This report describes the most serious young driver crashes in Alaska for the period 199 1 through 1995. Rates, characteristics, and medical and financial outcomes of young driver crashes are compared with that of adult driver crashes. This research project demonstrates the usefulness of data linkage in crash research. Using the Mini Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (MINICODES), trauma registry hospital discharge data were linked with traffic crash records. The data were aualyzed to compare drivers aged 16-20 with drivers aged 2 l-50 who were involved in a crash resulting in the hospitalization or death of a crash victim. The CrashCost Program was used to estimate costs associated with young driver crashes for the five years.

Young drivers were 2.9 times more likely than adult drivers to be involved in crashes that resulted in the hospitalization of a crash victim, and 2.6 times more likely to be involved in a crash involving a fatality. Human factors were recorded as contributing factors for 68.2% of the young drivers, compared with 55.5% of the adult drivers (P<.OOOl). The highest hospital charge averages were those incurred by the victims of motorcycle crashes. Total costs associated with the young driver crashes were estimated to be over $300 million, which resulted in a cost per young licensed driver that was 3.4 times the cost per adult licensed driver.