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HC 1.2.A

YOUTH MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH DEATHS

Motor vehicle deaths are among the leading causes of injury-related mortality11 for 15- to 19-year-olds, accounting for approximately 40 percent of all teenage injury deaths in 1993.12 However, as a fraction of all violent deaths to teens, motor vehicle crashes have declined. In 1994, motor vehicle deaths claimed 29.3 lives per 100 thousand teens ages 15 through 19, compared to 43.6 per 100 thousand teens in 1970 (see Figure HC 1.2.A). Slight increases in the rate of motor vehicle crash deaths among youths were seen in 1993 and 1994.

Differences by Gender and Race. The decrease in the rate of youth motor vehicle deaths between 1970 and 1994 has been greatest among males, falling from 67.1 to 41.7 deaths per 100 thousand among white males, and from 43.4 to 29.0 deaths per 100 thousand among black males (see Table HC 1.2.A). Among females ages 15 through 19, rates declined less dramatically over this period, from 24.4 to 21.3 per 100 thousand for whites, and from 11.1 to 10.4 per 100 thousand for blacks.

Differences by Age. Among youth ages 10 through 14, motor vehicle death rates are quite low in comparison to older youth, and have dropped from 9.6 to 6.0 per 100 thousand between 1970 and 1994. This decline was evident for both white and black males and females, with most of the decline occurring before 1990.
 

Figure HC 1.2.A 
Youth Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths: 1970-1994 (rate per 100,000) 

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, unpublished work tables prepared by the Mortality Statistics Branch, Division of Vital Statistics, 1995, and 1996.
 

Table HC 1.2.A
Youth Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths: Selected Years, 1970-1994 
(rate per 100,000)

Population
Groups
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
——————
———
———
———
———
———
———
———
———
———
 
All youth
  Ages 10-14
9.6
8.4
8.1
7.4
6.4
6.1
5.5
5.9
6.0
  Ages 15-19
43.6
38.4
43.0
33.5
33.1
31.2
28.2
28.6
29.3
 
White males
  Ages 10-14
12.6
10.9
10.9
9.8
7.7
7.8
7.0
7.1
7.5
  Ages 15-19
67.1
61.7
69.1
51.3
49.3
44.5
39.6
41.6
41.7
 
White females
  Ages 10-14
6.6
5.8
5.7
5.6
5.3
4.4
4.1
4.4
4.8
  Ages 15-19
24.4
20.6
25.6
22.6
22.2
23.0
21.0
20.2
21.3
 
Black males
  Ages 10-14
11.9
9.6
7.9
8.9
7.9
8.8
7.8
8.3
7.6
  Ages 15-19
43.4
24.6
24.4
22.1
28.7
29.5
26.2
26.7
29.0
 
Black females
  Ages 10-14
6.4
4.2
4.0
3.0
3.8
3.3
3.6
4.8
4.8
  Ages 15-19
11.1
7.1
6.7
7.5
9.7
9.0
9.1
8.2
10.4
 
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, unpublished work tables prepared by the Mortality Statistics Branch, Division of Vital Statistics, 1995 and 1996.


11 Injury-related mortality is the leading cause of death for 15-19 year old teenagers, accounting for 80% of all deaths. Injury-related mortality includes death from motor vehicle crashes, fires and burns, drowning, suffocation, and accidents caused by firearms and other explosive materials, among others.

12 National Center for Health Statistics (1996). 1993 Detail Mortality File. Unpublished data.
 
 
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