Are teenage drivers more likely to be involved in accidents?
Driver inexperience, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), is the leading cause of teen car accidents. The CDC also reports that teens are more likely to be involved in a crash than any other age group. Car crashes are the second leading cause of death among teenagers in the U.S. Distractions, less skill managing driving speed, and reduced awareness of surroundings also play a role in teenage car crashes. Many of these accidents are preventable with proper education, enough supervised driving practice, and the right strategies behind the wheel.
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What are some additional causes of teen car accidents?
Additional factors according to CDC data in causing teen driver crashes include:
Risky nighttime driving: The fatal crash rate among teen drivers (ages 16-19) is about three times as high as for adult drivers (ages 30-59 years) per mile driven, 44% of motor vehicle crash deaths among teen drivers aged 13-19 occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., and 50% occurred on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Not using a seat belt: Teens and young adults often resist wearing a seat belt. Fifty-six percent of teen drivers killed in car crashes in 2020 were not wearing a seat belt.
Alcohol use: Twenty-nine percent of drivers ages 15-20 killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 had been drinking, and 62% of drivers in the same age group who died in motor vehicle crashes after drinking were not wearing seat belts.
What age group has the most driving accidents?
Ages 16 to 17 is the age group at highest risk for fatal crashes per mile driven, according to The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16-19-year-olds is nearly three times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC) the crash rate per 100,000 drivers steadily decreases as driver age increases, which also applies to the fatal crash rate, except with drivers aged 75 and older, where it increases.
What are some precautions teens and parents can take to prevent teenage car accidents?
Teens and their parents can take the following steps to help reduce the risk of teenage driving accidents:
Practice with a licensed adult in the car
Some states require teens to have 50 hours of supervised practice to get a license, but other states may require more or less hours. Even after getting your driver's license, it's helpful to log plenty of driving time with a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult.
Take a driver's education course
Getting training from certified instructors can positively impact you and your teen. Driver education can reduce the number of accidents and traffic tickets among young drivers, which is why many states require teens to take a driver's education course to get their license. Even if your state doesn't require it, it's still worth considering helping your teen develop crucial skills behind the wheel.
Limit nighttime driving
There may be times when driving at night is necessary, but limiting the amount of nighttime driving can help reduce the risk of accidents.
Minimize distractions
Encourage your teen to put their phone away, limit passengers, and focus only on driving when they're behind the wheel.
Practice what you preach
Set a good example for your teen by driving without distractions. If they see you texting and driving, they'll think it's OK to do so as well.
Wear a seat belt
Wearing a seat belt won't help teens avoid an accident, but it can help them survive one. Research from the CDC shows that many high school students don't consistently wear a seat belt when riding in a car as a passenger. Getting caught not wearing a seat belt may also raise your insurance rate, depending on your state and insurer.
Pro tip:
Remember to list your teenage driver on your auto insurance policy. You may be eligible for teen driver discounts that can help lower your rate.
You can learn more about keeping your teen driver safe on the road with our in-depth report on teen driver safety. The report examines issues such as how much parents trust their teen drivers, the effectiveness of monitoring apps, and instilling safe driving habits in novice drivers. You might be surprised to learn how much you can influence your teen driver's safety on the road.
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