Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.¹ Fortunately, teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable, and proven strategies can improve the safety of young drivers on the road.

What factors put teen drivers at risk?

• Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations.⁷ Teens are also more likely than adults to make critical decision errors that lead to serious crashes.⁸
• Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter headways (the distance from the front of one vehicle to the front of the next). The presence of male teenage passengers increases the likelihood of this risky driving behavior.⁹
• In 2015, 48% of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight and 52% occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.²
• Compared with other age groups, teens have among the lowest rates of seat belt use. In 2015, only 61% of high school students reported they always wear seat belts when riding with someone else.¹⁰
• At all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash is greater for teens than for older drivers.¹¹
• Among male drivers between 15 and 20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes in 2015, 32% were speeding at the time of the crash¹² and 22% had been drinking.¹³
• In 2016, 15% of drivers aged 15 to 20 involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of .08% or higher.¹⁴
  • In a national survey conducted in 2015, 20% of high school students reported that, within the previous month, they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. Among students who drove, 8% reported having driven after drinking alcohol within the same one-month period.¹⁰
  • In 2015, 60% of drivers aged 15 to 20 who were killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt.¹³

How can deaths and injuries resulting from crashes involving teen drivers be prevented?

There are proven methods to helping teens become safer drivers.

Eight Danger Zones

Make sure your young driver is aware of the leading causes of teen crashes:

1. Driver inexperience
2. Driving with teen passengers
3. Nighttime driving
4. Not using seat belts
5. Distracted driving
6. Drowsy driving
7. Reckless driving
8. Impaired driving

Learn what research has shown parents can do to keep teen drivers safe from each of these risks.

Seat Belts

Of the teens (aged 16-19) who died in passenger vehicle crashes in 2016 at least 48% were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.²Research shows that seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half.¹⁵

Primary Enforcement of Seat Belt Laws

State seat belt laws vary in enforcement. A primary seat belt law allows police to ticket a driver or passenger exclusively for not wearing a seat belt. A secondary law allows police to ticket motorists for not wearing a seat belt only if the driver has been pulled over for a different violation. Some states that have secondary seat belt laws permit primary enforcement for occupants under the age of 18 years.

This graphic shows the percentage of high school students in the US who always used a seat belt riding as passengers in 2015 by type of seat belt law in 32 states (for which data are currently available).

Not Drinking & Driving

Enforcing minimum legal drinking age laws and zero blood-alcohol tolerance laws for drivers under age 21 are recommended.

Graduated Driver Licensing Programs (GDL)

Driving is a complex skill, one that must be practiced to be learned well. Teenagers’ lack of driving experience, together with risk-taking behavior, puts them at heightened risk for crashes. The need for skill-building and driving supervision for new drivers is the basis for graduated driver licensing programs, which exist in all US states and Washington, DC. GDL provides longer practice periods, limits driving under high risk conditions for newly licensed drivers, and requires greater participation of parents as their teens learn to drive. Research suggests that the more comprehensive GDL programs are associated with reductions of 26%¹⁶ to 41%¹⁷ in fatal crashes and reductions of 16%¹⁸ to 22%¹⁹ in overall crashes, among 16-year-old drivers. When parents know their state’s GDL laws, they can help enforce the laws and, in effect, help keep their teen drivers safe.

