Final answer:
Accidents, particularly motor vehicle crashes, are the leading cause of death among 15-19 year old teenagers. These accidents are often attributable to inexperience, risk-taking, and distractions like mobile phone use. Drug overdoses, while a significant cause of accidental death overall, do not surpass traffic accidents for this specific age group.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number one cause of death for 15-19 year old teenagers is accidents, specifically motor vehicle crashes. Despite improvements in vehicle safety and driver education, motor vehicle crashes continue to be a significant public health issue, particularly among teenagers. Factors contributing to these accidents can include inexperience, risk-taking behavior, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and distractions such as mobile phone use while driving.
Moreover, the changing patterns of accidental deaths in the United States show a concerning rise in the number of deaths from drug overdoses, with heroin and opioid painkillers being major contributors. This shift has been significant enough to surpass motor vehicle crashes as a cause of accidental death in general but does not negate the fact that traffic accidents remain a leading threat to teenage lives.