Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics & Facts
By Ben Gobel on October 17, 2024
A teenage motor vehicle crash is every parent’s worst nightmare. Young drivers are far more often involved in fatal crashes, and the results are heartbreaking. If you are a parent of teen drivers, it’s important to know the facts about this age group.
Knowing what leads to serious teen driver crashes can help you work with your teen to prevent this tragic outcome. However, it’s imperative to keep in mind that not all traffic crashes involving teen drivers are caused by these young people. Still, another driver may try to blame your teen for the crash and their subsequent injuries.
If your teen driver is being blamed for a car accident they didn’t cause, turn to a teen driver accident lawyer at Ogg, Murphy & Perkosky, P.C. Our law firm represents victims in young driver crashes. In this article, we discuss the statistics and facts of teen drivers, the causes of accidents, and how you can best help your teenager stay safe on the roads.
Statistical Overview for Motor Vehicle Crashes and Fatal Crashes Involving Young Drivers
When you look at drivers’ ages in accidents, teens have the highest incident rate yet make up the smallest percentage of total drivers on the road. As of 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration had noted that drivers ages from 15 to 19 made up just under 4% of all drivers ages on the road.
The fact that this age group is the smallest percentage of all drivers means that the remaining statistics for car accidents among teenage drivers are especially alarming. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also reveals some troubling statistics where young drivers were involved.
The leading cause of death among teenagers is fatal crashes. The fatal crash rate per mile driven for passenger vehicle drivers ages 16 to 19 is almost three times the rate for those ages 20 and over. Male drivers make up the majority of fatal teen car accidents at 68%, and the leading cause of death for female teen drivers is fatal accidents. The bracket for female drivers includes passenger vehicle occupants, who may range in age from 13 to 19.
Whether there are teen drivers or teenage passengers, it’s clear that something must be done to prevent teens from becoming car crash statistics. Even though they have a lower rate of drinking alcohol and driving, they are much more likely to get into single-vehicle crashes or fatal accidents than an adult who has gotten behind the wheel after drinking.
What’s causing these motor vehicle accidents to occur with young teen drivers?
The Common Causes of Teenage Motor Vehicle Crashes
After looking at teen driving statistics, you may be wondering what causes these crashes. Here is a look at why teens get into accidents.
Distracted Driving
Many young drivers involved in car crashes engage in distracted driving, just like adults. Motor vehicle crash deaths are more likely among high school students behind the wheel as they are not only distracted but also inexperienced. When a driver is distracted at any age by any means, they are more likely to cause an auto accident.
These behaviors include texting or using the phone, trying to set up directions on GPS navigation, eating, drinking, or becoming preoccupied with conversations among the other teen passengers in the vehicle.
Reckless Driving
Another cause of accidents that lead to fatally injured drivers ages 16 to 19 is engaging in reckless behavior. Speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, and failing to obey traffic laws can lead to tragedy.
Often, young adults are so excited about getting their driver’s license, and coupled with the feeling of invincibility that comes with being that age, it makes them much more likely to be involved in fatal crashes. Some teens try to prove themselves by driving recklessly, and sadly, it often leads to accidents.
Not Wearing a Seat Belt
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), not wearing a seat belt is a factor in fatally injured drivers ages 16 to 19. Many drivers involved in fatal collisions did not buckle up. It’s a fact that seat belts save lives, and every parent should enforce this law to prevent these senseless deaths.
Nighttime Driving
Driving at night is riskier for vehicles driven by all age groups. Even though teens will typically have better vision than adults, the IIHS, CDC, and Highway Loss Data Institute found that nearly half of all teen driving crashes that resulted in deaths were at night, occurring between 9 pm and 6 am. The darkness hinders visibility even for those with 20/20 vision. Teens may also be tired from an array of extracurricular activities or may be intoxicated when these nighttime accidents occur.
Lack of Experience
Most teenagers lack the experience and confidence to handle a situation that suddenly arises when they’re on the road. Single-car accidents may be caused by a sudden obstacle in the road or trying to avoid colliding with pedestrians. New drivers cannot read the behaviors of other drivers, and they may not always recognize the need to take defensive driving measures to avoid a wreck.
Impacts of Teen Motor Vehicle Crashes
Since teenagers account for the lowest percentage of the population of drivers in the nation, it’s troubling that they are the most likely to be the drivers involved in fatal crashes. The results of teen driving accidents are often painful and serious physical injuries. When a teen’s life is changed because of the limitations these injuries have imposed, emotional and psychological impacts also make it hard to move forward.
The financial implications from insurance collision claims mean that rates will rise while medical bills, property damage, and other losses will cause issues for the family. Despite the revelations from the teen driving statistics mentioned in this article, it’s not always the teen driver who is at fault for these events. Dangerous drivers can be of any age.
Preventative Measures to Keep Teen Drivers Safe
If you have a teenage driver, discuss safe practices. You must remember, though, that they may do everything right while in the driver’s seat and still wind up in a bad accident. These tips can help you arm your teen with knowledge and protection.
Talk to Your Teenager About Safe Driving
Your teen may have learned a lot about safe driving in their driver education program. However, the lessons shouldn’t end once those classes are complete. Make sure you ride with them as they cultivate their driving skills and help them spot potential dangers. They will become more comfortable while driving and learn what to watch for to keep themselves safe.
Make Sure They Always Wear Their Seat Belt
Even though teens have the highest statistics for accidents and fatalities on the road, many ignore the laws about wearing safety belts. New technology can help make sure your teen follows the laws and remembers to buckle up.
Review Traffic Laws with Your Teen
Many adults forget the traffic laws since they first learned to drive. Additionally, they may be in a new location from where they learned, or new laws may have since been added. This is a great time to refresh your memory while ensuring your teenager knows all these rules of the road.
Let New Technology Help Keep an Eye Out
While technology has provided more distractions that can lead to devastating accidents, developments have been made to keep new drivers safer on the road. There are apps and telematics devices that you can utilize to be there with your teen while they’re behind the wheel. If the metrics report that your teen isn’t taking proper measures to be safe, you can confiscate their car keys until they understand how important it is to drive with care.
What to Do If Your Teen Was Involved in a Car Accident
If your teenager was in an auto accident and suffered injuries, it’s important that they know what to do. Every parent should cover the steps to take after getting into a crash. Make sure you coach your teen to do the following:
Call the Police
Your teen will need to report the accident to the authorities. If someone else caused this accident, the police report will serve as a crucial piece of evidence. Additionally, if there are injuries, the police can ensure that medical assistance will arrive.
Get Medical Treatment
Teens also need to know to accept medical care for their injuries. Make sure that they understand that they are not invincible. If they try to ignore injuries or put off treatment, their injuries can worsen and even turn fatal.
Never Admit Fault
Since teens are less experienced in driving, they may not realize that saying “I’m sorry” can have dire consequences after an auto accident. Instead, teach them to ask any other drivers involved if they are okay and to get help from first responders. While it’s certainly true that teenagers and their lack of experience make them more likely to get into a collision, they are not always to blame. Apologizing can be construed as an admission of fault, which can impact compensation in Pennsylvania.
Contact an Attorney Who Has Represented Young Drivers
Drivers involved in crashes, even when they did not cause them, will want to have legal representation. Whether your teen was to blame for the accident or not, speak with an attorney. Teenagers are more often blamed rather than older drivers even if they weren’t at fault because of their age.
However, it’s unfair to blame someone just because they are young. The events need to be investigated and analyzed. Since teens are new to driving and new to these experiences, it’s easy for them to wind up taking on more blame. Protect your teenager by contacting an attorney who will advocate on their behalf and prevent them from being unfairly blamed if they did nothing wrong.
Contact Ogg, Murphy & Perkosky, P.C. to get legal representation to protect their rights. A free initial consultation can help you determine how to move forward.