Magnitude and characteristics of the young driver crash problem in the United States. Paper presented at the International Symposium "New to the road : reducing the risks for young motorists", Berverly Hills, California, June 8-11, 1995.

Motor vehicle crashes involving young, beginning drivers are a worldwide problem with common characteristics. In the United States, 16-19 year-old drivers have a crash risk per mile four times that of older drivers. The crash risk of 16-year-old drivers is particularly high, and 16-year-old females have more crashes per mile driven than 16 year-old males. Passenger deaths represent about 40 percent of all passengers verhicle occupant deaths of 16-19 year-olds; two-thirds of these deaths occuring in vehicles driven by other teenagers.