In 2018, the National Safety Council (NSC) stated that an estimated 40,000 people lost their lives due to vehicle crashes. Driver-related factors such as fatigue, distraction, impairment or errors cause 90% of all accidents. The NSC also states that these behaviors contribute to the number of crashes staying so high year after year.
This is why it’s so important to not only understand what can make getting behind the wheel so dangerous, but the measures one can take to ensure they are staying as safe as possible. When we think about a newly-licensed driver with little experience hitting the open road solo for the first time, it’s normal for both the parent and the teen to feel some apprehension. After all, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death and injury to teens in the United States.
Teen Driving Statistics – What You Need to Know
In honor of National Teen Driver Safety Week, held this year from October 20 through October 26, we’re sharing some of the most recent statistics and facts about today’s teen drivers. This data is not meant to scare you from allowing your teen to get behind the wheel, but simply to keep you informed about how to ensure your teen understands how to become a safe, responsible driver. Additionally, setting ground rules and helping your teen learn the needed skills can help improve not only his or her safety, but the safety of those sharing the road with them.
It’s common for teens to have a feeling of invincibility about themselves, and when combined with a lack of experience and being unable to recognize dangerous situations, it’s easy to see why the 16-19 age group is most at risk for vehicle crashes. A few of the latest teen driving facts and statistics include:
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017 1,830 young drivers aged 15 to 20 years old died in a motor vehicle crash.
- The most common types of crashes involving teens are due to incorrect left turns, rear-end incidents and running off the road.
- 12% of distracted drivers involved in fatal car accidents were teens aged 15 to 19.
- 13% of teens admit to texting while driving, while 48% of kids aged 12 to 17 report being a car with a driver who was texting.
- The NHTSA reported that drivers aged 15-20 had the highest representation in speed-related fatal crashes. In fact, it’s also reported that teens do not consider driving 5 to 10 miles over the posted speed limit to be dangerous.
- The CDC states that during the first year new drivers have their licenses, the risk of a crash is the highest. Likewise, Geico reports that 25% of 16 year-old drivers are involved in a car accident in their first year of driving.
- Of the 6 million car crashes ever year, teens are responsible for roughly 500,000 of them.
- Over 13% of high school seniors report that they have driven after drinking alcohol.
Parents can be highly influential in creating safe teen drivers by practicing safe driving techniques themselves and enforcing rules with consequences. It’s also important that your teen learns the proper skills and basic mechanics of driving at a driving school like Drive Team, where we provide the most advanced driver training possible.
Comprehensive Teen Driver Education from Drive Team
Don’t let your teen become another driving statistic! Drive Team is a premier driving school, offering Performance-Based Driver Education (P.B.D.E) for teens. This four-level, state-licensed program far exceeds Ohio’s minimum requirements for driver education, helping ensure your teen becomes a safe, confident driver. Contact us today for more information.