General

One in every eight traffic deaths in Colorado in 2003 was a teen driver or passenger.

Sixteen-year-old drivers have the highest crash involvement rate of any age group in Colorado and are nearly three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than the average of all other drivers.

Sixty-two 16-20-year olds died on Colorado roadways in 2006. Seventy-nine in 2005.

In 2006, nearly 80 percent of teen passengers who died in car crashes in Colorado were riding with teen drivers.

Seat Belts

For front-seat passengers, lap and shoulder belts reduce the chance of serious injury by as much as 50 percent.

In fatal crashes, only one percent of belted occupants are ejected from their vehicle; 22 percent of unbelted occupants are ejected and 75 percent of them are killed.

Average hospital costs for unbelted crash victims are 55 percent higher than for belted victims according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Of the 91 teens killed in Colorado in 2003, 46 were not using seatbelts. If everyone had buckled up at least half of them should have survived.

Impaired Driving

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for young people between ages 15 and 24.

Alcohol is involved in about one-third of fatal crashes involving 16-19-year-old-drivers.

Even a small amount of alcohol causes impairment. Studies show that impairment can begin with the first sip and worsen with continued drinking. Young drivers are about 1.5 times more likely to have a fatal crash after having one or two drinks and about three times more likely after three drinks.

Seventy-seven percent of fatal crashes involving alcohol occur at night.

Drugged Driving

Marijuana affects alertness, concentration, coordination and reaction time, all skills required for safe driving.

These effects can last up to 24 hours after smoking marijuana.

Distracted Driving

One in every six crashes are caused by distracted drivers.

Drowsy Driving

Sleep-related crashes are most common in young people. One North Carolina state study found that 55 percent of fall-asleep crashes involved people 25-years-old or younger.

Sleepy drivers cause approximately 100,000 crashes every year in the U.S.

Speeding

The chance of death or serious injury doubles for every ten miles per hour over 50 mph that a vehicle travels.

Red Light/Stop Sign Running

One in three Americans knows someone who has been injured or killed in a red light-running crash.