Teenagers | 2006

2006
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. 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.

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 5,156 teenagers ages 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2006. This is 41 percent fewer than in 1975, and 3 percent fewer than in 2005. About 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2006 were males. Since 1975 teenage motor vehicle crash deaths have decreased more among males (48 percent) than among females (22 percent).

Teenage motor vehicle deaths by gender, 1975-2006

Motor vehicle crash deaths among 13-19 year-olds by gender, 1975-2006
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 3,404 66 1,732 34 5,156
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Teenagers accounted for 10 percent of the US population in 2006 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, 4 percent of motorcyclist deaths, and 10 percent of bicyclist deaths.

US teenage and total population, 2006
Teen population Total population % Teens of total population
29,772,198 299,398,484 10
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths as percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths, 2006
Death type Teen motor vehicle deaths Motor vehicle deaths for all ages % Teen motor vehicle deaths
of all motor vehicle deaths
Passenger vehicle occupant 4,357 30,476 14
Pedestrian 317 4,784 7
Motorcyclist 206 4,697 4
Bicyclist 79 770 10
Other 102 1,915 5
Total 5,156 42,642 12

Eighty-five percent of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2006 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, 2006
Age Passenger vehicle occupants Motorcyclists Pedestrians Bicyclists All-terrain vehicle occupants Other Total motor vehicle deaths*
Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num
13 88 61 4 3 23 16 11 8 11 8 8 6 145
14 150 67 1 <1 43 19 12 5 6 3 11 5 223
15 288 76 9 2 38 10 12 3 24 6 8 2 379
16 665 87 7 1 54 7 11 1 11 1 17 2 765
17 905 90 15 1 42 4 13 1 17 2 17 2 1,009
18 1,171 87 78 6 58 4 11 1 12 1 21 2 1,351
19 1,090 85 92 7 59 5 9 1 14 1 20 2 1,284
Total 4,357 85 206 4 317 6 79 2 95 2 102 2 5,156
*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 2006, 61 percent of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.

Passenger vehicle teenage occupant deaths by age and seating position, 2006
Age Driver Passenger Total*
Num % Num % Num
13 6 7 82 93 88
14 10 7 139 93 150
15 53 18 233 81 288
16 324 49 339 51 665
17 530 59 369 41 905
18 738 63 427 36 1,171
19 732 67 351 32 1,090
Total 2,393 55 1,940 45 4,357
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixty-two percent of teenage passenger deaths in 2006 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, 2006
Passenger age Driver age All ages*
<13 13-19 20-24 25-29 30-59 60-69 ≥70
Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num
<13 2 < 1 92 9 149 15 202 20 526 52 21 2 10 1 1,010
13-19 0 0 1,197 62 394 20 77 4 255 13 6 < 1 6 < 1 1,940
20-24 0 0 228 16 716 51 222 16 211 15 3 <1 3 < 1 1,393
25-29 0 0 50 7 233 32 227 31 194 27 7 1 2 < 1 723
30-59 0 0 146 6 255 11 283 12 1,409 61 137 6 49 2 2,304
60-69 0 0 15 3 19 4 16 3 172 36 162 33 98 20 484
≥70 0 0 7 1 18 2 11 1 265 27 135 14 539 55 978
All ages* 2 < 1 1,739 20 1,792 20 1,043 12 3,047 34 472 5 708 8 8,875
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2006, belt use among fatally injured drivers ages 16-19 (39 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 (27 percent) was considerably lower than among drivers (39 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, 2006
Age Drivers Passengers
Belt used Unbelted Unknown Belt used Unbelted Unknown
Num % Num % Num % Num % Num % Num %
13 4 67 0 0 2 33 27 33 47 57 8 10
14 3 30 6 60 1 10 46 33 82 59 11 8
15 13 25 36 68 4 8 76 33 138 59 19 8
16 137 42 163 50 24 7 99 29 205 60 35 10
17 223 42 282 53 25 5 103 28 240 65 26 7
18 274 37 418 57 46 6 105 25 271 63 51 12
19 265 36 398 54 69 9 96 27 217 62 38 11
20-24 1,109 34 1,877 58 271 8 382 27 880 63 131 9
25-29 748 34 1,291 58 189 8 189 26 462 64 72 10
30-59 3,784 41 4,794 52 623 7 887 38 1,233 54 184 8
60-69 912 53 675 39 131 8 267 55 186 38 31 6
≥70 1,625 61 865 32 179 7 654 67 250 26 74 8
Total* 9,106 42 10,817 50 1,574 7 3,492 39 4,611 52 772 9
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Among teenage passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2006, about half were involved in single vehicle crashes. This was similar to the proportion for drivers ages 20-24 but higher than for drivers ages 25 and older.

