The Nebraska Department of Road’s annual Traffic Crash Facts, prepared by the Highway Safety Section, provides statistics and graphs on various aspects of traffic accidents throughout the state. The 2009 report continues a trend of correlating college-age drivers with a disproportionately high number of crashes and percentages of crashes involving alcohol.

Aspect:  Age of Driver

In 2009, 49.7 percent of all drivers involved in crashes were younger than age 35, according to the report. In addition, 30.2 percent of all crashes involved drivers ages 15 to 24.

Comment from Nebraska Department of Roads:

“I believe that’s something that stays fairly consistent year to year,” said Bob Grant, NDOR Highway Safety Manager. “The (college demographic) absolutely could be a part of that.”

Aspect: Driver Age and Alcohol Involvement

Drivers aged 21 to 34 make up a disproportionate number of alcohol-related crashes compared to other demographics. They constitute 51.2 percent of all accidents involving alcohol. Drivers aged 21 to 24 in particular are only involved in 11.4 percent of total crashes, but make up 22.9 percent of all alcohol-related crashes. Drivers aged 15 to 20 were also involved in 14.6 percent of all alcohol-related crashes.

Comment from the Nebraska Department of Roads:

“(These figures are) also fairly consistent. You have a combination of inexperience both in driving and in drinking. And that’s a bad combination,” Grant said.