Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury and death for young adults in the United States. According to the most recent teen driver safety statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,034 young drivers (ages 15-20) died in traffic crashes in 2022, a 5% decrease from 2,133 in 2021.
Most teen crashes can be prevented with plenty of quality parent supervised driving practice to help teenagers gain experience in a variety of driving environments and to develop the critical driving skills they need. Most teen driver crashes are due to three “critical errors:” lack of scanning, speeding, and distractions.
Teenage driving statistics also show that teens are also more likely to crash if impaired, using a cell phone, or with peer passengers. Parents can help teens manage these crash risks by setting and enforcing house rules to keep them safe. These rules should include seat belt use on every ride, every time, and limiting nighttime driving and peer passengers until the first full year of independent driving.
Sharing teen driver statistics and proven ways to prevent crashes will help keep your family safe. Insist on safe driving behaviors and promote their use with house driving rules and plenty of communication.
After reviewing these teenage driving statistics with your teen, watch this video to improve communication with your teen:
In 2022, 2,034 young drivers (ages 15-20) died in traffic crashes, a 5% decrease from 2,133 in 2021.
More Teen Driver Facts and Teenage Driving Statistics
- Teens who use their cell phones while driving are significantly more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors, such as hard braking and rapid acceleration.
- In 2022, 7,522 pedestrians died in traffic crashes, the highest since 1981 when 7,837 pedestrians died in car crashes.
- The majority of newly licensed teen drivers exit the learner’s permit period with significant skill deficits, leading to a much higher risk of crashing as compared with more experienced drivers. The most common types of crashes involve left turns, rear-end events, and running off the road.
- Over 60% of pediatric spinal fractures occur in children ages 15-17, coinciding with the beginning of legal driving. Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the most common cause, and nearly two-thirds of pediatric spinal fractures sustained in MVCs occurred when seat belts were not used.
- From 2013-2022, fatalities among young drivers (age 15-20) in motor vehicle crashes increased by 20%.
- Youths with mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, are 30% less likely to obtain their driver’s license than peers without such disorders.
- The overwhelming majority (75%) of serious teen driver crashes are due to "critical errors," with the three common errors accounting for nearly half of these crashes: lack of scanning that is needed to detect and respond to hazards, going too fast for road conditions, and being distracted by something inside or outside of the vehicle.