Passenger vehicle drivers in fatal crashes by age and crash type, 2006
  Single vehicle Multiple vehicle All crashes*
Num % Num % Num
16-19 2,544 49 2,691 51 5,237
20-24 3,383 48 3,730 52 7,122
25-29 2,156 42 2,934 58 5,097
30-59 7,683 37 12,944 63 20,642
60-69 1,058 32 2,260 68 3,321
≥ 70 1,072 27 2,956 73 4,036
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Population and mileage rates

From 1975 to 2006, the rate of deaths per 100,000 people declined by 41 percent for teenagers (from 29 to 17 per 100,000). In contrast, the death rate declined by 66 percent for people 12 and younger (from 8 to 3 per 100,000), 27 percent for people ages 20-69 (from 22 to 16 per 100,000), and 34 percent for people 70 and older (from 26 to 17 per 100,000).

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by age group, 1975-2006
  <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 1,426 2.7 29,772,198 5,156 17.3 190,434,580 31,296 16.4 26,884,798 4,611 17.2

The rate of deaths per 100,000 people in 2006 peaked at ages 18-19 for male drivers (25 per 100,000) and at age 18 for male passengers (12 per 100,000). Death rates peaked at age 18 for female drivers (10 per 100,000) and at age 16 and age 18 for female passengers (8 per 100,000).

Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age, and gender, 2006

Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age, and gender, 2006
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 26,755,298 1 0.0 478 1.8 25,551,610 1 0.0 532 2.1 52,306,908 2 0.0 1,010 1.9
13 2,147,066 4 0.2 40 1.9 2,041,299 2 0.1 42 2.1 4,188,365 6 0.1 82 2.0
14 2,179,515 8 0.4 68 3.1 2,080,132 2 0.1 71 3.4 4,259,647 10 0.2 139 3.3
15 2,216,504 34 1.5 124 5.6 2,111,463 19 0.9 109 5.2 4,327,967 53 1.2 233 5.4
16 2,259,214 195 8.6 170 7.5 2,146,664 129 6.0 168 7.8 4,405,878 324 7.4 338 7.7
17 2,177,110 354 16.3 224 10.3 2,069,687 176 8.5 145 7.0 4,246,797 530 12.5 369 8.7
18 2,148,057 531 24.7 268 12.5 2,040,042 207 10.1 159 7.8 4,188,099 738 17.6 427 10.2
19 2,133,979 542 25.4 226 10.6 2,021,466 190 9.4 125 6.2 4,155,445 732 17.6 351 8.4
20-24 10,910,090 2,476 22.7 952 8.7 10,201,150 778 7.6 441 4.3 21,111,240 3,254 15.4 1,393 6.6
25-29 10,584,270 1,673 15.8 481 4.5 10,125,210 554 5.5 242 2.4 20,709,480 2,227 10.8 723 3.5
30-59 61,965,584 6,405 10.3 1,186 1.9 62,910,484 2,794 4.4 1,115 1.8 124,876,068 9,199 7.4 2,301 1.8
60-69 11,217,431 1,158 10.3 149 1.3 12,520,361 559 4.5 333 2.7 23,737,792 1,717 7.2 482 2.0
≥70 10,818,034 1,733 16.0 287 2.7 16,066,764 935 5.8 691 4.3 26,884,798 2,668 9.9 978 3.6
*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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 did

Fifty-four percent of motor vehicle crash deaths among teenagers in 2006 occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2006
Day of week Deaths %
Sunday 929 18
Monday 605 12
Tuesday 614 12
Wednesday 587 11
Thursday 590 11
Friday 798 16
Saturday 1,033 20
Total* 5,156 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Thirty-four percent of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2006 occurred between 6 pm and midnight.

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2006
Time of day Deaths %
Midnight-3am 811 16
3am-6am 445 9
6am-9am 484 9
9am-noon 323 6
Noon-3pm 516 10
3pm-6pm 809 16
6pm-9pm 764 15
9pm-midnight 968 19
Total* 5,156 100
*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 2006 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 46 percent decline for drivers ages 18-20, a 22 percent decline for drivers ages 21-30, and a 34 percent decline for drivers older than 30.

Percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs >0.08 percent by driver age, 1982-2006

Estimated percent and number of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs≥0.08 percent by age group, 1982-2006
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 854 151 18 2,156 660 31 5,131 2,528 49 13,256 3,760 28

Fatally injured female teenage drivers were less likely than male teenage drivers in 2006 to have high BACs. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17, 21 percent of males and 13 percent of females in 2006 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. Among fatally injured drivers ages 18-19, 31 percent of males and 17 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, 2006
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 %
16-17 549 113 21 305 38 13 854 151 18
18-19 1,073 333 31 397 68 17 1,470 401 27
20 512 214 42 174 44 25 686 258 38
21-30 3,886 2,106 54 1,241 421 34 5,131 2,528 49
31-60 6,265 2,629 42 2,782 741 27 9,050 3,371 37
61-70 1,137 195 17 528 38 7 1,665 233 14
>70 1,645 124 8 895 30 3 2,541 156 6
All ages* 15,138 5,732 38 6,348 1,386 22 21,497 7,123 33
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

References