Fresno Teens Buck National Trend

By Dan Rubin, KSEE24 News

February 27, 2013 Updated Feb 27, 2013 at 12:19 AM PDT

The number of teenagers involved in fatal accidents has been in steady decline. That changed in 2011.

For the first time in several years the number of teenagers killed in fatal car accidents went up by an average of 11%. In Fresno, teens haven't noticed.

The last time a new driver was killed in Fresno City Limits was 2008. Ouir good fortune is no accidents.

In 2002, the number of Fresnans killed in car accidents exceeded the number of people murdered. Chief Dyer vowed to bring the numbers down.

Dyer quadrupled the number of officers in the traffic division, upgraded their equipment, and made sure teenagers were spoken to before they needed to be pulled over.

Fatal accidents over the ten years following have gone down 46%. That's right in line with the national average for teens.