Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

Car accidents remain the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. Before handing over the keys to your teen driver, it's crucial to understand the risks and statistics associated with teen driving. This comprehensive guide provides up-to-date information on teenage crashes and teen driver car accidents, covering trends from 2023 back to 2005.

Key findings show that while overall fatality rates have decreased over the years, distracted driving and alcohol involvement continue to be significant risk factors for teen drivers. By staying informed, parents and educators can better prepare young drivers for the responsibilities of the road.

2023 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

• The fatal crash rate among teen drivers (ages 16-19) remains significantly higher than older drivers, nearly three times that of drivers aged 20 and older per mile driven.
• The overall fatality rate in 2023 was 1.26 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, down from 1.33 in 2022.
• In 2022, 3,308 people were killed, and an estimated 289,310 people were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers.

These statistics highlight the ongoing challenge of teenage crashes and the disproportionate risk of distracted driving with teen drivers. The slight decrease in the overall fatality rate suggests that safety measures may be having a positive impact, but there's still room for improvement.

2022 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

Fatality Rates:

• In 2022, there were 811 teen drivers (ages 15-18) who died in motor vehicle crashes, and a total of 2,514 teen drivers were involved in fatal crashes (NHTSA) (Traffic Safety Marketing).
• Teenage crashes with drivers aged 15-18 in 2022 had a higher fatal crash rate compared to older drivers, and speeding contributed to nearly one-third of these fatal crashes (NHTSA).

Distraction and Other Risk Factors:

• Distracted driving remains a critical issue, with young drivers being particularly susceptible. In 2022, 621 vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists) were killed in distraction-affected crashes (NHTSA).
• Speeding is another significant risk factor. In 2022, speeding contributed to 30% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers (Traffic Safety Marketing).

Alcohol Involvement:

• In 2022, 22% of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking (NHTSA).

Distracted Driving:

• Distracted driving continues to be a significant risk factor. About 10% of all teen drivers involved in fatal crashes in recent years were distracted at the time of the crash (NHTSA).

2021 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

Fatality Rates:

• In 2021, there were 2,116 drivers aged 15-20 who died in traffic crashes, marking an 11% increase from 1,899 fatalities in 2020 (NHTSA).
• The data shows a concerning trend in car accidents under 18 years old, with drivers aged 15-20 making up 8.4% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes, even though they only represented 5% of all licensed drivers (NHTSA).

Alcohol Involvement:

• In 2021, 17% of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .01 g/dL or higher, consistent with previous years (NHTSA).

Distracted Driving:

• Distracted driving fatalities increased by 12% from 2020 to 2021, with 3,522 fatalities reported due to distraction-affected crashes (NHTSA).

Overall Trends:

• The substantial increase in teen car accidents and overall traffic fatalities in 2021 reached a 16-year high, with an estimated total of 42,915 people dying in motor vehicle crashes, representing a 10.5% increase from 2020 (NHTSA) (NHTSA).

2020 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

Fatality Rates:

• In 2020, there was a 17% increase of young drivers aged 15-20 dying in motor vehicle crashes over 2019 (NHTSA).
• Teen car accidents made up a significant portion of the increase in fatalities, with risky behaviors such as speeding, alcohol impairment, and lack of seat belt use being major contributing factors. (NHTSA).

Alcohol Involvement:

• In 2020, fatalities in alcohol-impaired driving crashes involving young drivers increased by 14% (NHTSA).

Seat Belt Use:

• Unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities increased by 14% in 2020. Many teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were not wearing seat belts (NHTSA).

Distracted Driving:

• Although specific statistics on distracted driving for teens in 2020 were not highlighted, it continues to be a significant risk factor contributing to fatal crashes. (NHTSA).

Overall Trends:

• The total vehicle miles traveled decreased by 11% in 2020, yet the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled increased to 1.34, the highest since 2007 (NHTSA).

2019 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

Fatality Rates:

• In 2019, there were 1,603 young drivers (ages 15-20) who died in motor vehicle crashes. This marks a 7% decrease from 1,729 in 2018, continuing a trend of declining fatalities (NHTSA).

Alcohol Involvement:

• In 2019, 24% of young drivers aged 15-20 who were killed in teen driver car accidents had blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 0.01 or higher. 82% of those teenage drivers had BACs of 0.08 which is 0.03 higher than the legal limit for adult drivers (NHTSA).

