This week, the Governor’s Highway Safety Association released a new car wreck report<\/a> finding that the number 16- and 17- year old driver deaths increased 19% in the first six months of 2012 compared with 2011.\u00a0 This is an alarming trend.\u00a0 After a decade where we saw the fatality rate decrease significantly, this rapid increase is a cause of concern.<\/p>\n The report speculates on a number of potential factors.\u00a0 Obviously, the most important factor is the increased number of electronic distractions in vehicles — text messaging, phones, etc.\u00a0\u00a0 A second factor is economics.\u00a0 The authors of the study suggest that as the economy has improved then there are more teen drivers on the road.<\/p>\n There is a bit of good news\/bad news for those of us in Texas.\u00a0 The good news is that we actually saw 2 fewer young teen deaths in 2012 than 2011.\u00a0 The bad news is that we still remain (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This week, the Governor’s Highway Safety Association released a new car wreck report finding that the number 16- and 17- year old driver deaths increased 19% in the first six months of 2012 compared with 2011.\u00a0 This is an alarming…<\/span><\/p>\n