Car crash deaths in the United States declined last year, reaching the lowest level in more than a decade. Only 41,059 people were killed in highway crashes, down by more than 1,000 from 2006. Great news! This makes sense since people drove less in the past year, in part due to higher gas prices.
But, seriously think about that: 40 thousand people. I don't know why we put up with such a high death rate. Yes, we are a nation of millions, but car crashes account for more than half of accidental deaths. Car crashes kill people in all stages of life and disproportionately impact teenagers.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. In 2005, twelve teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries.
Teen Drivers (From: cdc.gov)
Ever wonder why the drinking age in the US is 21? In many other countries it's 16. It's because we drive so much. I think we should make an offer to teens: get your driver's license at 16 OR get a drinking license. You can't do both till you're 21. (If not at age 16, at least at age 18. You can vote and die in a war but you can't drink a beer... WTF?)
The idea would be to have teens put of driving longer.