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. The states in Region 3 have implemented several programs and graduated drivers licensing systems to reduce traffic fatalities among young drivers. All of the Region 3 States have a statewide public information program targeted to underage drivers regarding drinking age laws and the consequences of drinking alcohol while driving.