Motor vehicle fatal crash profiles of 13-15-year-olds.
OBJECTIVE
The goal was to provide a description of fatal crashes involving 13-15-year-old drivers and passengers.


METHODS
Information was obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for 2005-2009.


RESULTS
The 1,994 passenger deaths during the 2005-2009 period far exceeded the number of driver deaths (299) or the number of drivers in fatal crashes (744). Passenger deaths occurring with teenage drivers, particularly 16-17-year-olds, increased with passenger age. Most 13-15-year-old drivers in crashes were driving either with no license or permit (63%), or with a permit but without required adult presence (10 percent). Fatal crashes involving illegal driving were most likely to involve high-risk actions such as speeding and nonuse of belts. Supervised learners were few in number (about 12 per year) and had the lowest rates of high-risk actions.


CONCLUSIONS
The main issues for 13-15-year-olds' motor vehicle deaths are passenger deaths and driving without a license or adult supervision.


CONCLUSIONS
Parents, pediatricians, and others need to recognize the increase in motor vehicle occupant deaths that occurs in the early teen years.
LLC, 8200 Beech Tree Road, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA. allan.f.williams@gmail.com
Allan F
AF
Williams
Julie
J
Tison
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult