Underage Drunk Driving Deaths Increase

August 2007

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released their alcohol-related traffic fatality statistics for 2006 and the results look grim for drivers under 21. While nearly every figure held steady or saw a slight decline, the number of teenage minors that died in drunk driving accidents increased nearly four percent last year.

Not only did teens see an overall four percent rise in drunk driving deaths, but the number of intoxicated 16 to 20-year-olds that were behind the wheel at the time of these fatal crashes increased by six percent from 2005. Of all accidents involving fatal drunk driving injuries, the operator of the car or motorcycle was intoxicated 64 percent of the time.

Males account for over 80 percent of drivers involved in fatal drunk driving accidents. This potentially places teenage boys at an extremely high risk of death when driving under the influence. Drivers with previous DUI convictions decreased, meaning that more first time drunk drivers were involved in fatal accidents in 2006.