AAA says teens more likely to be in fatal crash with passengers

Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) - A new study by AAA finds that teens are much more likely to be involved in a fatal crash if someone else is in the car with them.

As a part of National Teen Driver Safety Week, AAA analyzed crash fatalities in 16 and 17-year-old drivers over the last ten years.

The study found there was at least one passenger in the vehicle in 57-percent of all fatal crashes over the last decade.

Risk factors like speeding, alcohol use, late night driving and non-seatbelt were more prevalent when there were teenage passengers.

A AAA spokesperson says North Dakota needs to improve its Graduated Driver’s License system.

Gene Ladoucer, AAA Spokesman: “We've seen some improvements in our crash rates, but our teens in North Dakota are over represented. They make up less than 7-percent of the driving population but are involved in about 20-percent of all fatal crashes.”

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death in teenagers in America.

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