Teen Driver Car Crash Statistics

Teenagers and Cars Can Be A Deadly Combination

Before you hand over the car keys to your teenager, know the facts. The leading cause of death among U.S. teens is motor vehicle crashes accounting for 36 percent of all deaths in this age group. Here are more shocking statistics concerning teenage drivers:

• Unsupervised teen passengers increase the risk of a teen driver wrecking. This risk increases with the amonut of teen passengers.
• Teens are more likely to underestimate hazardous driving conditions or are unable to recognize them at all.
• Teens are more likely to speed and allow shorter distances between cars than any other age group.
• Teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. Ten percent of high schhol students surveyed said they rarely ever or never wear a seat belt when riding with someone else.
• It is estimated that on average, for every driver age 15 to 17 killed in a crash, there are nearly two other people who are killed in the accident.

2007 Teen Driver Car Crash Statistics

• In 2007, 4,946 teenagers ages 13 to 19 died in motor vehicle crashes.
• From 1998 to 2007, 36.9 percent of people killed in young driver crashes were the young drivers themselves, 31.4 percent were passengers of young drivers, 24.4 percent were occupants of other vehicles, and 7 percent were non-motorists.
• Approximately 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in auto accidents in 2007 were males.
• Teenagers accounted for 10 percent of the population in the United States in 2007 and accounted for 12 percent of car accident deaths.
• Teens comprised 14 percent of passenger vehicle (cars, SUVs, pickups,and vans) occupant deaths among all ages, 7 percent of pedestrian deaths, 5 percent of motorcyclist deaths, and 12 percent of bicyclist deaths.
• In 2005, the latest year for which data is available, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death among 13- to 19-year-olds in the United States. Thirty-three percent of deaths among 13- to 19-year-olds occurred in motor vehicle crashes.
• 61 percent of teen passenger deaths in 2007 occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 20 percent occurred when a teenager was driving.
• In 2007, seat belt use among fatally injured drivers ages 16 to 19 (40 percent) was higher than among fatally injured drivers ages 20 to 29 (34 percent) but lower than among drivers 30 and older.
• Among fatally injured 16- to 19-year-old occupants, seat belt use among passengers (31 percent) was lower than among drivers (40 percent).
• Among teenage passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal accidents, 48 percent were involved in single vehicle crashes in 2007.
• The fatality rate per 100,000 people in 2007 peaked at age 19 for male drivers (22.5 per 100,000) and at age 18 for male passengers (12.4 per 100,000). Death rates peaked at age 18 for female drivers (9.5 per 100,000) and at age 17 and 18 for female passengers (7.6 per 100,000).
• In 2007, 55 percent of motor vehicle crash fatalities among teens occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
• In 2007, 34 percent of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths occurred between 6 pm and midnight.
• Approximately 18 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16 to 17 had BACs (blood alcohol content) of 0.08 percent or higher in 2006, down 57 percent since 1982.
• In 2007, fatally injured female teenage drivers were less likely than male teenage drivers to have high BACs. The rate was 22 percent for males and 11 percent for females.

2006 Teen Driver Car Crash Statistics

• In 2006, 5,156 teenagers ages 13 to 19 died in motor vehicle crashes.
• About two out of every three teenagers killed in auto accidents in 2006 were males.
• Teenagers accounted for 10 percent of the U.S. population in 2006 and 12 percent of car crash fatalities.
• Teens comprised 14 percent of passenger vehicle (cars, SUVs, pickups,and vans) occupant deaths among all ages, seven percent of pedestrian deaths, four percent of motorcyclist deaths, and 10 percent of bicyclist deaths.
• In 2006, 61 percent of fatalities among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.
• Sixty-two percent of teen passenger deaths in 2006 occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 20 percent occurred when a teenager was driving.
• Among teenage passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal accidents, about half were involved in single vehicle crashes in 2006.
• In 2006, 54 percent of motor vehicle crash fatalities among teens occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
• In 2006, 34 percent of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths occurred between 6 pm and midnight.
• Approximately 18 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16 to 17 had BACs of 0.08 percent or higher in 2006, down from 57 percent since 1982.

2005 Teen Driver Car Crash Statistics

• In 2005, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death among 13- to 19-year-old males and females in the United States. Thirty-three percent of deaths among 13- to 19-year-olds occurred in motor vehicle crashes.
• During 2005, almost 400,000 teenagers in auto accidents sustained injuries serious enough to require emergency treatment.
• 16- to 19-year-olds are at the highest risk to be involved in a car accident. This age group is four times more likely than older drivers to crash.
• In 2005, teenagers accounted for 10 percent of the U.S. population and 12 percent of crash accident victims.
• Male drivers and passengers ages 16 to 19 were more than 1.5 times more likely than their female peers to be involved in a fatal car crash.
• Of male drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who were involved in a fatal crash, 38 percent were speeding and 24 percent had consumed alcohol.
• In 2005, drivers ages 15 to 20 who died in a motor vehicle accident had a BAC of .08 or higher.
• A 2005 national survey found nearly 30 percent of teens reported that they had ridden with a driver who had consumed alcohol within the previous month. One in ten reported driving after drinking alcohol within the same period. Among teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents after drinking and driving, 74 percent were unrestrained.
• In 2005, half of the teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred between 3p.m. and midnight. 54 percent occurred on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.