Providence Young Drivers Among Safest in Nation
Friday, July 20, 2012
The youngest drivers in the Greater Providence area have the #5 lowest fatality rate in the country, according to new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control.
According to a new study of the number and annual rate of motor vehicle crash deaths for the 50 most populous metropolitan statistical areas and 63 of their major cities, Providence drivers ages 15-24 experienced the #5 best fatality rate--9.6 deaths per 100,000 population. This rate represents 22 deaths in 2009, the most recent data year available for the study.
Still, young drivers more at risk
But Providence's overall rate for 2009 was 7.1 deaths per 100,000, revealing that the metropolitan area's higher level of fatalities remains among its youngest drivers.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBy contrast, the metropolitan area with the worst rate last year was the Greater Birmingham, AL area, with a rate of 25.8 deaths per 100,000 population among young drivers. The national rate for 15-to-24-year-old drivers was 17.3 deaths per 100,000, and the average for the 50 metropolitan statistical areas was 13.0.
Safest metro areas
The metropolitan area with the safest young driver rate was New York City, with 7.3 deaths per 100,000. The next best rate was Chicago's with a rate of 8.8 deaths per 100,000. Minneapolis followed at #3 with a rate of 9.2, and the Los Angeles metropolitan area was #4 with a rate of 9.5 young driver deaths per 100,000.
Although overall these rates have been declining in recent years, motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) remain a leading cause of injury death in the US and represent the leading cause of death among teens and young adults nationally, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which is issued by the CDC. "A total of 34,485 MVC deaths were reported among US residents, and 22% of those who died were aged 15-24 years," according to the report.
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