Teen Driving Statistics and Facts

Fatal crashes involving teen drivers made up 12.6% of all U.S. traffic deaths in 2022, with 5,339 fatalities. Most occurred at night and on weekends, with speeding, distracted driving and alcohol use as key risk factors.

By Nathan Paulus

Updated: February 20, 2025

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A teenager drives her new car with her mother in the passenger seat.

Teen driving comes with significant risks. Young drivers accounted for 5% of all licensed drivers in the U.S., totaling 11.8 million in 2022. Despite making up a small portion of the driving population, they are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers 20 or older.

Inexperience plays a major role in teen crashes, but other high-risk behaviors — such as distracted driving, speeding and driving at night — further increase the likelihood of accidents. Programs like Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and enforcement campaigns, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s Click It or Ticket initiative, aim to reduce crashes and fatalities among young drivers.

KEY TAKEAWAY

In 2022, 5,339 people died in crashes involving young drivers, with 2,547 of those fatalities being teen drivers and passengers.
Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of preventable teen deaths, averaging nearly eight fatalities per day.
Male drivers account for most fatal teen crashes (3,545 vs. 1,306 female drivers). Drivers aged 16 to 19 made up 62% of all teen passenger vehicle fatalities.
22% of young drivers in fatal crashes didn’t have a valid license. Among them, 15.1% had prior suspensions or revocations and 2.5% had a DWI conviction.
Delaware (19.8%), Nebraska (17.6%) and Alaska (17.1%) had the highest share of young driver-related fatalities, while New Hampshire (6.2%), Hawaii (6.9%) and West Virginia (7.2%) had the lowest.
Teen crash deaths peaked in October and were most common between 9 p.m. and midnight, with weekends being the deadliest time for young drivers.
Major risk factors include distracted driving, speeding, alcohol use and nighttime driving. Newly licensed teens are four times more likely to crash per mile driven than adults.

The Frequency of Teen Car Fatalities

In 2022, 2,547 teen drivers and passengers ages 13 to 19 died in motor vehicle crashes, a 7.2% decrease from 2,744 in 2021. Including pedestrians and cyclists, the total number of teen fatalities was 2,883 — an average of nearly eight deaths per day. Crashes involving young drivers ages 15 to 20 resulted in 5,339 total fatalities, affecting people inside and outside the vehicle.

Despite this decline, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of preventable death among U.S. teens, with drivers aged 16 to 19 being three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than those 20 or older. Continued efforts, such as GDL programs, along with advancements in vehicle safety and road policies, play a critical role in reducing these numbers further.

The Trend in Teen Auto Accidents and Fatalities

Fatal crash data reveals concerning trends among teen drivers, with a higher percentage of male involvement, an increase in fatalities as drivers get older and a link between past violations and deadly accidents. In 2022, the majority of passenger vehicle occupant deaths among 16- to 19-year-olds were drivers, and many had previous suspensions, speeding tickets or lacked a valid license at the time of the crash.

Accidents by Gender

Young drivers accounted for 8.1% of all fatal crashes in 2022, with 3,545 male drivers and 1,306 female drivers involved. While male drivers made up the majority, females had a slightly higher percentage of involvement at 8.9%. Compared to 2013, total fatal crash involvement among young drivers rose 22%, with male cases increasing 25% and female cases 12%.

Sex	Total (All Drivers)	Ages 15 to 20	Percentage of Total
Male	43,582	3,545	8.1%
Female	14,719	1,306	8.9%
Total*	60,048	4,856	8.1%

* Includes unknown sex.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Fatalities by Age and Seat Position

More than half (55%) of passenger vehicle occupant deaths among teens in 2022 were drivers, while 45% were passengers. Among 16- to 19-year-olds, drivers accounted for 62% of fatalities, with the percentage rising from 51% at age 16 to 67% at age 19.

