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Dangerous Thanksgiving Highways

I blogged a few weeks ago during National Teen Driver Safety Week.  Among the statistics I quoted was that teen deaths due to car crashs are down this year compared to last.  As so happens with statistics, however, that did not tell the whole story.

In fact, according to the Virginia State Police, compared to last year, teen deaths are UP in Virginia during the past eight weeks, which includes National Teen Driver Safety Week.  Here are the stats:

-         During September, October and the first two weeks of November, 35 teens died in crashes on roadways in Virginia

-         Of the 12 young people who died in November:

o   All ranged in age from 16 to 20

o   11 were male

o   8 were not wearing a safety belt

o   7 crashes were on rural roads

o   Alcohol was involved in 1 fatality

o   7 crashes involved teen drivers

-         Of the 23 fatalities in September and October:

o   13 were male

o   10 were female, including one pedestrian

o   8 were not wearing a safety belt

o   Alcohol played a part in 2 crashes and possibly 6 others

o   7 crashes involved teen drivers

o   7 occurred on rural roads

Five Virginia teens died in car accidents during National Teen Driver Safety Week

National Teen Driver Safety Week is October 19 – 25, and already Virginia has lost five teenagers in fatal car accidents.  Virginia State Police attribute the deaths to not wearing seatbelt restraints, speed, inexperience and, in one case, alcohol.  http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/32420624.html