100+ Teen Driving Statistics

Teenagers, who often represent around 5% of the driving population, represent nearly twice that number in fatal car accidents. Over half of those in fatal car accidents were not wearing seatbelts. They are also the most likely group to receive speeding tickets, a cause of 30% of all fatal car accidents.

Teens are the least experienced drivers, but studies indicate that as they gain more confidence or when they have other teens in the car, their distracted driving habits increase. This article will review critical teen driving statistics about these facts and more.

Teen Driving Fatalities

Teen driving fatalities are caused by many factors such as drunk driving, distracted driving, and failure to use seatbelts.

In fact, 50% of teen drivers involved in fatal car accidents in 2022 were not wearing seat belts. If a driver doesn’t wear a seatbelt, research indicates that the other passengers are equally unlikely to wear a seatbelt. In fatal car accidents where a teen driver was not wearing a seatbelt, 90% of the passengers who were also killed did not have a seat belt.

Other common causes of teen driving fatalities have to do with drowsy driving. Teenagers today take on incredibly demanding extracurricular activities, jobs, and academic requirements. But this means that teenagers are also at a high risk of drowsy driving.

• 2x: Teenage drivers are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal car accident compared to adult drivers.
• 30%: Between 2013 and 2022 there was a 30% increase in teen driving fatalities for those between 15 and 18.
• 2,514: In 2022, 2,514 people were killed in car accidents involving teen drivers between the ages of 15 and 18.
• 693: Drowsy driving caused 693 fatalities involving teen drivers.
• 15%: Studies indicate that 15% of fatal car accidents involve drowsy driving.

Teen Driving Fatalities By Day Of Week

The table below provides data for teenage drivers for the entire year for fatal car accidents only with the average time of day and number of accidents per day of week.

Overall, Saturdays are the most dangerous day of the week for teenage drivers with 7,006 accidents in 2022. However, if you look closer at the time of day, the highest figures are between 8:00 p.m. and midnight on both Saturdays and Sundays.

By comparison the best time of day for teenage drivers is between 4:00 in the morning and 8:00 in the morning and the safest day of the week on average is Tuesday.

The table below presents the same information from 2022, but for non-fatal car accidents:

With regard to non-fatal car accidents, the worst day of the week is Friday. The worst time frame for the highest number of non-fatal accidents is between noon and 4:00 p.m., a time frame when many teenage drivers are coming back from school or going to other activities and may be at their most distracted. Much the same as fatal accidents, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the safest days for non-fatal car accidents.

The table below presents information comparing the number of driving trips taken by 16 and 17-year-olds compared to the average number of car crashes based on time of day:

Teen Drunk Driving Statistics

Teenagers between 15 and 18 are the most likely out of all age groups to be killed in alcohol-related car accidents.

• 22%: In 2022, 22% of drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 who were involved in fatal car accidents were under the influence.
• 17%: Between 2012 and 2021, 17% of drivers involved in fatal car accidents impaired by alcohol were between 15 and 20 representing a steady figure over the last 10 years.
• 12x: Drivers between 16 and 20 with BACs between 0.05% and 0.079% are 12 times more likely to get involved in a car accident.
• 32x: Drivers between 16 and 20 with BACs between 0.08% and 0.099% are 32 times more likely to get involved in a car accident.

The table below presents a comparison of teen drunk driving and fatalities compared to other age groups:

As evidenced in the table above, 15 to 20 year old drivers killed in fatal car accidents because of alcohol impairment represented 25% of the total number of teen drivers killed in accidents. However, this was smaller than several age groups between 21 and 64, placing teen drivers between 15 and 20 as the third least likely group to be killed because of alcohol impaired driving.

The same is true of the number of drivers involved in fatal car accidents where other people were killed, aside from the driver. 19% of total fatal car accidents for drivers between 15 and 20 resulted in another individual beside the driver being killed. This is 10% less than the age group of 21 to 24, 9% less than 25 to 34, and 5% less than 35 to 44.

This places the age group of 15 to 20 as the fourth least likely age group to be involved in an alcohol impaired car accident where another passenger or other driver was killed.

