Youth are still over represented in fatal crashes compared to the older population.
The rate of involvement is greater for youth for both alcohol and non alcohol related crashes based on total population, on the licensed driver population and miles driven. After an eleven year decrease in the youth population from 1982, this population has been increasing since 1993. Based on these trends, the numbers will go up unless we intervene. In order to accomplish this goal, Region 9 works cooperatively with various organizations, outside federal agencies and others to ensure that members of the youth community are well educated and well informed about the various traffic safety issues that affect their families, friends, and overall environment. Several programs are being federally-funded in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam, Samoa and the Marianas to reduce drinking and driving by teens age 15 through 20, and to reduce illegal sale, purchase, or consumption of alcohol by minors.