According to the
National Highway Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading
cause of death for teens in the U.S. More than one third of all deaths of American
teens, age 16- to 18-years, are caused by automobile crashes.
Graduated Licensing
Teen drivers have the highest fatal crash risk of any age group. Per mile traveled,
they have the highest involvement rates in all types of crashes, from those involving
only property damage to those that are fatal. The problem is worst among 16 year-olds,
who have the most limited driving experience that often results in risk-taking behind
the wheel.
Graduated licensing, under which driving privileges are phased in to restrict beginners’
initial experience behind the wheel to lowers risk situations for teen drivers.
The restrictions are gradually lifted, so teenagers are more experienced and mature
when they get their full, unrestricted licenses.
Graduated systems are designed to restrict night driving, limit teen passengers,
set zero alcohol tolerance,
and require a specified amount of supervised practice during the initial phases.
Graduated licensing laws have reduced teens’ crash rates in the United States, Canada
and New Zealand.
Teen Driving Statistics, from the NHTSA
Each year, more than 5,000 teens (ages 16-20) are killed in passenger vehicle crashes.
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.
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.
While all teens are at a high-risk of experiencing a fatal crash, according to NHTSA,
young males, pickup truck drivers and passengers, as well as people living in rural
areas are also among those least likely to buckle up.
Crash Risk Factors for Teens
Driver Error — Compared with crashes of older drivers, those of teenagers more often
involve driver error.
Speeding — Excessive speed is a factor in higher crash rates among 16-year-old drivers.
Single Vehicle Crashes — More fatal crashes of teenage drivers involve only the
teen's vehicle. Typically, these involve high speed and/or driver error.
Passengers — Fatal crashes among teens are more likely to occur when other teenagers
are in the car. The risk increases with every additional passenger. In 2003, 59
percent of teenage passenger deaths happened in vehicles driven by another teenager.
Alcohol — Although this is a problem among drivers of all ages, it's actually less
of a problem for drivers ages 16 and 17. In 2003, the estimated percent of fatally
injured passenger vehicle drivers of this age who had blood alcohol concentrations
(BACs) at or above 0.08 percent was 16 percent — down 60 percent since 1982.
Night Driving — This is a high-risk activity for beginners. Per mile driven, the
crash rate for teenagers driving at night with passengers is 4 to 5 times more likely
than teenagers who drive alone during the day.
Low Seat Belt Use — Teenagers generally are less likely to use safety belts than
adults. In 2003, 57 percent of 16- to 20-year-old passenger vehicle occupants killed
in crashes were not wearing safety belts.