2026 Teen Driver Car Crash Statistics

According to NHTSA data, male teens are almost three times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash.¹ Male teens are also more than twice as likely to be killed in a crash as female teens.² In addition, teens between the ages of 17 and 19 are more likely to die in a crash than teens 16 and under.

Teen vehicle crash deaths, by age

Rate of passenger vehicle deaths per 100,000 people, by gender and age

Young male drivers may be more at risk for crashes because they participate more frequently in aggressive driving and are more likely to speed than young female drivers. When teens drive with their peers, these chances are even higher: The majority of teen passenger deaths in 2023 (59 percent) occurred when another teen was driving, according to federal data analyzed by the IIHS. This makes sense, as teens are more likely to become distracted when their friends are in the car with them and may attempt to look cool, which can lead to reckless driving and an accident.

Men, especially young men, usually pay more for car insurance than young women, except in states that do not allow insurers to consider gender. They tend to pose a higher risk for insurance companies than young women do because of their higher fatality rates, higher DUI rates, and greater likelihood of being stopped by police for traffic violations.

NHTSA data revealed that the most teen vehicle crash deaths in 2023 occurred on Saturday and Sunday, when they may be going out with friends and there might be more drunk drivers on the road. The most frequent time period for crash deaths was between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m., when it’s often dark out.

Teen crash deaths by time of day, 2023

*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Driving at night is more dangerous at any age, and most crashes happen on nights and weekends. But night driving is particularly dangerous for teens since they have less driving experience and may be more likely to be distracted by friends in the car with them.

The IIHS’s data analysis shows that a larger percentage of teens between the ages of 16 and 19 were involved in single-vehicle crashes (43 percent) than any other age group.

This indicates that teens are more likely than other age groups to lose control of their vehicle and crash without the involvement of another vehicle. There may be many reasons for this, including a general lack of confidence behind the wheel, not fully understanding the effects of wet roads on braking time and maneuvering, etc.

Distracted driving is a major problem for drivers of all ages, but today’s teen drivers have additional distractions vying for their attention that generations past did not have to face. According to 2023 data from the NHTSA, 8 percent of distracted drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes were teens between 15 and 19.³

Whether they are stressed about school performance or dealing with issues at home, teenagers can have trouble focusing on what’s going on in front of them. When technology and friends are added into the mix, the distractions only become more severe.

Texting while driving is dangerously common, and it can significantly increase the likelihood of a crash. Drivers of all ages should remember that there’s nothing happening on social media or text that is as important as staying focused and staying alive.

Driving with passengers in the vehicle can also create distractions and lead to crashes. Studies have shown that for each additional passenger under age 21 that rides with a young driver, the risk of an accident increases significantly.

Whether teenagers are allowed to drive with passengers, and the boundaries regarding having passengers (how many, at what time of day, etc.), are decisions parents will need to make. But some states, including Colorado, North Carolina, and Vermont, have laws around what passengers are allowed in the car with a new teen driver. A parent-teen driving contract is one way parents and teens can establish mutually agreed-upon rules for safe-driving behaviors, including rules about passengers.

Alcohol impairs all of the skills you need to drive safely, and it can be particularly dangerous for less experienced young drivers, in addition to being illegal. While adults aged 21 or older can drive after drinking if they are under the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit, it’s against the law for teens to have any amount of alcohol in their systems.

According to the NHTSA, automobile crashes injure more than 180,000 teens each year. While 73 percent of teens had no reported injuries after accidents in 2023, more than a quarter of teen crashes do lead to injuries, which is significant.

Of course, drivers’ skills are paramount to safety on the road, but vehicles must also be evaluated to keep passengers as safe as possible.

Safest Vehicles for Teens

In May 2025, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released its latest recommendations for safe vehicles for teens in partnership with Consumer Reports.⁶ These vehicles earn high safety ratings from the IIHS and Consumer Reports and feature advanced safety technologies, making them well-suited for young, inexperienced drivers. The IIHS recommendations fall into three tiers of vehicles: best used choices, good used choices (more affordable), and new vehicles.

The following vehicles appear in at least two categories. Lightly used cars from a recent model year are good choices for households looking to purchase a vehicle for a teen driver, as they balance cost with safety features. In addition to the cost of a vehicle, adding a teen driver to an insurance policy will increase rates, as teens are the most expensive age group to insure.

Most Dangerous Vehicles for Teens

In general, the most dangerous cars for teens tend to be older vehicles, as they tend to be less structurally sound and lack modern safety features that can help reduce crashes. Used cars can still be good choices, but it’s important to look for certain features to help keep teens as safe as possible on the road. These include electronic stability control and an anti-lock braking system. New cars have these features by default, in addition to more advanced features like lane-keeping assist and blind spot detection.

In addition to safety features, smaller cars tend to be more dangerous than larger ones. Though small cars are attractive due to their fuel efficiency and overall costs, they aren’t the safest cars. Large SUVs had the lowest overall death rate in recent studies from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Here are a few simple ways for teens to drive more safely:

• Before starting the engine, teens should adjust mirrors to provide maximum visibility.
• Young drivers should avoid distractions. They should refrain from eating at the wheel, sending texts or making calls, playing loud music, and transporting rowdy passengers.
• Teens should leave plenty of room between them and the cars they’re following to reduce the risk of rear-ending crashes. Young drivers should be patient and avoid tailgating, especially when waiting in lines to leave school parking lots.
• Teen drivers should plan on adding a few extra minutes for their driving routes so they can take their time. It’s OK to slow down, which allows for more reaction time if an obstacle suddenly appears.

It’s vitally important for parents of teen drivers to equip them with the necessary tools to avoid accidents and injury. Whether they enroll their children in a defensive driving course or set up a secondary driving system to limit distractions, such as those provided in many newer cars, knowing the biggest pitfalls can help them devise a plan that protects their children on the road. For more information, check out our complete guide for parents of teen drivers and our top pick car insurance companies for teens.

We analyzed data from the following third parties:

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
• University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health
• Gallup