Age	Driver	Passenger	Total*
13	2	57	59
14	6	95	101
15	25	111	137
16	159	152	312
17	271	183	456
18	358	192	551
19	402	198	600
Total	1,223	988	2,216

* Total includes other and/or unknowns
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Driving Record and License Compliance

Of the 4,856 young drivers (ages 15 to 20) involved in fatal crashes, 1,056 (22%) did not have a valid license at the time of the crash. Among these unlicensed drivers, 15.1% had previous license suspensions or revocations within the past five years, 2.5% had prior driving while intoxicated (DWI) convictions and 11.2% had speeding violations.

Driving Records of Young Drivers	License Compliance (Valid)	License Compliance (Invalid)	Total*
No Previous Driving Record	2,441	683	3,127
Previous Recorded Crashes	508	110	619
Previous Recorded Suspensions or Revocations	145	159	304
Previous DWI Convictions	18	26	44
Previous Speeding Convictions	546	118	665
Previous Other Harmful or Moving Convictions	439	127	567
Total Drivers Involved**	3,745	1,056	4,856

*Includes drivers with unknown license compliance.
**Includes drivers with unknown previous records
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Teen Driver Fatalities By State

Fatal crashes involving teen drivers accounted for 12.6% of all U.S. traffic deaths, claiming 5,339 lives. The impact varied widely by state, with some reporting a significantly higher share of teen-involved fatalities than others.

Among them, Delaware (19.8%), Nebraska (17.6%) and Alaska (17.1%) had the highest proportions of fatal crashes involving young drivers. In contrast, some states had much lower figures, with the smallest shares recorded in New Hampshire (6.2%), Hawaii (6.9%) and West Virginia (7.2%).

While these rates fluctuated across the country, Texas (620), California (523) and Florida (448) recorded the highest number of teen-involved crash fatalities, largely due to their high population density and traffic volume.

Deadliest Times for Teen Drivers

Teen crash fatalities varied throughout the year, with the highest numbers occurring in October (299 deaths), July (267) and August (267). Fatalities were also more frequent on weekends, as Friday, Saturday and Sunday accounted for over half (51%) of all teen crash deaths. In terms of time of day, the most dangerous period was between 9 p.m. and midnight, when 20% of all teen fatalities occurred, followed by 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (16%).

Teen Fatalities by Month

Month	Death	Percentage
January	165	6%
February	195	7%
March	248	9%
April	227	8%
May	240	8%
June	229	8%
July	267	9%
August	267	9%
September	254	9%
October	299	10%
November	250	9%
December	242	8%

Teen Fatalities by Day of the Week

Day of the Week	Death	Percentage
Sunday	554	19%
Monday	341	12%
Tuesday	353	12%
Wednesday	385	13%
Thursday	342	12%
Friday	379	13%
Saturday	529	18%

Teen Fatalities by Time of Day

Time of Day	Death	Percentage
Midnight to 3 a.m.	426	15%
3 a.m. to 6 a.m.	274	10%
6 a.m. to 9 a.m.	259	9%
9 a.m. to noon	190	7%
Noon to 3 p.m.	270	9%
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.	414	14%
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.	456	16%
9 p.m. to midnight	573	20%

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Risk Factors Affecting Teen Drivers

Teen drivers face added risks on the road, from misjudging conditions to engaging in dangerous behaviors like distracted driving and speeding. Poor decisions, such as driving without a seat belt or at night, further increase the likelihood of a fatal crash.

Inexperience

Newly licensed teens have four times the crash risk per mile driven compared to adults, largely due to their difficulty in recognizing and reacting to hazards. In a driving simulation study, 43% of teen drivers were involved in crashes, while only 29% of experienced adults made the same errors.

GDL programs help teens gain experience in lower-risk conditions, but many overestimate their skills after getting a license. This often leads to errors in merging, navigating intersections and reacting to sudden road hazards. Extended practice and parental supervision can help reduce these risks.

Distracted Driving

Young drivers are among the most distracted on the road, with 235 fatalities in 2022 linked to crashes involving a distracted teen. This accounted for 6% of all deaths in crashes involving teens, while 7% of all motor vehicle fatalities in this age group were distraction-related.

Among fatal collisions, 218 teens behind the wheel were distracted at the time of impact, making up 6% of all deadly crashes involving young drivers. Phone use remains a major factor, reinforcing the need for stricter hands-free laws and improved driver education to reduce these incidents.

