AAA ANALYSIS FINDS TEEN CRASHES COST SOCIETY MORE THAN $34 BILLION ANNUALLY

AAA calls for improved graduated driver licensing to counter nearly one million crashes involving 15- to 17-year olds annually

BUFFALO, NY, APRIL 9, 2008 – A first-ever analysis from AAA finds that crashes involving teen drivers ages 15 to 17 cost the American society more than $34 billion annually in medical expenses, lost work, property damage, quality of life loss, and other related costs in 2006.

According to the analysis conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation for AAA, drivers ages 15 to 17 in 2006 were involved in about 974,000 crashes, injuring 406,427 people and killing 2,541 nationwide. In New York State, teen drivers were involved in 26,097 crashes, with 64 total deaths and injuries totaling 10,890 in 2006.

“The impact of a teen crash extends beyond the emotional tragedies and physical injury at the crash scene, with costs that can extend to employers, families, government, and society overall,” said Tom Chestnut, President/CEO of AAA Western and Central New York.

The $34.4 billion cost in 2006 included $9.8 billion in cost from fatal crashes, with an average cost of $3.841 million per fatality. Injury crashes averaged $50,512, with their large numbers producing a total cost of $20.5 billion – more than twice the cost of fatal crashes. Property damage crashes accounted for the remaining $4.1 billion in cost.

“Some of these costs are paid directly by government through Medicaid, police, paramedics and courts. Many other costs – like lost wages, traffic delay and reduced quality of life – don’t show up directly, but also reflect the very large, very real cost of crashes involving teen drivers,” said Chestnut. “These economic figures provide one more reason for legislators to improve graduated driver licensing– a proven measure in reducing the toll of teen driver crashes.”

Comprehensive graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems ease teens into driving through a combination of mandatory practice and limited driving at night and with peer passengers. GDL systems across the country have reduced fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers by an average of 38 percent, according to a 2007 report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Johns Hopkins University.

In September of 2003, New York State did enact GDL legislation. However, AAA is now focusing its efforts on strengthening the GDL system. AAA is calling for passenger limits to no more than one peer passenger during the first six months of solo driving; the banning of wireless devices for teens while driving; and mandatory in-car practice to be increased from 20 hours to 30-50 hours of certified, supervised driving.

“An improvement to our graduated driver licensing program will reduce crashes, injuries, and deaths for road users of all ages,” said Chestnut.

The cost of teen crashes was calculated using modeling that researchers at PIRE have used for economic analysis for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The analysis draws upon a broad range of databases and research involving crashes, injury types, medical costs by state and more.

As Upstate New York’s largest motoring and travel organization, AAA provides its 880,000 members with travel, insurance, financial, and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited at www.AAA.com

Contact:
Shaun Seufert (716) 929-3600
Diana R. Dibble (315) 453-5904
Wally Smith (716) 626-3225