7/31/2013
Teen driver deaths increased in first half of 2012
Teenage driver fatalities are a troubling problem that our nation faces today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens.
This is a serious issue that governments at the state and federal level have attempted to resolve using a variety of methods, including stricter laws and driver education. All 50 states adopted graduated licenses, which place restrictions on young, inexperienced drivers, including how late they can drive and how many passengers they can have in the car.
In recent years, state legislatures and law enforcement across the country have been cracking down on distracted driving, a growing problem in the U.S. that causes thousands of accidents every year. 3,331 were killed in distracted driving related accidents in 2011—accounting for about 1 in 10 car accident fatalities, according to 
In recent years, state legislatures and law enforcement across the country have been cracking down on distracted driving, a growing problem in the U.S. that causes thousands of accidents every year. 3,331 were killed in distracted driving related accidents in 2011—accounting for about 1 in 10 car accident fatalities, according to 
For decades, federal and state governments, the National Safety Council, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and related organizations have made it their mission to reduce traffic accidents and deaths. And for years, these efforts seemed to be working. According to the CDC, the 
Results from a recent study done by the insurer State Farm show a disturbing rise in the number of Americans surfing the Internet while driving.
The study ran for four years and surveyed almost 4,000 drivers age 18 and older. The study found a staggering 19% increase in smartphone use while driving among drivers between the ages of 18 and 29. Smartphone use in this age group jumped from 29% in 2009 to 48% in 2012.
Social media sites are the primary culprit, according to the data. 36% of the age group surveyed above checked their social media profiles in 2012, compared with 21% in 2009.