CRASH INVOLVEMENTS OF 16-YEAR-OLD DRIVERS

All reported crashes-property damage, nonfatal injury, and fatal-estim ated for 1993 in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's General Estimates System were examined for 16-year-old drivers. Result s were compared to the crash involvements of other teenagers, older dr ivers, and fatal injury crash involvements as tabulated by the Fatal A ccident Reporting System. Sixteen-year-olds were more likely than othe r teenagers and older drivers to be involved in single-vehicle crashes , and to be in crashes between 6 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. They were also mo re likely to have been charged with a moving violation and to have bee n culpable for the crash. Sixteen-year-old drivers in crashes, compare d with other teenage drivers, were proportionately more likely to be f emale and to be accompanied by other teenage passengers. These differe nces among 16-year-olds, other teenagers, and older drivers are also f ound when only fatal crashes are considered. Characteristics of the cr ashes of 16-year-olds can be used as a guide in establishing licensing policies for initial license holders. (C) 1997 National Safety Counci l and Elsevier Science Ltd.