Teen Driver Statistics

Car crashes are calamities.  from a car accident every day all over the world. In one year, 1.35 million die while 20 to 50 million suffer non-fatal injuries. 

Teen drivers are often involved. It is important that a new driver takes to the road so they learn how to drive. But the statistics suggest that they need close supervision. 

What are the rates of death and injury for American teenage drivers? What are statistics related to first year driving? What are the reasons why accident rates are so high, and what can parents do to stop reckless teenage driving? 

Answer these questions and you can give your child the lessons they need to stay safe. Here are the facts. 

2,400 Teens Died in Crashes in 2019

The  (CDC) provide statistics related to accident rates for teen drivers. They found that nearly 2,400 American teens died in car accidents in 2019 alone. That’s seven deaths per day. 

Teenager drivers are three times more likely than older drivers to get into a fatal accident. Car accidents are the second leading cause of death for American teenagers. 

The rate of teen deaths is dropping. There was a  in the rate of teen driver fatalities between 2010 and 2019. Yet the CDC has concluded that most accidents are preventable, including fatal ones. 

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258,000 Were Treated in the ER 

Nearly all people who get into a car accident survive. 258,000 teenagers had to go to the emergency room after an accident. 

Most of these injuries did not require hospitalization. They include cuts, bruises, and whiplash injuries. But thousands of teenagers did sustain concussions and spinal cord damage. 

Crashes Resulted in 4.8 Billion Dollars in Costs in 2018 

Crash deaths amongst American teenagers caused 4.8 billion dollars in medical and work loss costs. But this is just a small fraction of the costs of crashes involving teenaged drivers.

Fatal crashes often cause extensive damage to other vehicles and objects. The costs of these repairs can total millions of dollars. 

Crashes may result in injuries. These injuries have their own medical costs. 

Teens often have to pay a lot of money themselves. Most do not hire a car accident attorney, so they have no support to get insurance compensation or fight lawsuits. 

It is hard to make further estimates, in part because many accidents occur every day. Yet the extensive costs from deaths alone suggest how crashes can affect the economy. 

Males Die More Often 

Male teenage drivers get into fatal accidents twice as often as female drivers. There are a few reasons why this is the case. 

Men are less likely to wear seatbelts than women. This causes them to slam against the sides of their vehicle during an accident. Men are also more likely to drive while intoxicated. 

Similar numbers can be found across all age groups. In 2019, men died  than women in car accidents. 

Teens Driving With Teens Die More Often 

The more teens that a teenager drives with, the higher the chance of an accident. Drivers with three or more teens in their car are twice as likely to get into a fatal crash than those with one or no passengers. 

This is largely due to peer pressure. If the passengers in a car don’t wear a seatbelt, the driver is less likely to wear a seatbelt. If the passengers are under the influence, the driver may start to drink or use drugs. 

Passengers also play loud music and act wild. This can distract the driver, leading to an accident. 

Newly Licensed Teens Crash the Most 

The drivers who crash the most often are the most inexperienced. In 2016 and 2017, the crash rate per mile driven was 1.5 times higher for 16 years olds than older teenagers. 

This mainly has to do with their inexperience. But education can reduce these numbers.

Many states have implemented a graduated licensing system for teenagers. They must submit to supervised instructions before they can receive a learner’s permit.

Once they have driven for a long period of time with their permit, they can get a license. This gives ample opportunities for them to learn how to drive.  

Accidents Happen at Night and on Weekends 

40 percent of fatal car crashes with teenager drivers occurred between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am. 52 percent of all crashes took place on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. 

Nighttime and weekends are when teens have most of their free time. They can also drive themselves to school in the morning or to get lunch in the afternoon. Rates of accidents are prominent during these times. 

But there are other reasons. There is less supervision of teenagers at night and during weekends. They cut corners, driving without a seatbelt and speeding. 

Teens Speed

30 percent of teenage male drivers involved in a fatal accident in 2018 were speeding. The same goes for 18 percent of female drivers. These are the highest percentages for any age group. 

Many teenagers like to tailgate. They allow less space between themselves and other vehicles. When combined with speeding, this results in accidents, though most are non-fatal. 

Teens Drink and Drive 

Youth surveys have revealed high rates of teen alcohol use. More than five percent of drivers admitted to drinking and driving at least once in . 16 percent said they rode with a driver who was drunk. 

Drinking any amount of alcohol can endanger a driver. Even if they remain below the blood alcohol limit, a driver’s coordination and decision-making skills become impaired. Teens should not drive after drinking any alcohol.

The Important Facts About Teen Drivers 

Teen drivers are at high risk. Thousands die and hundreds of thousands sustain serious injuries every year. Many accidents occur at night and on weekends, though daytime crashes are common. 

Inexperience is a major reason. But drivers can get distracted by teenage passengers as well. Many drive under the influence. 

Enlist your child in a graduated driving program. This will let them learn skills over several months. Keep the passengers in your child’s car to a minimum and talk to them about defensive driving techniques. 

Driving is always dangerous. Follow our coverage for more safety guides. 

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