Seat Belt Use:

• Fatalities among young drivers due to lack of seat belt use remain a significant issue with 46% of teen drivers killed in accidents were unrestrained (NHTSA).

Distracted Driving:

• While specific statistics on distracted driving for teens in 2019 were not highlighted, distracted driving remains a major risk factor for young drivers (NHTSA).

Overall Trends:

• The total number of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes in 2019 was 36,096, representing a 2% decrease from 2018. This decrease occurred despite a slight increase in vehicle miles traveled (NHTSA) (NHTSA).

2018 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

Fatality Rates:

• In 2018, there were 1,719 young drivers (ages 15-20) who died in motor vehicle crashes. This represents a decrease from previous years, continuing a trend of declining fatalities (NHTSA).

Alcohol Involvement:

• Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities involving young drivers continued to be a significant concern. In 2018, there was a notable decrease in the number of these fatalities, contributing to the overall reduction in traffic deaths (NHTSA)

Seat Belt Use:

• The prevalence of car accidents involving drivers under 18 who weren’t wearing seat belts highlights the importance of continued education and enforcement of seat belt laws (NHTSA).

Distracted Driving:

• Distracted driving was a major risk factor for young drivers in 2018. Efforts to combat distracted driving through education and legislation remained a priority (NHTSA).

Overall Trends:

• The total number of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes in 2018 was 36,560, a 2.4% decrease from 2017. This decrease occurred despite an increase in vehicle miles traveled, reflecting improvements in vehicle safety and driver behavior (NHTSA) (NHTSA).

2017 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

• 17,321 teen drivers in Pennsylvania were involved in crashes
• 2,526 teens were killed in crashes nationwide
• Nine percent of teenage motor accidents involved distracted driving
• In 2017, motorcycle riders aged 15-20 were killed, an 11 percent increase from 2016
• 1,830 drivers aged 15-20 were killed in alcohol-related crashes
• 22 percent of teen drivers were not wearing a restraint during a crash, but account for 57 percent of fatalities

Teen Drivers, Cell Phones, and Texting

• 32.8% of high school students nationwide have texted or e-mailed while driving.
• 12% of distracted drivers involved in fatal car accidents were teens ages 15 to 19.
• Talking on a cell phone can double the likelihood of an accident and can slow a young driver's reaction time to that of a 70-year-old.
• Drivers under the age of 20 make up the largest percentage of distracted drivers.
• 56% of teens admit to talking on cell phones while driving.
• 13% of teens admit to texting while driving.
• 34% of teens age 16 and 17 admit that they send and respond to text messages while driving.
• 48% of kids ages 12 to 17 report being in a car when the driver was texting.

Underage Drinking & Driving Statistics

• About 1/4 of fatal teen car accidents involve underage drinking and driving. (MADD)
• About 5.8% of 16- and 17-year-olds and 15.1% of 18- to 20-year-olds reported driving under the influence of alcohol in the past year. (MADD)
• About 8.2% of high school students reported driving a car or other vehicle one or more times when they had been drinking alcohol.
• 13.5% of 12th graders reported driving after drinking.
• Kids who start drinking young are 7x more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash. (MADD)
• 33% of the young drivers ages 15 to 20 who were killed in crashes had a BAC of .01 or higher and 28% had a BAC of .08 or higher (the legal limit for drivers over age 21).
• Nearly 60% of young drivers involved in fatal drinking and driving crashes didn't use a seat belt.
• 70 % of young drivers who died in underage drinking and driving accidents didn't use a seat belt.
• 27% of the young male drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking at the time of the crash, compared with 15% of the young female drivers involved in fatal crashes.

2016 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

Pennsylvania

• 4.4 percent of 17-year-old drivers and 4.7 percent of 18-year-old drivers were involved in crashes – the highest percentages of any other age group.
• The most common type of crash for young drivers (16-21) is hitting a fixed object (such as collisions with trees, utility poles, embankment, guiderail, etc.) This is the most common type of crash overall, also attributing to the highest number of fatalities.
• 10 percent of teenage driver deaths were the result of distracted driving.
• Drunk drivers account for 12 percent of the total driver fatalities in the 16-20 age group, a decrease from 16 percent in 2015.

