Teen Driving Risks
Teens crash more often than any other age group of drivers.
According to the CDC1, teenage drivers are nearly three times more likely than drivers 20 or older to be in a fatal crash. Read below to learn about a young driver’s risk of crash and some of the contributing factors. Then, click through the following pages to watch brief videos about each type of risk. You’ll learn about teen driving risks due to:
- Passengers as Distraction
- Nighttime Driving and Bad Weather
- High Speeds and High-Speed Roads
- Distracted Driving
- Impaired Driving
- Safety Belts and Unsafe Vehicles
Finally, move on to learn more about the parent’s role in helping your teen drive safely.
1 “Teen Drivers: Get the Facts” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. October, 2021.
Who is at Risk?
All Teen Drivers: All teen drivers are at higher risk because they lack driving experience and judgment that only comes with time and driving.
Those Driving with a Friend: Crash risks are nearly double with one passenger and increase even more with each additional passenger. Even “responsible” friends in the car can be distracting to a teen driver.
Teens Driving with Siblings: All young passengers (including siblings) are potentially distracting and at risk with a new driver.
Teens who have had Driver Education and Practice: Driver education and practice driving are only the beginning of learning to drive – becoming a safe driver, just like any skill takes time, practice and experience.
Families who Follow Licensing Laws: Graduated Driver Licensing is good, but is just a MINIMUM. Effective parent-imposed restrictions that go beyond the laws, increase teen safety.
Teens who Own Their Vehicle: Teens with their own vehicles are at greater risk because they drive more and have fewer restrictions placed on them.