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Boston car accidents involving teenagers a summertime danger

Four teenagers were injured in a weekend Boston car accident after their SUV struck a tree early Saturday morning, the Boston Globe reported.

The accident occurred about 4 a.m. in a Newton Corner neighborhood, sending all four 15-year-old occupants to the hospital, according to the Massachusetts State Police. Emergency personnel used the Jaws of Life to help free the teens, whom were taken to local hospitals with undisclosed injuries.

With summer break rapidly approaching, having a serious conversation with your teenager about the dangers of unsafe driving can be a good way to help ensure your child is not involved in a serious Massachusetts traffic accident.

Tragically, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In 2008, 5,864 young people were involved in fatal car accidents; 2,739 were killed and more than 228,000 injured. In Massachusetts, 68 young people were killed. And, while youth ages 15 to 20 represent 9 percent of the U.S. population, they account for 20 percent of all traffic fatalities.

A study of teen drivers conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in 2005 reached a startling conclusion: Of the 11,819 driver’s licenses issued to 16-year-old drivers, one-third, or 4,018, were involved in an accident. For 17-year-old drivers, the rate was 1 in 5. And for 18-year-old drivers, about 1 in 7.

The federal government offers a number of useful safety resources, available to teen drivers and their parents, available by clicking here.

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