National

• 10 percent of all teen driving fatalities in 2016 involved distracted driving.
• In crashes involving a distracted teen driver, 51 percent of fatalities were teens themselves.
• Of the 451 young drivers killed who had alcohol in their systems, 368 (82 percent) were at .08 g/dL or higher (past the legal driving limit for those legally permitted to consume alcohol).
• Of crashes with available seatbelt usage information, 47 percent of young drivers killed were unrestrained at the time of the crash.

2013 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

• There were 2,524 motor vehicle related deaths among teens.
• 120 of these deaths were motorcycle related.
• 10% of teenage driver deaths were the result of distracted driving.
• There was an 11% decrease from 2012 to 2013 in teen motor vehicle accidents.
• Only 55% of high school students reported that they always wear a seatbelt.
• 22% of teens admitted that they had ridden with a driver that had been drinking alcohol.
• An estimated 8 teens died per day in car accidents.
• June had the highest amount of accident deaths in teens, resulting in 260 fatalities.
• 54% of car crash deaths in teens occurred on either Friday (405), Saturday (524), or Sunday (437).
• Most teenage motor vehicle crash deaths occurred between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

2012 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

• There were 2,823 motor vehicle accidents among people age 13- to 19-years-old.
• 2,228 teenagers died in motor vehicle accidents in 2012.
• Of all motor vehicle crash deaths, teenagers accounted for 8%.
• In the first part of 2012, 240 16- and 17-year-old drivers died in car accidents.
• Overall, 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths increased 19 percent from 2011.
• Compared to all other days of the week, the most teen driving fatalities occurred on Sunday.

2011 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

• 7.7% of students rarely or never wore a seat belt when riding in a car driven by someone else.
• Only 54% of high school students reported they always wear a seat belt when riding with someone else.
• More male (8.9%) than female (6.3%) students didn't wear a seat belt.
• 32.8% of high school students nationwide texted or e-mailed while driving.

2010 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

• 3,115 teenagers died in car accidents.
• About 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in car accidents were males.
• 58% of teenage car accident fatalities were drivers.
• 59% of teenage passenger deaths occurred in vehicles driven by another teen.
• Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 17% occurred when a teenager was driving.
• 81% of teenage motor vehicle deaths were passenger vehicle occupants. The others were:
  -pedestrians (9%)
  -motorcyclists (4%)
  -bicyclists (2%)
  -riders of all-terrain vehicles (2%)
  -people in other kinds of vehicles (2%)
• 55% of teen car crash deaths happened on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
• Half of teen car accident deaths occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight.
• 54%, or 1,532, of the 2,814 teens killed in car accidents weren't wearing a seat belt.
• 11% of fatal car accidents involving teens were related to distracted driving.

2009 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

• 3,214 teens ages 15 to 19 were killed in car accidents.
• 196,000 teens were injured.
• Young drivers between 15- and 20-years-old accounted for 6.4% (13.3 million) of total drivers on the road.
• 11% of the drivers involved in fatal crashes were between the ages of 15 and 20.
• There were 3,589 male drivers involved in fatal crashes, as opposed to 1,558 female drivers. Also, there were 1,682 male driver fatalities, as opposed to 654 female fatalities.
• Of the 5,148 young drivers involved in fatal crashes, nearly 20% had previous speeding convictions. More than 950 had been convicted previously with other harmful or moving offenses.
• 33% of young drivers ages 15 to 20 killed in crashes had a BAC of .01 or higher and 28% had a BAC of .08 or higher.
• 60% of young drivers involved in fatal crashes who were drinking didn't use a seat belt. Of the young drivers who were drinking and died in accidents, 70% didn't use a seat belt.

2009 Teen Motorcycle Accident Statistics

• In 2009, 205 young motorcyclists (ages 15 to 20) were killed, and an additional 5,000 were injured.
• Of the young motorcycle riders who were fatally injured, 26% were not wearing helmets.
• Of the young motorcycle riders who were fatally injured, 39% were either unlicensed or driving with one that wasn't valid.

