Columbus Dispatch
More teen drivers dying in crashes
Distractions caused by wireless devices may be factor 

For the second year in a row, the number of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes is on the rise. That worries safety officials, who note that the numbers had been declining for nearly a decade. 

According to a report released today by the Governors Highway Safety Association, there was a nearly19 percent increase in the number of deaths among 16- and 17-year-old drivers in the first six months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. 

In all, the number increased from 202 to 240. 

In Ohio, the number of deaths increased from six to nine. The number had decreased to six in 2011 from eight in 2010. 

“We’re concerned this might be the beginning of a trend in the wrong direction,” said Barbara Harsha, executive director of the group that represents state highway-safety coordinators. 

“In Ohio, it may seem like a small number, but it’s an increase. … It really is going in the wrong direction.” 

Nationwide, 25 states saw an increase, 17 reported decreases and eight states had no change. In the first six months of 2012, 10 states had no deaths. 

Nationally, teen drivers are involved in more collisions and fatal crashes on the road than any other age group.In Ohio, 1 in 8 drivers ages 16 to 20 years old was involved in a crash in 2011, said Mary Bonelli, spokeswoman for the Ohio Insurance Institute. 

The report says the improving economy and the slowdown in laws that address teen driving safety likely are contributing to the increase nationwide. 

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