The killing fields on the roads: Can we protect the teen driver?

This review considers the teenage driver and the high risk of injury as well as death that these young drivers represent for themselves and others because of automobile crashes in the United States and around the world. Research suggests that half a million teenagers will die as motor vehicle drivers or passengers in the 21st century, that 35 million adolescents will be injured as drivers in the 21st century, and untold millions of car passengers are at risk of death and/or injury when exposed to teenage drivers in this century. Reasons for the high prevalence of motor vehicle crashes with injuries and deaths are considered as well as measures that have been instituted over the past few decades to improve this situation. From a viewpoint of prospicience, it is hoped that more preventive measures along with more research will help to reverse this tragic trend in the 21st century [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]