Half Teen Crash Deaths - More teenagers who died from car crashes were driving small and old vehicles, according to a new study, which was published in the Journal of Injury Prevention on Dec. 18.

In comparison with middle-age d drivers who suffered the same fate, about half of the teen drivers aged from 15 to 17 who got killed in car crashes from 2008 to 2012 were driving vehicles that were more than 10 years old and very small.

Reports indicate that the study was written by two insurance Institute for Highway Safety researchers. The researchers arrived at these conclusions after a careful study of the government's Fatality Analysis Reporting System data from 2008 to 2012.

"Using vehicle identification numbers, the vehicle make, model and model year were identified. 29% of fatally injured teenagers were driving mini or small cars, 82% were driving vehicles at least 6 years old, and 48% were driving at least 11 years old," the reports read.

According to the research,  in comparison with middle aged drivers, more teens who lost their lives in car accidents were driving cars that did not have electronic stability or side airbags and other standard features that could have protected them.

In May, 2014, researchers conducted a survey of parents- the results were astonishing- about 60% of teenagers drive cars that are more than 7 years old. While the study reveals that 82% of teens who die in car accidents drove cars that where at least 6 years old.

Reports also indicate that researchers have cautioned parents to look to safety and crash protective features of a vehicle before buying it for their teenage children. Larger cars and vehicles with good crash-test ratings have been associated with fewer deaths in comparison with older and smaller ones.