Auto accidents are the #1 killer of our nation's youth.

* Ninety-six teenagers were killed in traffic accidents in CO in 2004. Of the 96 killed, two-thirds were not wearing seat belts. (CDOT)

* Teenagers make up 7% of drivers on Colorado roadways, but account for 15% of the fatal accidents. (CO State Patrol)

* From the time a CO child enters high school until he/she graduates, 325 of his/her peers will have died on the road and 78% of them will not have been wearing seatbelts. (CO State Patrol)

* One out of seven fatal accidents involve age 14 to 19 year old drivers.

* 17 year olds are twice as likely as 20 year olds to die in an automobile accident.

* 16 year olds are three times as likely as 20 year olds to die in an automobile accident.

* Fatal accidents rise as friends ride along.

* Twenty-five percent of all teenagers admit to driving faster than 85 mph.

* In one year, speeding caused more than 10,000 fatal accidents.

* The fatal crash risk of teenage drivers is highest between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

* Teenage boys are 4 times more likely to die driving at night.

* Teenage girls are 8 times more likely to die driving at night.

* In one year, over 2 million people are injured or killed in the driver's seat.

* One half of all United States drivers do not wear safety belts, adults included.

* Alcohol involvement in auto crashed peaks at midnight.

* About 2 in every 5 Americans will be in alcohol related accidents.

* A person is thirty times more likely to be killed if thrown out of the automobile.

* About 7,000 teenagers die each year in the United States from car accidents (United States Department of Transportation).

* In about 50% of all fatal accidents, the driver has been drinking.

* In 1998 nearly 27% of the fatally injured 15-19 year olds were drunk at the time of their crash (Department of Transportation)

* Most accidents take place at night on the weekends in the summer time.

* According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing a safety belt will prevent about 50% of car accident fatalities.

* Sixteen year olds will be in 40% of all the single-car alcohol related crashes.

* The life expectancy of every age group in this country has risen, with the notable exception of teenagers. Motor vehicle accidents are largely to blame, accounting for 45% of teenage deaths.

* Over 200,000 teenagers last year were injured in accidents many maimed for life.

* The United State Department of Transportation estimates that about 10% of all drivers on a weekend night are legally intoxicated.

* The #1 killer of American teenagers is drunk driving, causing over 8,000 deaths each year.

* 10,900 16 to 24 year-olds lost their lives on our roadways in 2003 (National Safety Council)

* Although 16 to 24 year-olds make up less than 14% of all drivers, they are:* 35 % of all drivers involved in fatal crashes.

* 30% of drivers involved in fatal crashes who had been drinking.

* 40% of drivers in all collisions (National Highway Traffic Safety Association)

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