Despite the many traffic safety campaigns geared at teenage and other new drivers, teen car accident deaths increased in 2011, according to new data from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). This was also true in Texas, which actually had a higher number of teen driver deaths in 2011 than any other state.

During the first six months of 2011, the GHSA reports, there was an 11 percent increase nationwide in car accident deaths of 16- and 17-year-olds from the same period in 2010. In sum, 23 states saw increases in teen fatality rates. One of these states was Texas, which had a 4 percent rise in teen car accident deaths. The state with the highest increase in teen fatalities was Illinois.

In addition, more teens were killed in car accidents in Texas during the first half of 2011 than in any other state. There were 26 teenage drivers who died in car accidents in the state in that time period.

The increase came after years of declines in traffic accident fatalities involving that age group. GHSA officials did not speculate on the reasons for the rise, but it is likely that common causes such as distracted driving and inexperience contributed to many of the car accident fatalities.

In an effort to lower the state's teen fatality rate, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is reportedly working to spread education and awareness among the teenagers in the state. Currently, TxDOT is hosting the annual "Teen Click it or Ticket" campaign, which aims to educate more than 750,000 students across the state about the importance of wearing a seat belt.

Source: The CW33 News, "Texas teen drivers among the worst in the nation," Nerissa Knight, Feb. 16, 2012