Washington and Oregon, however, are among the nation’s safest states for 16- and 17-year-old drivers, according to a new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association.
During the first six months of 2012, traffic deaths of 16- and 17-year-old drivers spiked 19 percent nationally over the same period in the previous year, the study showed. (PDF)
Although the report listed Oregon as one of the safest states for teen drivers, with just one fatality during the first half of 2012, it was still among those that saw an increase in deaths. During the same period of 2011, no young teenage motorists were killed on the state’s roads.
Washington, meanwhile, was one of the states that saw a dramatic decrease. During the first six months of 2011, 16 drivers ages 16 and 17 died in crashes. During the same period in 2012, there were zero traffic fatalities in the age group, the report showed.
Nationally, 107 drivers aged 16 died between January and June of last year, compared to 86 drivers during the first half of 2011. Deaths of 17-year-old drivers rose from 116 to 133 during the same periods.
Among road users, aging drivers are often thought to be the biggest hazard. But teen motorists are less experienced and on the road more frequently, experts say.
Despite various education and safety efforts, teens remain the nation’s most vulnerable population, and the biggest risk to themselves and other drivers, said Kendall Poole, director of the Tennessee highway safety office and chairman of the GHSA.
"With the advances in technology, we suspect distracted driving deaths among teen drivers are rising," Poole said.
The study also puts part of blame on the economic recovery, which has led to “more teens on the road and greater exposure to risk.” Another possible explanation: Fewer states have been strengthening their Graduated Driver Licensing programs in recent years.
The report is based on preliminary state data. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to release more definitive data later this year.
The deadliest states for teen drivers, according to the report:
1. Wyoming (More than 35 teens per every 100,000 who drive are killed in the state - more than 216 percent higher than the national average for adults).
2. Montana (The state's teen driver crash rate exceeds the national average for adult drivers by more than 200 percent).
3. Mississippi (32.3 deaths per 100,000 teen drivers).
4. Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia (31.2 deaths per 100,000 teen drivers).