Media post: Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics & Facts

Car accidents happen all across America’s roads every day. Some are relatively harmless and some are extremely serious. The reasons why car accidents happen are varied and so are the types of people who cause those car accidents. Any person from any demographic group is capable of causing a car accident, and that includes teenagers. The concern over teenage drivers is perhaps a little overblown but it is not unwarranted.

The reason is that teen drivers do account for a fair number of the accidents on the road, and that is especially the case when they have just started driving on their own. The older a teen gets, the less likely that they will be involved in a car accident since it takes time to gain driving experience. But until then the risks are definitely there, which is why young drivers should be careful and exercise caution when they head out onto the roads so that they can avoid getting into a teen car accident.

How Serious is the Problem?

Car accidents are the second leading cause of death for teenagers in America. According to the CDC, nearly 2,500 teenagers in the 13-19 age range were killed in car accidents in 2018. Additionally, 285,000 teens were admitted to emergency rooms for the injuries they suffered in motor vehicle accidents. What all of those numbers mean is that in 2018, about seven teenagers were killed in car accidents every day, with hundreds more being admitted to the hospital because of car accidents.

What Are The Risk Factors For Teen Car Accidents?

Inexperience is the main risk factor because teen drivers may not be able to react in time or make the right decisions in emergency situations. The ability to make the right choice comes with more driving experience, which is why teenagers should avoid driving at weekends or at night. The reason is that those are the times when teen drivers are most likely to get into an accident. In 2018, 37% of teen drivers died in motor vehicle crashes between 6 PM and 9 PM, while 52% died on the weekends.

Lack of seatbelt use is another factor since teenagers are less likely than other age groups to wear a seatbelt. About 87% of teenagers admitted to wearing a seatbelt in the 2016 – 2018 period, while seatbelt use was about 90% for older age groups. That is a problem because about half of the teenagers who died in car accidents in 2018 were not wearing a seatbelt.

Distracted driving is another big issue amongst teenage drivers, though to be fair it is an issue with lots of other drivers as well. Nonetheless, nearly 40% of teenagers admitted to texting while driving in a survey conducted in 2019. Other teen passengers can be a distraction as well and the risk of a crash increases with each passenger.

Teenagers are also far more prone to speeding than older drivers, which has the potential to cause an accident because of the longer stopping distance needed as well as the shorter reaction time. This bears out in the fact that in 2018 30% of male teen drivers and 18% of female teen drivers were involved in fatal crashes that were caused by speeding.

Talk To Your Teen About Safe Driving

The act of driving on their own is a rite of passage for many teenagers, but with the proper care and instructions, it does not have to be a dangerous one. If you diligently instruct your teen about safe driving practices and limit the times when they can drive, then they will be at a lower risk of getting into a car accident.