Alcohol-Impaired

Alcohol remains a significant factor in fatal teen crashes, with 30% of young drivers killed in 2022 having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 g/dL or higher. Of those, 25% were legally impaired (.08+ g/dL), and the majority (84%) had BACs over the legal limit. Among teenagers, 19-year-old drivers had the highest rate of alcohol involvement in fatal crashes, with 31% having alcohol in their system at the time of the crash.

Male drivers were more likely than females to have alcohol in their system at the time of a fatal crash (25% vs. 19%). Additionally, restraint use was lower among those who had been drinking — 67% of young drivers killed with alcohol in their system were unrestrained, compared to 46% of those who hadn’t been drinking.

Nighttime Driving

Darkness brings added dangers for inexperienced drivers, making nighttime one of the riskiest periods for teens on the road. The fatal crash rate for drivers aged 16 to 19 is about three times higher at night than during the day, with limited visibility and an increased likelihood of encountering impaired or drowsy motorists.

To reduce risk, teens should limit late-night trips whenever possible and get supervised practice driving in low-light conditions. Fatigue also plays a major role in nighttime crashes, especially after long school days or evening events, making it critical for young drivers to stay alert and plan for a safe ride home.

No Seat Belts

In 2022, 53% of teen drivers killed in passenger vehicle crashes were unrestrained, a higher percentage than all driver fatalities (50%). Even among survivors, 16% of teens involved in fatal crashes weren’t wearing a seat belt, compared to 11% of all surviving drivers.

Not wearing a seat belt significantly increases the severity of injuries in a crash. Strengthening seat belt laws and encouraging parental enforcement can help ensure teens develop safer habits behind the wheel.

Driving at High Speeds

Teen drivers are involved in more speeding-related fatal crashes than any other age group. Among drivers aged 15 to 20, 35% of males and 19% of females involved in deadly crashes were exceeding the speed limit at the time of impact.

The risk is particularly high among young male drivers, who consistently account for a greater share of speed-related crashes. With higher speeds comes a greater force of impact, increasing the likelihood of severe or fatal injuries in a collision.

Teen Driver FAQs

Millions of teens take the wheel each year and face unique risks and challenges on the road. Below are answers to common questions about key statistics, crash factors and safety measures to help better understand teen driving.

How many teens currently drive in the United States?

Currently, there are 11.8 million licensed young drivers, making up 5.0% of all licensed drivers in the U.S. This number has declined by 4.1% since 2013 but has seen a slight 0.3% increase from 2021.

How many car accidents and fatalities involve teen drivers each year?

In 2022, 5,339 fatalities resulted from crashes involving young drivers (ages 15 to 20), including drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists. Among these, 2,547 teen drivers and passengers (ages 13 to 19) died, making up nearly eight deaths per day on average.

What states have the most teen driver accidents?

Texas (620), California (523) and Florida (448) reported the highest number of fatalities in crashes involving teen drivers. These states consistently rank highest due to larger populations and high traffic volumes, which leads to more overall crashes.

What are the biggest causes of teen crashes?

Teen crashes are linked to several risk factors, including distracted driving, speeding and alcohol use. Inexperience can also play a role, as young drivers may struggle with hazard recognition and vehicle control. Additionally, nighttime driving and not wearing seat belts further increase the chances of severe or fatal collisions.

How many car crashes are caused by underage drinking?

An estimated 1,142 young drivers (ages 15 to 20) involved in fatal crashes in 2022 had alcohol in their system, accounting for 24% of all young drivers in deadly collisions. Of those killed, 604 had been drinking and 506 were legally impaired.

What improvements have helped reduce motor vehicle accidents?

Advancements in vehicle safety technology, such as automatic emergency braking and blind-spot detection, have helped prevent crashes. Road safety measures like lower speed limits, traffic calming designs and stricter seat belt enforcement also play a role in reducing teen crash rates. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs further support safer driving by allowing teens to gain experience in lower-risk conditions before earning full privileges.