Teen Deaths Down In 2008

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Apr 8, 2009 6:20PM

State officials are heralding tougher laws as the impetus behind a 40 percent drop in teen driving deaths in 2008 as compared to 2007. In 2007, there were 155 teen driving deaths statewide but that number shrank to 93 last year as that was the first full year of enforcement of the new group of laws, which included, according to the Tribune, "laws that required teens to spend more time using driving permits along with adding restrictions at night and when teens are passengers." Through mid-March of 2009, there have been 16 teen driving deaths in the state compared to 20 during the same time period last year, but officials point out not much should be read into this statistic as most teen driving deaths occur during the summer months (between Memorial Day and Labor Day). [Tribune]