Historic Trends In Teen Driving Accidents

The higher historic rates for teen driving fatalities, drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding tickets have resulted in all 50 states implementing a graduated driver licensing system to reduce the risk of teen driving accidents by 50%.

The graduated driver licensing program was first initiated in the state of Florida in 1996. By 2006, all 50 states had adopted at least one element and today 43 states have all three elements. This system includes a learner’s permit, restrictions on minimum practice hours and education, as well as restrictions on night time driving and the number of passengers.

• 120%: The teenage accident rate per mile is 120% higher than drivers between the ages of 20 and 24.
• 26%: The number of teen drivers killed in car accidents has gone up 26% in the last 10 years.
• 2019: Given the restrictions during covid lockdown, 2019 presented with the lowest rate of teen drivers killed in car accidents.
• 2022: 2022 has the highest rate of teen drivers killed in car accidents since 2012, a number that has been steadily increasing since the pandemic.

The table below presents the number of teen drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 involved in fatal car accidents over the last several years:

The table below presents the number of total licensed drivers across the U.S. over the span of 4 years, what percentage of those were teenagers, and what percentage of all fatal car accidents involved teenagers.

As you can see, with the exception of the pandemic lockdown, teenage fatal car accident percentages are nearly twice as high as the number of licensed teenagers meaning that they account for twice the number of accidents despite being a small percentage of the total number of licensed drivers in the United States.

With an understanding that there is a high risk of accidents and fatalities associated with underage drinking, there have been historical changes to drinking laws.

• 1960s: In the 1960s and 1970s the minimum purchasing ages were dropped to 18 or 19 but this was restored to 21 in the 1980s.
• 1984: By 1984 22 states had increased the minimum purchase age for alcohol to 21.
• 1988: The remainder of states complied when Federal legislation was altered to withhold Federal funding for highways in states that had a purchase age below 21. Since July of 1988, 21 has been the minimum purchase age in all 50 states.
• 1995: In 1995 Federal legislation required states to pass Zero Tolerance laws for anyone under 21, prohibiting BACs of 0.02% or more. failure to do so meant Federal Highway funds would be withheld.
• 2,624: Traffic data has estimated that increasing the legal minimum drinking age to 21 saves an estimated 2,624 lives.
• 20%: Zero Tolerance laws across 12 States saw a 20% reduction in the number of single vehicle nighttime fatal crashes involving alcohol impairment for teenage drivers.
• 9%: High school seniors who reported drinking and driving dropped from 16% in 2001 to 9% in 2011.
• 8%: In 2015 8% of high school seniors admitted to drinking and driving.
• 20%: In 2015 20% of high school seniors admitted to riding with a driver who had been under the influence.
• 86%: 86% of high school seniors in 2018 believed it was easy to get alcohol.

Most Dangerous US States For Teenage Drivers

The most dangerous states for teenage drivers include Michigan, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Colorado, and Florida. These have the highest overall rates of things like teenagers involved in fatal car accidents, driving under the influence, and not wearing a seatbelt.

• Michigan: Michigan is the most dangerous state for teen drivers with the highest DUI rate and the highest accident fatality rate.
• 14: Michigan has the lowest minimum age for drivers, set at 14.
• 14: 14 per 100,000 teens are involved in car accident fatalities in Michigan annually.
• 26: 26 per 100,000 teenagers are arrested for driving under the influence in Michigan each year.
• 4: 4 per 100,000 teens are involved in car accident fatalities in Rhode Island annually.
• 12: 12 per 100,000 teenagers are arrested for driving under the influence in Rhode Island each year.
• 88%: Only 88% of teenagers in Rhode Island use seatbelts.
• Louisiana: Louisiana is the third most dangerous US state for teenage drivers because of its low seat belt use and nightlife.
• 25: 25 per 100,000 teens are involved in car accident fatalities in Louisiana annually.
• 9: 9 per 100,000 teenagers are arrested for driving under the influence in Louisiana each year.
• 88%: Only 88% of Louisiana teenagers use a seatbelt.
• Colorado: Colorado has one of the highest DUI rates for teenagers.
• 20: 20 per 100,000 teens are involved in car accident fatalities in Colorado annually.
• 68: 68 per 100,000 teenagers are arrested for driving under the influence in Colorado each year.
• 88%: Only 88% of Colorado teenagers use a seatbelt.
• Florida: Florida is the fifth most dangerous US state for teenage drivers where over 10% of the population does not wear a seatbelt with some of the highest number of teen deaths from motor vehicle accidents and distracted driving given the fact that Florida doesn’t have any law against cell phone use for teenagers while driving.
• 25: 25 per 100,000 teens are involved in car accident fatalities in Louisiana annually.
• 12: 12 per 100,000 teenagers are arrested for driving under the influence in Louisiana each year.
• 90%: Only 90% of Louisiana teenagers use a seatbelt.

