Teen Driving Statistics

Teen Driving Statistics

About 7 teens are killed daily in the United States in car-related accidents. Hundreds more are severely injured and treated in the emergency department. Teens ages 15-20 make up 7.8% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. According to statistics, teen drivers are prone to get involved in car accidents due to a lack of driving experience and being more irresponsible than other age groups.

The following data and statistics are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Common causes of teenage car crashes

This information is based on data available from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the National Household Travel Survey, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Teen Deaths Caused in Car Crashes

Inexperience:

Teens are more likely to lose control of their vehicle when compared to other age groups. This is strongly tied to a lack of experience and the inability to quickly identify dangerous situations.

Teens also are inexperienced when it comes to quick decision-making and driving reflexes which also increases their risks of getting involved in a car accident.

  • 2476 teens ages 13-19 were killed in car accidents in 2018. (this number has been dropping over the years).
  • 78% of deaths that occurred from teen driving were passenger deaths (10% were pedestrians, 6% were motorists and 3% were bicyclists).
  • Teen drivers are 44% more likely to get into an accident with one additional passenger in their vehicle.

Speeding:

Teens drive faster when compared to older age groups. A 2019 study found that 31% of male and 17% of female teens who were involved in fatal car accidents were speeding.

Not Using Seat Belts:

Teens have the lowest seat belt use rates. A study held between 2016 and 2019 revealed that only 87% of teen drivers wore their seat belts during driving. Whereas in other age groups, that number was 90% or higher. Almost half of the teen drivers that were killed in fatal car accidents were not wearing a seatbelt.

Distracted Driving:

Distractions like talking or using the phone while driving significantly reduce driving performance. According to a 2019 statistic, 39% of teen drivers had texted or used their phones while driving in the last 30 days.

Alcohol Use:

Drunk driving remains one of the leading causes of fatal car accidents for teens. Teens are more prone to getting involved in a crash after consuming alcohol, even with lower BAC levels.

  • 5.4% of school students have driven drunk in the last 30 days.
  • Drunk driving increased significantly among students that had lower grades, were male, and or were of Hispanic ethnicity.
  • 16.7% of high schoolers have driven drunk in the last 30 days.
  • 24% of drivers ages 15-20 who get killed in car accidents were drunk, despite drinking being illegal before the age of 21.
  • 20% of male and 14% of female drivers between ages 15 and 20 were killed due to drunk driving.

Drug/Substance Use:

Marijuana is the second most common substance after alcohol is used by teen drivers. The drug has negative effects on decision-making, judgment, and motor coordination.

About 13% of teen drivers admitted to using marijuana while driving in the last 30 days. When alcohol and marijuana are combined, it significantly increases the risk of a vehicle crash.

Most dangerous driving days and times for teenage drivers

Nighttime and the weekend are the riskiest times to drive for all drivers no matter the age group. A survey held between 2016 and 2017 showed that teens ages 16-19 were 3 times more likely to get involved in a crash while nighttime driving than adults ages 30-59.

The most fatal hours for teen drivers were 12 am to 3 am, while the most fatal days were Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Teen driving vehicle deaths by the day of the week (2019)

Teen driving vehicle deaths by the day of the week (2019)

Day of week Deaths %
Sunday 438 18
Monday 265 11
Tuesday 287 12
Wednesday 316 13
Thursday 277 12
Friday 356 15
Saturday 436 18
Total 2375 100

Teen driving vehicle deaths by the time of day (2019)

Teen driving vehicle deaths by the time of day (2019)

Time of day Deaths %
Midnight – 3 a.m. 298 13
3 a.m. – 6 a.m. 207 9
6 a.m. – 9 a.m. 233 10
9 a.m. – noon 171 7
Noon – 3 p.m. 292 12
3 p.m. – 6 p.m. 360 15
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. 359 15
9 p.m. – midnight 434 18
Total* 2375 100

Teen driving statistics by state

Texas ranks first place for the most number of teen driving deaths, with a total of 651. California takes second place with 467 deaths. Teen males are also 2x more likely to get involved in these deadly car crashes than females.

State Teen driver deaths Licensed drivers under the age of 20 Avg. annual fatalities per 10,000 licensed drivers under the age of 20
Kentucky 128 73,867 3.47
Mississippi 167 111,327 3.00
North Carolina 267 226,647 2.36
Montana 44 38,262 2.30
West Virginia 60 54,442 2.20
Wyoming 24 22,003 2.18
North Dakota 31 28,625 2.17
New Mexico 54 54,707 1.97
Missouri 198 202,199 1.96
Texas 651 669,698 1.94
Maine 34 35,356 1.92
Alabama 207 220,268 1.88
Louisiana 135 146,479 1.84
Oklahoma 136 150,684 1.81
Nebraska 67 74,617 1.80
Indiana 172 194,621 1.77
Georgia 261 299,364 1.74
Nevada 48 55,899 1.72
Florida 407 485,056 1.68
Pennsylvania 228 301,144 1.51
South Carolina 163 220,230 1.48
Arkansas 85 118,172 1.44
Virginia 155 217,692 1.42
Hawaii 17 24,070 1.41
Tennessee 173 248,125 1.39
Ohio 242 347,433 1.39
Arizona 119 177,339 1.34
Wisconsin 131 195,341 1.34
Colorado 104 157,422 1.32
South Dakota 23 35,590 1.29
Oregon 67 105,766 1.27
Michigan 192 307,944 1.25
Kansas 88 146,328 1.20
Alaska 12 20,313 1.18
Iowa 80 139,566 1.15
New Hampshire 26 45,748 1.14
California 467 859,582 1.09
Rhode Island 12 22,214 1.08
Idaho 49 91,064 1.08
Illinois 215 410,112 1.05
Maryland 68 133,369 1.02
Washington 105 210,922 1.00
Vermont 9 18,640 0.97
New York 153 321,971 0.95
Minnesota 69 163,810 0.84
Connecticut 39 93,397 0.84
Delaware 15 37,068 0.81
Massachusetts 57 154,141 0.74
Utah 50 137,295 0.73
New Jersey 69 236,574 0.58
National Average 6,376 8,843,339 1.44

Teen driving statistics by state
Teen driving statistics by state

Final thoughts

While the best defense against teen driving accidents is remaining vigilant, parents are also encouraged to get involved with their child’s driving education and make sure that their teens have access to the best driver training and driving education possible. While driving is a privilege and not a right, it’s also not intended to be a dangerous activity.

Legal News and Statistics

Understand what is driving the Legal Industry. Read our informative blog to find the latest news and statistics.

Read More

Copyright © 2024 Advisement

Designed by Perfect e Solutions