Motor Vehicle Safety According to the CDC, unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for persons ages one to 44. In 2006, there were 43,664 unintentional deaths from motor vehicle crashes in the United States. Download PDF Injury Prevention for Teen Drivers and Passengers Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. In 2008, nine teens ages 16-19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries. Download PDF