Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in America. In fact, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.
Did you know that during 2006, a teen died in a traffic crash an average of once every hour on weekends and nearly once every two hours during the week? That’s pretty scary. Respect the road and do what it takes to be a safe driver.
National Teen Driving Statistics
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year-olds.
- 16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age.
- 16-year-olds are 3 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than the average of all drivers.
- 2,739 drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2008, down 13.7% from 3,174 in 2007 and down 20.2% from 3,431 in 1998.
- About 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2008 were males (IIHS).
- Drivers ages 15-20 accounted for 12% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2008 and 14% of all drivers involved in police-reported crashes.
- 63% of teenage passenger deaths in 2008 occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 19% occurred when a teenager was driving (IIHS).
- 81% of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2008 were passenger vehicle occupants.
- The number of drivers ages 15-20 involved in fatal crashes totaled 5,864 in 2008, down 16% from 6,982 in 2007 and down 26% from 7,987 in 1998.
- In 2006 (latest data available) crashes involving 15- to 17-year-olds cost more than $34 billion nationwide in medical treatment, property damage and other costs, according to an AAA analysis.
- In states with GDL programs that include at least five of the most important elements, there was a 20% reduction in fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers.
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, in 2008:
- Hand-held cellphone use was highest among 16- to 24-year-olds (8% in 2008, down from 9% in 2007).
- 37% of male drivers ages 15-20 who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time.
- 55%, or 2,014, of the 3,678 occupants of passenger vehicles ages 16-20 who were killed in crashes were not buckled up.
- 31% of drivers ages 15-20 who were killed in motor vehicle crashes had been drinking some amount of alcohol; 25% were alcohol-impaired, meaning they had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 grams per deciliter or higher.
- Statistics show that 16- and 17-year-old driver death rates increase with each additional passenger (IIHS).
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S.
- In 2006, a teen died in a traffic crash an average of once every hour on weekends, and nearly once every two hours during the week.
- Nationally in 2006, 25 percent of the young drivers ages 15-20 who were killed in crashes had Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels of.08 or higher at the time of the crash.
- Nationally in 2006, 4,842 teen passenger vehicle occupants, ages 16 to 20, were killed in motor vehicle crashes, and 58 percent (2,813) were unrestrained at the time of the fatal crash.
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teenage drivers and passengers are among those least likely to wear their seat belts.