According to the results of a study released on Monday, June 9th by Allstate, the state of Florida is home to the three deadliest cities for teen drivers who are involved in car accidents. The Tampa Bay area, and the cities of Orlando and Jacksonville came in first, second, and third as the deadliest metro areas in America for drivers between the ages of 16 and 19.

Allstate, which is second only to State Farm as the largest insurer in both Florida and the entire nation, used combined data from recent federal crash statistics and their own claims date to come up with the scary number regarding fatal accidents involving teen drivers. Both insurers, along with many other companies, have been publicizing such information as part of their active push of teen-targeted education programs that offer discounted premiums in exchange for online classes.

According to Allstate spokeswoman Megan Brunet, the leading factor contribution to teen accidents in all three Florida cities was not wearing seatbelts, though speeding, alcohol use, and drug use were also significant.

Other grim information compiled in the study includes such points as:

• The rate of teen driving fatalities has not changed significantly in more than ten years, even though cars and roads are safer and driver education programs are being heavily pushed.
• Car crashes result in nearly 6,000 teen deaths and 300,000 teen injuries every year, and are the leading cause of death in teenagers.
• In 2006, 62% of the teenaged passengers who died in car crashes were in cars driven by other teenagers.

Allstate and Florida law enforcement officers strongly urge parents to lead by example, both by wearing their own seatbelts and requiring that all passengers wear theirs as well.