U.S. highway safety officials: traffic crashes number one killer of teens

CLEVELAND - Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"Teens will take chances and they don't realize yet the potential they have of being involved in a serious injury traffic crash," said Lt. Antonio Matos, a member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

In Ohio alone, traffic crashes killed 124 teenagers in 2011 and injured 14,024. State records show teenagers were involved in a total of 50,910 crashes.

Matos said many teens are unfamiliar with how to handle dangerous weather conditions or hazards on the road.

"Just the lack of experience would be the big thing for teenagers. They're new drivers," he said.

Research shows "inexperience and immaturity" combined with other factors, including speed, distractions like passengers and cell phones, and not wearing a seatbelt are why so many teens die in traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration. Teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as other drivers, according to the NHSTA website.

"They can get themselves in a position that they're typically not able to get themselves out of," said Matos.

A news release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol said speed was a factor in a crash that killed four Brunswick teens early Sunday morning. A fifth passenger in their vehicle was injured.

Lakewood High School students who are eager to learn to drive told NewsChannel5 that the crash and the statistics have made them more wary about getting behind the wheel.

"It's pretty scary because I'm going to be out there soon  It only takes one to make an accident, I  could get an unlucky break," said Romeo Metri, 15.

"Because if something wrong happens, that could be my life ," said Jamie Jackson, 16.