2008 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

• 5,864 teen drivers ages 15-20 were involved in fatal car accident.
• Young drivers between 15- and 20-years-old accounted for 6.4% (13.2 million) of total drivers on the road.
• An average of nine teens ages 16-19 were killed every day from motor vehicle injuries.
• 2,739 drivers ages 15-20 were killed and an additional 228,000 were injured in crashes.
• A total of 4,054 teens between the ages of 13-19 died in car accidents.
• 81% of teens killed in car accidents were passengers.
• 63% of teenage passenger deaths occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager.
• 20% of teen car accident deaths happened between 9 p.m. and midnight. 56% occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
• August had the highest number of teen car accident fatalities.
• 12% of all drivers involved in fatal accidents were between the ages of 15 and 20.
• 14% of all drivers involved in police-reported crashes were young drivers.
• About 2 out of every 3 teens killed in car accidents were male.
  -36.9% of people killed in young driver crashes were the young drivers themselves
  -31.4% were passengers of young drivers
  -24.4% were occupants of other vehicles
  -7.0% were non-motorists.
• There were 87,004 drivers ages 16 and 17 on the roads in Pennsylvania.
• There were 242 fatalities in accidents involving young drivers (ages 15-20) in Pennsylvania in 2008:
  -112 of the deaths were young drivers themselves.
  -64 of the deaths were passengers of young drivers.
  -52 were occupants of other vehicles involved in the crashes.
  -14 of the deaths were non-occupants.
  -25% of drivers ages 15 to 20 who died in car crashes had a BAC of 0.08 or higher.
• 63% of young drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes weren't wearing seat belts.
• Almost 3 out of every 4 teen drivers killed in car crashes after drinking and driving weren't wearing a seat belt.

2008 Teen Motorcycle Accident Statistics

• During 2008, 346 young motorcycle riders (age 15-20) were killed and an additional 8,000 were injured.
• 35% of the bikers between 15 and 20 who were fatally injured in crashes in 2008 were not wearing helmets.
• Of the young bikers involved in fatal crashes in 2008, 43% were either unlicensed or driving with an invalid license.
• In 2008, 26% of young male motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes had been drinking at the time of the crash, compared to 13% of young female riders.
• Among bikers ages 16-19 involved in fatal crashes in 2008, 49% were involved in single-vehicle crashes.

2007 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

• 4,946 teenagers ages 13 to 19 died in motor vehicle crashes.
• From 1998 to 2007:
  -36.9% of people killed in car accidents involving teen drivers were the young drivers themselves.
  -31.4% were passengers.
  -24.4% were occupants of other vehicles.
  -7% were non-motorists.
• Approximately 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in car accidents were males.
• 61% of teen passenger deaths occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among passenger deaths of all ages, 20% occurred when a teenager was driving.‍
• Seat belt use among fatally injured teen drivers was higher than among fatally injured drivers ages 20 to 29 but lower than among drivers 30 and older.
• Among fatally injured 16- to 19-year-old occupants, seat belt use among passengers (31%) was lower than among drivers (4%).
• 55% of car accident deaths among teens occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
• 34% of teenage car accident deaths occurred between 6 pm and midnight.
• 22% of fatally injured male teenage drivers had high blood alcohol content levels, compared to 11% of females.

2006 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

• 5,156 teenagers ages 13 to 19 died in motor vehicle crashes.
• About 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in auto accidents in 2006 were males.
• Teenagers accounted for 10% of the U.S. population in 2006 and 12% of car accident fatalities.
• Teens comprised:
  -14% of motor vehicle deaths among all ages
  -7% of pedestrian deaths
  -4% of motorcyclist deaths
  -10% of bicyclist deaths
• 62% of teen passenger deaths occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 20% occurred when a teenager was driving.
• 54% of car accident deaths among teens occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
• 34% of teenage car accident deaths occurred between 6 pm and midnight.
• About 18% of fatally injured drivers ages 16 to 17 had BACs of 0.08% or higher in 2006, down 57% since 1982.

2005 Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics

• Car accidents were the leading cause of death among 13- to 19-year-old males and females in the United States. 33% of deaths among 13 to 19 year olds occurred in car accidents.
• Almost 400,000 teenagers in auto accidents sustained injuries serious enough to require emergency treatment.
• 16 to 19 year olds are at the highest risk to be involved in a car accident. This age group is 4x more likely than older drivers to crash.
• Teenage male drivers and passengers were more than 1.5x more likely than their female peers to be involved in a fatal car crash.
• Of male drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who were involved in a fatal crash, 38% were speeding and 24% had consumed alcohol.
• A 2005 national survey found nearly 30% of teens had ridden with a driver who had consumed alcohol within the previous month. 1 in 10 reported driving after drinking alcohol within the same period.
• Among teen drivers killed in car accidents after drinking and driving, 74% weren't wearing seat belts.
• Half of the teen deaths from car accidents occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight. 54% occurred on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

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