There are other states that take the lead in terms of individual issues like the highest car accident fatality rate for teenage drivers. the table below lists the top 10 states with the highest rates of car accident fatalities per 100,000 teenagers:

Teenage Speeding Ticket Statistics

Teenage drivers are twice as likely as older drivers to be convicted of a traffic offense. The most common is speeding.

Speeding is a common issue among new drivers for several reasons. In some cases, new drivers are distracted and less focused on their speed. In others they have distractions in the form of teenage passengers. Some research indicates that as teenage drivers become more confident in their skills they are equally more likely to speed.

• 30%: 30% of fatal car accidents involving teen drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 involved speeding.
• 19,447: Between 2000 and 2011, 19,447 speed-related crashes happened involving teenage drivers.

Teenage Distracted Driving Statistics

Inexperience as a teenager makes young drivers more susceptible to distracted driving. distracted driving can take many forms but today the most common include using cell phones to talk on the phone or texting on the phone.

• 33%: 33% of teenagers admit to texting and driving.
• 23x: Research indicates that texting while driving increases the risk of teenage car accidents by a factor of 23.
• 6x: Research indicates that dialing a phone number while driving increases the risk of teenagers getting into car accidents by a factor of 6.
• 2.5: Research has found that teen drivers are 2.5 times more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors when they have another teenager in the car versus driving alone.
• 3x: Studies also indicate that teen drivers who have multiple teen passengers are three times more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors.

Teen Driving By Gender

When you look at detailed information about licensed drivers by gender, there have been slightly more male drivers compared to female drivers with slight increases in terms of car accidents, speeding, and alcohol-related incidents. However, under most circumstances these differences are negligible.

• 59,324: There were 59,324 licensed male drivers under 16 in 2022.
• 0.1%: Licensed male drivers under 16 years of age in 2022 represented 0.1% of total drivers.
• 58,645: There were 58,645 licensed female drivers under 16 in 2022.
• 537,787: There were 537,787 licensed male drivers aged 16 in 2022.
• 538,799: There were 538,799 licensed female drivers aged 16 in 2022.
• 0.5%: Licensed male drivers 16 years old represented 0.5% of all licensed drivers in the U.S. in 2022.
• 0.5%: Licensed female drivers 16 years old represented 0.5% of the licensed drivers in 2022.
• 932,029: There were 932,029 licensed male drivers aged 17 in 2022.
• 911,842: There were 911,842 licensed female drivers aged 17 in 2022.
• 0.8%: Licensed male drivers aged 17 represented 0.8% of all licensed drivers in the U.S. in 2022.
• 0.8%: Licensed female drivers aged 17 represented 0.8% of all licensed drivers in 2022.
• 1,333,522: There were 1,333,522 licensed male drivers aged 18 in 2022.
• 1,253,027: There were 1,253,027 licensed female drivers aged 18 in 2022.
• 1.1%: Licensed male drivers aged 18 represented 1.1% of all licensed drivers in the U.S. in 2022.
• 1.1%: Licensed female drivers aged 18 represented 1.1% of all licensed drivers in the U.S. in 2022.

The table below presents data on speeding by gender:

As you can see across every age group males are more likely to speed than females but this distinction is perhaps widest among young drivers between 15 and 20.