CDC’s GDL Planning Guide is designed to assist states to assess, develop, and implement actionable plans to strengthen graduated driver licensing practices.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [Online]. (2015). National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (producer). [Cited 2018 Jan 29].
2. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Fatality Facts: Teenagers 2015. Arlington (VA): The Institute; 2017 [cited 2018 Jan 4]. http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/teenagers/fatalityfacts/teenagers
3. Chen L, Baker SP, Braver ER, Li G. Carrying passengers as a risk factor for crashes fatal to 16- and 17-year old drivers. JAMA 2000;283(12):1578–1582.
4. Ouimet MC, Pradhan AK, Brooks-Russell A, et. al. Young drivers and their passengers: a systematic review of epidemiological studies on crash risk. Journal of Adolescent Health 2015; 57 (1 Suppl):S24-35.
5. Mayhew DR, Simpson HM, Pak A. Changes in collision rates among novice drivers during the first months of driving. Accident Analysis & Prevention 2003;35:683-91.
6. McCartt AT, Shabanova VI, Leaf WA. Driving experiences, crashes, and teenage beginning drivers. Accident Analysis & Prevention 2003;35:311-320.
7. Jonah BA, Dawson NE. Youth and risk: age differences in risky driving, risk perception, and risk utility. Alcohol, Drugs & Driving 1987;3:13–29.
8. McDonald CC, Curry AE, Kandadai V, et. al. Comparison of teen and adult driver crash scenarios in a nationally representative sample of serious crashes. Accident Analysis & Prevention 2014;72:302-308.
9. Simons-Morton B, Lerner N, Singer J. The observed effects of teenage passengers on the risky driving behavior of teenage drivers. Accident Analysis & Prevention2005;37(6):973-982.
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 2015 YRBS Data User’s Guide [Online]. (2016). National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health (producer). [Cited 2018 Jan 29]. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/2015/2015_yrbs-data-users_guide_smy_combined.pdf
11. Voas RB, Torres P, Romano E, et. al. Alcohol-related risk of driver fatalities: an update using 2007 data. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2012;73(3):341-350.
12. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Dept. of Transportation (US). Traffic safety facts 2015: Speeding. Washington (DC): NHTSA; July 2017 [cited 2018 Jan 29]. https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/Publication/812409
13. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Dept. of Transportation (US). Traffic safety facts 2015: Young Drivers. Washington (DC): NHTSA; Feb 2017 [cited 2018 Jan 29]. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812363-.pdf
14. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Dept. of Transportation (US). Traffic safety facts 2016: alcohol-impaired driving. Washington (DC): NHTSA; Oct 2017 [cited 2018 Jan 29]. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812450.pdf
15. Kahane CJ. Injury vulnerability and effectiveness of occupant protection technologies for older occupants and women. p. 216. 2013. [cited 2018 Jan 29]. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811766.pdf
16. Masten, S.V., Foss, R., & Marshall, S. Graduated driver licensing and fatal crashes involving 16-to 19-year-old drivers. JAMA 2011; 306, 1099-1103.
17. McCartt, A.T., Teoh, E.R., Fields, M., et. al. Graduated licensing laws and fatal crashes of teenage drivers: a national study. Traffic Injury Prevention 2010; 11, 240-248.
18. Russell, K.F., Vandermeer, B., Hartling, L. Graduated driver licensing for reducing motor vehicle crashes among young drivers. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011; 10, CD003300.
19. Zhu, M., Cummings, P., Chu, H., et. al. Graduated licensing and motor vehicle crashes involving teenage drivers: an age-stratified meta-analysis. Morgantown, WV: Department of Community Medicine and Injury Control Research Center, West Virginia University.

 

Source: CDC, “Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet” http://www.cdc.gov website. Accessed August 17, 2018. http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html

© Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Overview

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens. Immaturity and lack of driving experience are the two main factors leading to the high crash rate among young people ages 15-19. Teens’ lack of experience affects their recognition of and response to hazardous situations and results in dangerous practices such as speeding and tailgating.

Other major contributing factors to the higher crash risk of young drivers are night driving and teen passengers. Teenagers are involved in more motor vehicle crashes late in the day and at night than at other times of the day. Teens also have a greater chance of getting involved in an accident if other teens are present in the vehicle, according to research from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm.  Among drivers involved in fatal crashes, young males are the most likely to be speeding according to NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

Graduated drivers license (GDL) laws, which include a three-phase program that allows teen drivers to develop more mature driving attitudes and gain experience behind the wheel, have been successful in reducing teen motor vehicle accidents. In 1996 Florida became the first state to enact a GDL law. Every state now has a GDL law.

Graduated Drivers License (GDL) Laws

History:  To control the problem of young drivers accounting for a disproportionate number of motor vehicle crashes, each state has adopted one or more elements of a graduated drivers license (GDL) system. Graduated licensing requires a more rigorous learning period before granting young people between the ages of 15 and 18 a drivers license with full privileges. Graduated licensing consists of three stages. Stage 1 (learners permit) requirements and recommendations include a vision test, a road knowledge test, driving accompanied by a licensed adult, seat belt use by all vehicle occupants, a zero BAC level, and six months with no crashes or convictions for traffic violations. Stage 2 (intermediate license) includes the completion of Stage 1, a behind-the-wheel road test, advanced driver education training, driving accompanied by a licensed adult at night, and 12 consecutive months with no crashes or convictions for traffic offenses before reaching Stage 3 (full license).

Impact of Graduated Drivers License Laws: Studies dating back to the late 1990s attribute reductions in teen crash deaths to GDL programs. GDLs had reduced deaths among teenage drivers in New Zealand, Australia and Canada, where versions of the system exist. The first long-term study to investigate the benefits of each licensing stage was conducted in 2002 in Nova Scotia. It concluded that GDLs led to crash reduction among young beginning drivers in both the learner and intermediate stages. The study, “Specific and Long-term Effects of Nova Scotia’s Graduated Licensing Program,” marks the first six months of the learner stage as the most significant period of crash reduction. For beginning drivers who got their learners permit at 16-or 17-years old, crashes declined 51 percent in the learner stage. During the intermediate stage, when drivers can drive unsupervised except late at night, crashes were reduced by 9 percent in the first year and 11 percent in the second year. Crash rates increased by 4 percent, however, during the first year after the drivers graduated to full license status. Nova Scotia’s GDL program was adopted in 1994, before many U.S. states began adopting the system.

A 2012 study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that the death rate fell 68 percent for 16-year old drivers from 1996 to 2010. Among older teenagers the death rate fell 59 percent for 17-year olds, and 52 percent and 47 percent for 18- and 19-year olds, respectively, during the same period. The IIHS attributes the declines to the adoption of GDL laws and said that if every state adopted all five of the toughest laws that it had identified, about 500 lives could be saved and 9,500 collisions prevented each year. The five most effective laws it identified were a minimum permit age of 16, a minimum intermediate license age of 17, at least 65 hours of supervised practice driving, restrictions on night driving that begin at 8 pm and banning all teen passengers.

Restrictions on passengers of teen drivers

Research shows that when teenage drivers transport teen passengers there is a greatly increased crash risk. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a report in October 2012 that showed that the risk of 16- or 17-year old drivers being killed in a crash increases with each additional teenage passenger in the vehicle. The risk increases 44 percent with one passenger; it doubles with two passengers and quadruples with three or more passengers. The study analyzed crash data and the number of miles driven by 16- and 17-year olds.

Other studies examined the issue of passengers of teenage drivers. A March 2008 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report found that when there were multiple passengers in vehicles driven by teen drivers, the crash risk was three to five times greater than when driving alone; the risk was greatest for the youngest drivers (age 16 and 17). In California, Massachusetts and Virginia passenger restrictions have reduced crashes among 16-year-old drivers. Crash involvement per 1,000 16-year-old drivers fell from 1.07 to 0.85 in California after passenger restrictions were passed. The reduction was from 0.88 to 0.61 in Massachusetts and from 1.41 to 1.10 in Virginia. Earlier studies by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the National Institutes of Health also found that restricting passengers lowered the numbers of crashes and other behaviors such as speeding.

Raising the driving age

In most countries 18 is the minimum age at which a person may obtain a driver’s license. In the United States most states permit unsupervised driving at age 16.  A study highlighted in a September 2008 report by the IIHS found that raising the age at which drivers are licensed would save lives. The study focused on driving age and rules in different countries and found that raising the driving age would substantially reduce crashes involving teenage drivers in the United States.

Older Teenagers

A 2017 Liberty Mutual study found that older teenagers are more likely to engage in dangerous behaviors than the youngest drivers. The study surveyed almost 3,000 high school students and showed that seventy-five percent of high school seniors felt confident in their driving abilities after driving for a few years, and 71 percent used a phone while driving.  Over half of seniors reported having a car accident or a near miss, compared with 34 percent of high school sophomores. Moreover, 47 percent of seniors drove with three or more passengers in their vehicle, compared with 31 percent of sophomores, and 40 percent of seniors said they changed music using a phone or app, compared with 26 percent of sophomores. Thirty-five percent of seniors admitted to speeding compared with 18 percent of sophomores.

Teen Drivers and Cellphones

Safety experts say that using a cellphone while driving is a major distraction and is a significant factor in crashes for drivers of all ages (see Distracted Driving). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) measures observed data on driver electronic devise use. The 2016 survey found that 3.3 percent of all passenger vehicle drivers held cellphones to their ears. The rate was highest for drivers age 16 to 24—4.2 percent. The survey also showed that 2.1 percent of all drivers visibly manipulated handheld devices while driving.  The rate for drivers age 16 to 24 was 4.5 percent, highest for all age groups.

Studies have demonstrated the pervasiveness of cellphone use among younger drivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s June 2016 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey shows that in 2015 about 41.5 percent of high school students said they texted or emailed while behind the wheel at least once during the previous 30 days, about the same as in 2013. The highest rate of texting or emailing while driving, 63.2 percent, was among teens in South Dakota. The lowest rate, 26.1 percent, was among teens in Maryland. The survey is conducted every two years. Among the twelve large urban school districts surveyed, Broward County, FL had the highest percentage, at 38.7 percent and New York City, NY had the lowest, at 14.1 percent. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2012 in-car video study, found that teenage girls are twice as likely as teenage boys to use cellphones and other electronic devices while driving.

Over a dozen states ban the use of hand-held cellphones behind the wheel for all drivers. The use of all cellphones by novice drivers is restricted in more than three dozen states, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Text messaging is banned for all drivers in virtually all states and the District of Columbia; novice drivers are specifically banned from texting in Missouri, (see chart: State Young Driver Laws.)

Teen drivers and alcohol-impaired driving

Underage drinking remains a factor in teenage highway fatalities, according to NHTSA. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that numerous studies since the 1970s show that when the drinking age is lowered, more people die in crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports  that since 1975 about 30,860 lives have been saved by these laws. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study in October 2012 that showed that the percentage of young drivers who drink and drive has been reduced by half in two decades. The agency said the 54 percent decline was the result of stricter alcohol-impaired driving laws, laws that restrict the hours teens can drive, and a decline in driving itself, possibly related to the recession and higher gasoline prices at the time. However, despite the decrease, nearly a million high school students admitted they consumed alcohol before driving in 2011. In addition, according to NHTSA, drivers are less likely to use restraints when they have been drinking.

Teen drivers and seatbelt use

Seatbelt Use: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tracks seatbelt use based on the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), which observes occupants driving through intersections controlled by stop signs or stop lights. The 2016 survey found that seatbelt usage was lowest in the 16-to-24 year-old age group.

Distracted driving: According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, in 2015, about one in ten drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were distracted at the time of the crash. In 2014, among the distracted drivers 15 to 19 years old, about one in five were distracted by the use of cellphones at the time of the crash.

Insurer Initiatives

Auto insurance premium discounts: Rates for auto insurance for teenage drivers are always higher than for other drivers because as a group they pose a higher risk of accidents than more experienced drivers. Adding a teenager to an insurance policy can mean a 50 percent or even a 100 percent increase in the parents’ insurance premium. Some insurance companies offer discounts for students with good grades. The Good Student Discount is generally available to students who have a grade point average of a B or higher. Many companies offer programs that foster safe driving habits, such as online safety courses for young drivers and parents, contracts between young drivers and parents, educational videos and practice driving logs.

Insurance companies are also helping to reduce the number of accidents involving teen drivers by subsidizing the cost of electronic monitoring devices that parents can install in their cars to monitor the way teens drive and by offering discounts to policyholders with teens who use these devices.

