More than 4,000 teens killed in car crashes each year

More than 4,000 teens aged 16 – 19 year are killed in motor vehicle accidents a year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, and nearly 400,000 needed emergency room treatment for injuries.

The CDC released the figures to mark the upcoming National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 19-25).

CDC-supported research suggests that licensing systems that initially keep novice teen drivers from driving at night and limiting number of teen passengers who can ride with the novice driver can reduce fatal and nonfatal injury crashes by as much as 40%.

Washington State has a graduated licensing system, although parents sometimes ignore the system’s requirements.

The Washington State Department of Licensing rules state that for drivers under 18: 

For the first 6 months, you cannot drive with passengers under the age of 20 unless they are members of your immediate family (such as a spouse, child, stepchild, or siblings, both by birth and marriage).

For the next 6 months you may not carry more than 3 passengers who are under 20 years old who are not members of your immediate family.

For the first 12 months, you cannot drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless you are with a licensed driver age 25 or older. The only exception to this rule is if you drive for agricultural purposes, meaning you transport farm products or supplies under the direction of a farmer (See RCW 46.20.070).

After 1 year of following these rules and driving without a collision or traffic citation, you can drive without limitations to the time of day or the age and number of your passengers.

When you turn 18, these special rules no longer apply and your intermediate driver license automatically becomes a regular license.

To learn more:

• Go to the CDC’s webpage on teen drivers and graduated driver licensing systems.
• Visit the Washington State Department of Licensing’s webpage on Teens.

Tags: Accidents, Teens, Traffic

Category: Child & Youth Health, Safety