Young Female Drivers At Increased Risk Of Fatal Alcohol-Related Car Accident
KYW Medical Reports are Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There has been a national campaign for years educating people about the importance of not getting behind the wheel while intoxicated and there is no doubt that in 2015 things are much better than in 2005. But the problem is far from solved and now there is news about another high risk group in fatal crashes involving young, female drivers.
This is not a surprise because a well known study out of Yale focused on the issue.
Researchers analyzed 180,000 fatal car crashes among drivers aged 16 to 24 and found the rates among young men either fell or stayed the same while the rates among young women increased.
Overall, young females increased their proportion of alcohol-related crashes by three percent. Public health officials know they can't take their foot off the gas - so to speak - and efforts need to continue to try and prevent these needless casualties.
