Youth and Road Crashes report by the Traffic injury Research Foundation

A report published by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation in Canada indicates encouraging news; Young drivers (16 - 19 year olds) are the least likely of any age group to drink and drive in Canada ( 3.6% 1999 TIRF survey) and only 0.3% were over the .08 BAC limit.

Yet in 1997, 400 teens aged between 15 - 19 were killed in road crashes, this however has dropped from a high of 1,038 in 1980.The proportion of teens as a precentage of the total road deathtoll has also decreased from 19% of deaths and 21% of injuries in 1980 - to 13% of deaths and 13% of injuries in 1997.

Alcohol related road deaths within these statistics have also dropped signficantly from 70% in 1980 to 40% in 1997. Recent trends show a marked slow down however, as between 1992 and 1997 the death rate amongst teens killed in crashes fell by only 5% and drink-drive related deaths by 7%.It is important to note however that the youth population decreased by 21% in the early 1980's, reaching its lowest level in 20 years in 1990, since then the youth populatioin has steadily increased, and it is encouraging therefore that the figures continue their downward trend inspite of an increase in numbers of teenagers on the road.

Road crashes are still the leading cause of death among teens 34% of males and 38% of female teenagers who die each year do so as a result of a car crash - and mainly during the summer months,during weekends and at night. The research illustrated that 60% of the fatally injured teens were not wearing seat belts. The TIRF believes young drivers are over represented in road crashes for two primary reasons ' inexperience and immaturity'.

The TIRF therefore proposes a selection of measures including enforcing Liquor Licence laws to prevent the sale of liquor to the underage, and to graduating licencing law, whereby newly qualified drivers work up to a full licence ( six months driving under supervision, restricted passengers etc and low BAC limits). Similar programmes have proved successful in Florida ( 11% reduction in teen crashes). New Zealand (7%), Ontario 31%) and Nova Scotia (37%). More education is also proposed, both for drivers, parents and teachers.

A similar report has been published in the Washington(DC) Times, which studied the driving records of 32,000 people invlolved in crashes in 1997. A tenth of teen age drivers had any alcohol in their system at the time of an accident, but they were the most likely to speed and run off the road, are cited for more mistakes than other drivers (except those over 82), carry the most passengers (80% of which are teenagers), wear seat belts less often and crash more at nigh than other categories of drivers.