Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 20 in the United States. 1Fortunately, over the last ten years, there has been a significant decline in teen driver fatalities. Between 2003 and 2012, fatalities dropped 49% — from 7,937 to 4,283. In Rhode Island, unintentional injury from motor vehicle accidents is also a leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. The rate of motor vehicle fatalities within this age group is substantially higher than any other. Research has shown that teen drivers are especially at risk for fatal motor vehicle accidents because they lack experience and judgment. Presence of passengers, night driving, drinking, and non-use of seatbelts are all factors that further jeopardize a young driver’s safety. This report aims to summarize the relevant circumstances around fatal motor vehicle accidents in Rhode Island involving youth from 2008 to 2013. The review will include data both before and after the 2011 passage of Rhode Island’s primary enforcement seat belt law, which enabled police to issue citations based solely on the observation of an unbelted driver or passenger. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting