By Special to the Town Crier

Young drivers are dying at far higher rates in crashes because of a lethal combination of inexperience, risk taking and low percentage of seat belt usage, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NHTSA statistics reveal:

In 2000, 4,437 teens 16-19 died in traffic crashes.

The risk of crash involvement per mile driven among those ages 16-19 is four times that of older drivers.

While drivers ages 15-20 account for just 6.8 percent of licensed drivers (12.7 million) they represent 14 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes, and 17 percent (1,885,000) of police-reported crashes.

In 1999, 63 percent of drivers ages 15-20 who died in passenger vehicle crashes were not wearing safety belts.

- Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign