Motor Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds.  This is primarily due to the teen's lack of maturity and driving experience coupled with their over confidence and risk-taking behavior.

Young people ages 15 through 20 are 6.7 percent of the driving population yet they are 14 percent of the drivers in fatal crashes.

In  2003, teenagers accounted for 10 percent of the U.S. population and 13 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths

In 2003, 54% of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday; 42% occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The fatality rate for teenage drivers is about four times as high as that for drivers ages 25 through 69.

Teenage drivers put their teenage passengers at risk. Two out of every three teens who die as passengers were in a vehicle with a teenage driver at the wheel.

In 2002, the estimated economic cost of police-reported crashes (both fatal and nonfatal) involving drivers ages 15 to 20 was $40.8 billion

Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate hazardous situations or dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations

Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed, run red lights, make illegal turns, ride with an intoxicated driver, and drive after using alcohol or drugs