The American Family Insurance Company has supplied at least 2,000 families with a DriveCam video camera that alerts parents when a teen driver makes a driving error. The program includes discounts for families that use the camera, which is free for the first year. The camera is operated by an independent company that provides weekly reports for parents.

Charts and graphs

View Archived Tables

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Background on Teen Drivers” http://www.iii.org/ website. Accessed August 17, 2018

© Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Reduce the risks that come with inexperience and immaturity

While getting a drivers license is an exciting rite-of-passage for teens, it can make a parent frantic—with good reason. The first years that teenagers spend driving are very risky. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year-olds and research shows that more than half of teens who die in crashes are passengers, most of whom are not wearing a seatbelt.

Immaturity and lack of driving experience are the two main factors leading to the high crash rates among teens. Even the best teenage drivers do not have the judgment that comes from experience. It affects their recognition of, and response to, hazardous situations and results in dangerous practices such as speeding and tailgating. Teens also tend to engage in risky behavior—eating, talking on their cellphones, text messaging, talking to friends in the car—and they often do not wear their seatbelts.

If you’re the parent of a new driver, take the following steps to ensure the safety of your teenager.

Pick a safe car

You and your teenager should choose a car that is easy to drive and would offer protection in the event of a crash. Learn about how to choose a safe car—for example, avoid small cars and those with high performance images that might encourage speed and recklessness, or trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), which are more prone to rollovers.

Enroll your teen in a drivers education course

The more driving practice the better; experience will give your teen confidence behind the wheel, and he or she will be better able to react to challenging situations on the road. Furthermore, a teenager who has learned to drive through a recognized drivers education course is viewed more favorably by insurers and may earn a discount.

Enroll your teen in a safe driver program

Check whether your insurance company offers a “safe driver” program. Teen participants in these programs sign parent-teen driving contracts that outline the young driver’s responsibilities (for instance, not having teen passengers in the car, being home by a certain hour, etc.) and the consequences of failure to meet those expectations. If your teenager completes the program, not only will he or she be a safer driver, you may also be eligible for a discount.

In addition, many insurance companies are helping to reduce the number of accidents involving teen drivers by subsidizing the cost of electronic devices, such as GPS systems and video cameras, which can monitor the way teens drive and alert parents of unsafe driving practices by email, text message or phone.

Enroll your teen in a graduated drivers license program—or create your own

Many states have successful reduced teen accident rates with graduated drivers license (GDL) programs and other laws that allow teen drivers to develop skills and gain experience behind the wheel. With these, new drivers are restricted from certain activities—such as late night driving, having passengers in the car or being on the road unsupervised—until they have had their licenses for a set period.

In states without a GDL program, parents can institute the same policies. Take an active role in your teenagers’ driving practice and expose them to driving in a wide variety of driving conditions to build experience and confidence as you introduce privileges gradually. Allow independent driving only after continued practice, including night driving and driving in inclement weather.

Discuss the dangers of drug and alcohol use

Advise teens never to drink or do drugs, and not to get in a car if the driver has used drugs or alcohol. Encourage your teen to call you if such a situation arises to ensure they have a safe way home.

Understand the dangers of distracted and impaired driving

Talk to your teen about the importance of not driving while distracted. Distractions include phoning or texting while driving, as well as listening to the radio and chatting with friends who are in the car. Teens should also be responsible passengers when in their friends’ cars. New drivers should wait 1,000 miles or six months before picking up their first teen passenger.

Be a good role model

New drivers learn by example, so if you drive recklessly, your teenage driver may imitate you. Always wear your seatbelt and never drink and drive.

And, finally, keep in mind, teenagers mature differently—not all are mature enough to handle a drivers license at the same age. Parents should consider whether teens are easily distracted, nervous or risk takers before allowing them to get a license or even a learners permit.

Additional resources

For more information on graduated drivers licenses (GDLs), visit www.iihs.org.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Safety Tips for Teen Drivers”
http://www.iii.org website. Accessed August 17, 2018. http://www.iii.org/individuals/auto/b/teengage/

© Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.