The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report focusing on teen motorists.  According to the report, fatal car accidents involving teen drivers have dropped substantially between 2004 and 2008.  The numbers of teen drivers aged 16 or 17 years old involved in fatal accidents declined particularly sharply between 2007 and 2008.  During this period of time, the decline in accident rates was approximately 23%. 

According to the CDC report, there were a total of 9,644 drivers aged 16 or 17 years involved in a total of 9,494 fatal accidents.  87 percent of these accidents resulted in at least one death, while 10% resulted in at least two fatalities, and 3% resulted in three or more fatalities.  In all, 11,019 people died in these accidents. 

Los Angeles car accident attorneys were not surprised to find that 65% of the drivers aged 16 or 17 years old who were involved in fatal accidents were male.  36% of the drivers were believed to be speeding at the time of the crash. 

The CDC Report is attributing a number of factors to this decline in fatal teen driver accidents.  The main factor continues to be abnormal economic conditions during this period of time.  There was a decrease in the number of vehicle miles traveled by teen drivers, who tend to have limited funds for driving.  During times of economic difficulty, teen drivers have their driving behaviors affected the most.  Besides, a spike in gas prices during this time also cut down on teen driving.  The economic uncertainty also resulted in fewer teen drivers applying for and obtaining driver’s. 

More states now have extended their GDL programs, contributing to a decline in the number of fatal accidents involving teenagers between 16 and 17 years of age.  The program restricts the ability of these teen motorists to drive at night time or drive with teen passengers.