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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death for teens between the ages of 14 and 18. Almost half of the crashes involving teen drivers result in a fatality, and the mortality rate is four times higher than drivers who are 20 and older. In response to these facts, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has initiated a National Teen Driver Safety Week in October to educate parents and teens on strategies to prevent car crashes and highlights dangerous behaviors that lead to crashes. The Nevada Department of Transportation cites data from the 2014 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) showing that the primary cause of teen fatalities in crashes is aggressive driving, which includes speeding or following too closely behind another vehicle. Intoxication and a failure to wear seatbelts are also among the top causes of fatal accidents.

Statistics for 2014 are in, and the news for traffic-related fatalities is not good. Newly released data from the Nevada Department of Public Safety shows that, for 12 of Nevada’s 17 counties, traffic fatalities have increased in the past year. While not every county shows an increase, the number for the state is higher, with 18 more deaths than 2013. This signals a reverse in the downward trend that had held steady since 2006.