While teenagers make up only 7 percent of Kentucky's licensed drivers, they are involved in a much higher percentage of accidents and deadly crashes.

Licensed drivers	7% Teenagers
All traffic accidents	22% Teenagers
Deadly crashes	17% Teenagers

• In 1994, over 6,200 young people died in motor vehicle crashes, an increase of five percent from 1993.
• Over 500,000 youths, aged 16 to 20 years old were injured in traffic accidents in 1994.
• Almost one-fourth of all vehicle passenger fatalities involved persons 15 to 20 years old.
• During 1994, a young person died in a traffic crash an average of once every hour during the weekends and once every two hours on weekdays.
• The number of high schools offering driver education courses declined almost 50 percent from 16,000 in 1975 to 8,200 in 1995.
• Traffic crashes are the number one killer of young people, accounting for 35 percent of deaths.
• The crash rate per mile for drivers 15 to 20 years old is four times higher than that of adult drivers.
• Almost one-fourth of all vehicle passenger fatalities involved persons 15 to 20 years old.
• The number of high schools offering driver education courses declined almost 50 percent from 16,000 in 1975 to 8,200 in 1995.
• The teen population boom means 23 percent more 16-year-olds by the year 2010.

Leading Causes of Death (Ages 15-19)

Cause	Rank	Percent of Deaths
1	Motor Vehicle Crashes	35%
2	Homicide	22%
3	Suicide	12%
4	Other Injury (falls, drowning, etc.)	9%
5	Cancer	5%
6	Heart Disease	2%