6,90646.4 62,494,05621,27334.0 92,250,76217,78019.3 20,719,397 3,63117.5
1990 14,424,509 6,35644.1 62,282,68320,71533.3 94,140,10817,57918.7 21,164,283 3,68817.4
1991 13,935,348 5,71841.0 62,025,75019,07330.8 96,068,11116,36617.0 21,751,897 3,76917.3
1992 13,720,071 5,23138.1 61,427,10017,84629.1 98,214,53916,37716.7 22,321,217 3,83417.2
1993 13,874,164 5,43439.2 60,582,33217,69129.2 100,399,64817,02417.0 22,800,673 4,14618.2
1994 14,128,177 5,77340.9 59,629,35117,67229.6 102,541,52517,51417.1 23,243,845 4,32518.6
1995 14,401,118 5,87440.8 58,712,40717,91130.5 104,712,32818,86918.0 23,693,757 4,50519.0
1996 14,907,191 6,02140.4 57,753,91017,73830.7 106,975,95319,26618.0 24,056,323 4,56319.0
1997 15,257,453 5,94739.0 57,046,56916,84729.5 109,232,42619,70818.0 24,408,817 4,82319.8
1998 15,649,272 5,93837.9 56,421,05316,27128.8 111,331,19520,03118.0 24,793,551 4,80819.4
1999 15,927,464 6,15838.7 55,961,40116,15428.9 113,451,31219,58517.3 25,092,805 4,80619.2
2000 16,192,473 6,04137.3 58,971,70916,44427.9 117,114,73919,96617.0 25,559,879 4,57417.9
2001 16,232,934 5,98336.9 59,465,06616,28427.4 119,060,43620,28717.0 25,797,467 4,64918.0
2002 16,287,999 6,13437.7 60,046,06816,68627.8 120,913,20720,35816.8 26,005,326 4,54317.5
2003 16,344,596 5,74535.1 60,599,35016,32926.9 122,772,57820,79916.9 26,200,946 4,64417.7
2004 16,518,068 5,72434.7 61,003,24016,40126.9 124,762,84820,50916.4 26,337,518 4,35516.5
2005 16,652,533 5,36032.2 61,180,77216,51627.0 126,831,71421,00416.6 26,658,669 4,23715.9
2006 16,996,219 5,27031.0 61,527,21916,23726.4 128,907,36120,15215.6 26,884,798 4,06415.1
2007 17,208,807 4,97028.9 61,623,32215,62425.4 130,500,56619,69615.1 27,135,517 4,00414.8
2008 17,314,417 4,04623.4 61,990,54613,69622.1 131,908,05817,86813.5 27,521,034 3,73913.6
2009 17,404,102 3,62020.8 63,105,88112,33819.6 132,693,70816,67112.6 27,786,270 3,56512.8
2010 17,797,523 3,23418.2 62,649,94712,06619.3 134,995,31416,20412.0 27,832,721 3,63013.0
2011 17,487,207 2,97217.0 63,944,33011,90618.6 136,282,08515,76211.6 28,520,353 3,53512.4

The rate of deaths per 100,000 people in 2011 peaked at age 19 for male drivers (14.4 per 100,000) and at age 18 for male passengers (8.0 per 100,000). Death rates peaked at age 19 for female drivers (5.7 per 100,000) and female passengers (5.1 per 100,000).

Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age and gender, 2011
Age Male FemaleTotal*
PopulationDriver deathsPassenger deathsPopulationDriver deathsPassenger deathsPopulationDriver deathsPassenger deaths
NumberRateNumberRateNumberRateNumberRateNumberRateNumberRate
<13 27,051,867 1 0.0 338 1.2 25,898,241 0 0.0 318 1.2 52,950,108 1 0.0 656 1.2
13 2,108,648 2 0.1 26 1.2 2,013,430 0 0.0 17 0.8 4,122,078 2 0.0 43 1.0
14 2,110,202 7 0.3 33 1.6 2,018,718 1 0.0 35 1.7 4,128,920 8 0.2 68 1.6
15 2,129,503 8 0.4 68 3.2 2,027,333 5 0.2 59 2.9 4,156,836 13 0.3 127 3.1
16 2,179,126 109 5.0 91 4.2 2,066,353 64 3.1 69 3.3 4,245,479 173 4.1 160 3.8
17 2,225,733 140 6.3 101 4.5 2,105,118 110 5.2 82 3.9 4,330,851 250 5.8 183 4.2
18 2,264,743 269 11.9 181 8.0 2,131,424 117 5.5 86 4.0 4,396,167 386 8.8 267 6.1
19 2,319,841 335 14.4 144 6.2 2,194,869 125 5.7 112 5.1 4,514,710 460 10.2 256 5.7
20-24 11,312,700 1,577 13.9 593 5.2 10,841,132 586 5.4 292 2.7 22,153,832 2,163 9.8 885 4.0
25-29 10,761,515 1,173 10.9 325 3.0 10,518,279 432 4.1 165 1.6 21,279,794 1,605 7.5 490 2.3
30-59 62,341,416 4,684 7.5 751 1.2 63,770,993 1,887 3.0 730 1.1 126,112,409 6,571 5.2 1,481 1.2
60-69 14,614,084 1,064 7.3 121 0.8 16,066,296 513 3.2 232 1.4 30,680,380 1,577 5.1 353 1.2
≥70 11,871,441 1,476 12.4 228 1.9 16,648,912 816 4.9 577 3.5 28,520,353 2,292 8.0 805 2.8
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

The rate of fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled in 2008 was highest at ages 16-19 for male drivers and at ages 80 and over for female drivers. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 2013. [Unpublished analysis of 2008 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Household Travel Survey, General Estimates System, and Fatality Analysis Reporting System]. Arlington, VA.

Fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled by driver age and gender, 2008
AgeMale FemaleTotal*
Crash involvementsMilesRateCrash involvementsMilesRateCrash involvementsMilesRate
16-19 2,747 47,101,113,156 5.8 1,292 40,725,999,996 3.2 4,040 87,827,113,152 4.6
20-24 4,193 77,399,337,458 5.4 1,565 72,769,745,568 2.2 5,758 150,169,083,027 3.8
25-29 3,215 67,099,358,786 4.8 1,251 58,685,808,506 2.1 4,467 125,785,167,292 3.6
30-59 12,269 885,054,888,347 1.4 5,676 559,809,444,138 1.0 17,945 1,444,864,332,485 1.2
60-69 2,196 158,220,245,972 1.4 1,014 102,579,182,791 1.0 3,211 260,799,428,763 1.2
70-79 1,502 62,438,473,280 2.4 714 31,872,100,686 2.2 2,217 94,310,573,966 2.4
≥ 80 996 18,049,881,189 5.5 518 9,557,947,978 5.4 1,514 27,607,829,167 5.5
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

The rate of nighttime fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled in 2008 was almost 4 times higher for male drivers ages 16-19 than for male drivers ages 30-59. The corresponding comparison for females yields almost 3 times the rate. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 2013. [Unpublished analysis of 2008 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Household Travel Survey, General Estimates System, and Fatality Analysis Reporting System]. Arlington, VA.

Nighttime (9 p.m.-6 a.m.) fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled by driver age and gender, 2008
AgeMale Female
Crash involvementsMilesRateCrash involvementsMilesRate
16-19 1,184 7,663,933,983 15.4 446 5,398,409,200 8.3
20-24 2,187 12,530,755,316 17.5 630 9,663,223,642 6.5
25-29 1,597 9,202,553,882 17.4 393 4,810,780,195 8.2
30-59 4,173 102,327,055,851 4.1 1,312 41,436,562,572 3.2
60-69 386 12,203,313,867 3.2 117 5,213,924,030 2.2
≥ 70 237 3,619,562,393 6.5 58 1,476,546,549 3.9

When teenagers died

In 2011, July, August and October had the highest numbers of teenage crash deaths of any months.

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by month, 2011
MonthDeaths%
January 185 6
February 197 7
March 226 7
April 242 8
May 252 8
June 273 9
July 312 10
August 296 10
September 232 8
October 317 10
November 262 9
December 229 8
Total 3,023 100

Fifty-three percent of motor vehicle crash deaths among teenagers in 2011 occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2011
Day of weekDeaths%
Sunday 547 18
Monday 357 12
Tuesday 362 12
Wednesday 351 12
Thursday 348 12
Friday 442 15
Saturday 616 20
Total* 3,023 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2011 occurred most frequently from 9 p.m. to midnight (16 percent) and midnight to 3 a.m. (16 percent).

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2011
Time of dayDeaths%
Midnight - 3 a.m. 494 16
3 a.m. - 6 a.m. 321 11
6 a.m. - 9 a.m. 264 9
9 a.m. - noon 176 6
noon - 3 p.m. 313 10
3 p.m. - 6 p.m. 476 16
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. 464 15
9 p.m. - midnight 494 16
Total* 3,023 100
*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).  Voas, R.B.; Torres, P.; Romano, E.; and Lacey, J.H. 2012. Alcohol-related risk of driver fatalities: an update using 2007 data. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 73(3):341-350. The estimated percentage of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17 who had BACs at or above 0.08 percent in 2011 was 19 percent, down 54 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 46 percent decline for drivers ages 18-20, a 24 percent decline for drivers ages 21-30 and a 35 percent decline for drivers older than 30.

Estimated percent and number of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by age group, 1982-2011
Year16-17 years18-20 years21-30 years>30 years
Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%
1982 895 368 41 2,561 1,458 57 6,244 3,948 63 9,861 4,208 43
1983 899 345 38 2,427 1,336 55 6,053 3,859 64 9,845 3,943 40
1984 969 321 33 2,472 1,274 52 6,413 3,885 61 10,337 3,860 37
1985 935 250 27 2,292 1,009 44 6,263 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 12,525 3,771 30
1995 1,015 150 15 1,968 575 29 5,081 2,585 51 13,247 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 1,946 594 31 4,775 2,275 48 13,777 4,004 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 775 133 17 1,953 633 32 5,028 2,592 52 12,697 3,675 29
2008 580 91 16 1,712 535 31 4,388 2,327 53 11,528 3,308 29
2009 503 69 14 1,546 540 35 3,870 2,020 52 10,869 3,156 29
2010 410 58 14 1,265 380 30 3,697 1,816 49 10,613 2,914 27
2011 423 81 19 1,297 404 31 3,593 1,736 48 10,164 2,816 28

Among fatally injured teenage drivers in 2011, females were less likely than males to have high BACs. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17, 26 percent of males and 10 percent of females had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. Among fatally injured drivers ages 18-19, 34 percent of males and 17 percent of females had BACs at or above 0.08 percent.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by gender and age, 2011
AgeMale Female Total*
Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%
16-17 249 64 26 174 17 10 423 81 19
18-19 604 203 34 242 40 17 846 244 29
20 322 121 37 129 40 31 451 160 36
21-30 2,628 1,417 54 965 319 33 3,593 1,736 48
31-60 4,608 1,982 43 1,850 459 25 6,458 2,441 38
61-70 1,041 206 20 516 42 8 1,557 249 16
>70 1,375 97 7 774 29 4 2,149 126 6
All ages* 10,851 4,095 38 4,657 949 20 15,512 5,046 33
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

References