Probability of a Teen Driver Being in a Fatal Crash

Drivers aged 16-19 face a fatal motor vehicle crash rate of approximately 20.4 per 100,000 population annually, roughly three times higher than drivers aged 20 and older. Motor vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of death for US teens.

Inexperience is the primary factor, compounded by risk-taking behavior, distracted driving (especially texting), nighttime driving, not wearing seatbelts, and driving with teen passengers. Male teen drivers are roughly twice as likely as females to be involved in fatal crashes. The first year of licensed driving carries the highest risk.

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs, which phase in driving privileges, have been the most effective intervention, reducing teen crash rates by 20-40% in states with strong GDL laws. Parents can further reduce risk by enforcing nighttime driving restrictions, limiting teen passengers, requiring seatbelt use, and modeling safe driving behavior.