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In New Hampshire, the number of fatal accidents among young drivers increases by 400 percent

100 people have already died on New Hampshire roads this year after several fatal crashes occurred last week. Police said 10 of the victims were drivers under 21, a 400% increase from last year. There were three fatalities involving drivers ages 16 to 20 in 2023 and only one death in that age group in 2022. Portsmouth police said most crashes or stops involving young drivers are due to distraction, and cellphone use behind the wheel has become a growing problem.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

PORTSMOUTH, NH —

More than 100 people have died on New Hampshire's roads this year following several fatal traffic accidents last week.

According to police, ten of the victims were drivers under the age of 21. This represents an increase of 400% compared to the same period last year.

There were three deaths among drivers aged 16 to 20 in 2023 and only one death in this age group in 2022.

According to Portsmouth Police, most accidents and enforcement actions involving young drivers are due to distraction, and the use of mobile phones while driving is a growing problem.

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Distractions at the wheel can be caused by many things, such as using a phone, talking to friends in the car or anything else that takes the driver's eyes off the road for even a second. Portsmouth Police Captain Nick Small said it only takes a quick glance off the road to change things.

“I think it's a good, good time to talk to kids and remind them of the dangers of looking at their phone or just being distracted by friends in the car. And they should be paying attention to where they're going and what the traffic conditions are ahead of them,” Small said.

Amelia Eves has been behind the wheel for two years now. She says she is confident in her abilities, but not in the abilities of other teen drivers on the road.

“My grandma always tells me to look after the others,” she said.

Eves said she has her phone set up so she can use it hands-free while driving if needed.

“I see a lot of people outside with their friends rolling down the windows,” she said. “They're all screaming and kind of distracting everyone else when they should be paying attention.”

Over the past three days, four of the people killed in traffic accidents in New Hampshire were between the ages of 16 and 21.

On Friday, a 17-year-old from Antrim died in a road accident in Dublin after he left the road and hit a tree. Two teenage passengers were injured.

Early Saturday morning, a 21-year-old driver was killed in Francestown when he drove off the road and hit a tree.

Also on Saturday morning, an 18-year-old and a 21-year-old died in a traffic accident in New Ipswich.

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