Youth fatalities actually down

Amazingly, last year there were less deaths among teenage drivers than the year before. 3,657 people, ages 15-20, died in 2003, compared with 3,827 the previous year, a 4.4% decline. Experts say improved drivers education classes and a higher rate of seat belt use are the main factors for the decline. But some say this number is still too high and is higher than a decade ago. And while any traffic fatality is one too many, I think this should be seen as a positive step. Maybe cars are safer and these statistics don't make total sense, but more teens are driving now than they were ten years ago. I would like to see a total number of teen drivers today compared to ten years ago and then we'll see how impressive these statistics are.