Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teen fatalities.  Statistics site as many as 4,000 to 6,000 teens die every year (depending on the source) as a result of car crashes. That would be approximately 16 deaths every day!

Teens represent about 10% of the U.S. population but account for 12% of all fatal car crashes.

One out of every five licensed 16 year old drivers will be in a vehicle crash. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

For 16 and 17 year olds, carrying just one passenger increases the crash risk by about 50%. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

The AAA Foundation analysis shows that from 1995 through 2004, crashes involving 15, 16, and 17 year old drivers claimed the lives of 30,917 people nationwide, of which only 11,177 (36.2%) were the teen drivers themselves. The remaining 19,740 (63.6%) included 9,847 passengers of the teen drivers, 7,477 occupants of other vehicles operated by drivers at least 18 years of age, and 2,323 non-motorists. The analysis also shows that 12,413 of these fatalities occurred in single vehicle crashes involving only the vehicle operated by the teenage driver.

In their first year on the road, teens are almost "10" times more likely to be in a crash.

The top three predictors for fatality are (1) non-use of seat belts, (2) "teen drivers", and (3) roads with speed limits of 45mph or higher.