Teen driving statistics 2024
Teen drivers account for 9.1% of all motor vehicle crashes and 6.1% of fatal crashes, despite comprising only 3.7% of all U.S. drivers. In 2022 alone, there were 3,212 fatal crashes among teens ages 16 to 19, with the deadliest periods being weekend and nighttime hours. Unfortunately, teen drivers are more likely to engage in risky behaviors behind the wheel, such as speeding and using cellphones, further increasing their chances of accidents.
Male teens are over 120% more likely to suffer fatal crashes than female teens and account for 69% of all deaths.
Jump to insightIn 2022, there were 3,212 fatal crashes among teens ages 16 to 19, with deaths per 100,000 people peaking at age 19 for male drivers and between ages 20 to 24 for female drivers.
Jump to insightWeekends and nighttime are the most dangerous for teen drivers, with 51% and 45% of all crash deaths occurring during those times, respectively.
Jump to insightTeen drivers speed on 40% of trips and use handheld cellphones on 30% of trips, with both behaviors occurring simultaneously on 5% of trips.
Jump to insightTeens account for 3.7% of all U.S. license holders. Only 25.3% of 16-year-olds have a license, compared with 68.3% of 19-year-olds.
Jump to insightTeen driving statistics
Fatal teen crashes are far more likely to occur at the hands of male drivers rather than female drivers. Between 1975 and 2022, male teens have consistently experienced more driving fatalities than their female counterparts. In 2022, a total of 1,980 male teens died from fatal crashes, compared with 897 female teens. That means that male drivers account for 69% of crash deaths, and female drivers account for 31%.
Yearly fatal crashes by age group
The number of fatal crashes in the U.S. varies by age group. Of the over 17 million people ages 16 to 19, in 2022 there were 3,212 crashes for every 100,000 people. In the same year, the rate of deaths per 100,000 people peaked at 19 years old for male drivers (13.9), while the number of deaths for male passengers peaked at 17 years old (5.1). For women, death rates peaked between ages 20 to 24 for drivers (5.2) and at age 19 for passengers (4.2).
For those ages 16 to 19, fatal crashes have decreased over time. The total number of fatal crashes peaked in 1978 when there were 9,297 teen fatalities per 100,000 people. As of 2022, that number has decreased by over 65% to 3,212.
Unsafe behaviors of teen drivers
The rate of fatal crashes for teens is exacerbated by unsafe driving behaviors. For example, teen drivers speed during approximately 40% of trips and use handheld cellphones on over 30% of drives. Even more dangerous, teens both speed and use their cellphones while driving during 5% of trips. Given that distraction was a contributing factor in 8% of all auto deaths in 2022, these behaviors can prove deadly on the road.
Additionally, hard braking and rapid accelerations occurred in about 10% of trips, with male drivers engaging in these risky behaviors more frequently than female drivers.
Most dangerous driving times for teenage drivers
In 2022, the weekend was the most deadly time of the week for teen drivers, with 51% of motor vehicle crash deaths occurring on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Sunday was the deadliest day, accounting for 19% of crash deaths, followed by Saturday with 18%. In total, 554 teen driver deaths occurred on Sundays, while Mondays proved less deadly, with 341 fatalities.
Vehicle crash-related deaths among teenagers are also more common at nighttime, with 20% of all deaths occurring between 9 p.m. and midnight, 16% between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and 15% between midnight and 3 a.m. Conversely, 7% of deaths occurred between 9 a.m. and noon. In total, 1,455 teen driver deaths occurred between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m.
Licensed drivers by age
Among 16- to 19-year-olds, the majority of license holders are ages 18 and older. Just shy of 60% of 18-year-olds and more than 68% of 19-year-olds have licenses, compared to only about 25% of 16-year-olds. Overall, there are 8.5 million teens between ages 16 and 19 with licenses, or 3.7% of all U.S. drivers.
Why aren't teens getting their licenses?
There are several reasons why teenagers are not obtaining driver’s licenses: 22% of teens have no foreseeable plans to get a driver’s license, while 69% plan to obtain one within the next five years. The top reasons for not pursuing a license include being too busy or lacking time (37%), the high cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle (32%) (such as purchasing warranties) and the existing availability of transportation via others (31%).
How many miles do teens drive annually?
Annually, the average teen driver between 16 and 19 years old drives 7,624 miles, or just over half the national average of 13,476 miles. Comparably, those between ages 35 and 54 drive twice as many miles as the average teen, at 15,291 miles per year.
FAQ
What is the No. 1 reason that 16- and 17-year-old drivers are involved in crashes?
16- and 17-year-old drivers are involved in crashes primarily due to inexperience and risk-taking behaviors. Immaturity and limited driving experience, combined with peer pressure, exacerbate the issue. Teen drivers are especially likely to engage in risky behaviors when driving with peers, significantly increasing their chances of crashing.
What age group has the most driving accidents?
The highest number of driving accidents are attributed to 16- to 19-year-olds. Although they represent only 3.7% of U.S. licensed drivers, they account for 9.1% of all crashes and 6.1% of fatal crashes.
What age group has the highest rate of drunk driving?
In 2022, those between 21 and 24 years old had the highest rate of drunk driving. However, drunk driving is also one of the leading causes of death among teens. Almost a third of teen driver fatalities involved underage drinking, with 30% of drivers ages 15 to 20 killed in crashes having BACs of at least 0.01 g/dL (grams per deciliter).
What percentage of fatal teen crashes happen at night?
Fatal teen crashes that occur at night (between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.) account for 45% of all fatal crashes. Twenty percent of all such fatalities occur between 9 p.m. and midnight, 15% between midnight and 3 a.m. and 10% between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.
What age are the safest drivers?
According to a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report, drivers ages 60 to 69 are the safest on the road, with the lowest overall crash rate of 241 and a fatal crash rate of 1.04 per 100 million miles driven. Teens ages 16 and 17 are nearly five times more likely to get into an accident, with the highest crash rate of 1,432 per 100 million miles driven.
References
- “Fatality Facts 2022 Teenagers.” Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute. Evaluated June 24, 2024.Link Here
- “Distracted driving.” Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute. Evaluated June 24, 2024.Link Here
- Black, L. “Teen Drivers Often Unsafe on the Road with Speeding and Handheld Cellphone Use.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Evaluated June 24, 2024.Link Here
- “Highway Statistics Series.” Federal Highway Administration. Evaluated June 24, 2024.Link Here
- Schoettle, B., & Sivak, M. “The Reasons for the Recent Decline in Young Driver Licensing in the U.S.” University of Michigan. Evaluated June 24, 2024.Link Here
- “Average Annual Miles per Driver by Age Group.” Federal Highway Administration. Evaluated June 24, 2024.Link Here
- “Teen Driving.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Evaluated June 25, 2024.Link Here
- “Age of Driver.” National Safety Council Injury Facts. Evaluated June 25, 2024.Link Here
- “Drunk Driving.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Evaluated June 25, 2024.Link Here
- “Rates of Motor Vehicle Crashes, Injuries and Deaths in Relation to Driver Age, United States, 2014-2015.” AAA Foundation. Evaluated June 25, 2024.Link Here
Figures