What Percentage of Car Accidents Are Caused by Teenage Drivers? Teen Crash Statistics & Risk Factors Explained

By Emery Ledger on August 5, 2025

What Percentage of Car Accidents Are Caused by Teenage Drivers?

Teenage drivers make up a small share of the total drivers on the roads. However, they have a large share of the accident statistics. When taking a look at the question of what percentage of car accidents are caused by teenage drivers, the answer is 7% of teenagers were killed in car accidents in 2023. How many car accidents are caused by teenage drivers? Teens made up 12% of accidents reported by the police in 2022.

Car Accident Statistics by Age and Gender

Car accidents vary among age groups and gender. Car accident statistics by age and gender show that males are more likely to get into accidents than females. Teen male accident rates are rising, while female teens are getting lower. In 2023, 2,163 male teens and 882 female teens were involved in fatal accidents.

Why is Teenage Driving Dangerous?

The answer to the question of why is teenage driving dangerous is a little obvious, but it helps to look at the bigger picture. Teenage drivers lack experience and maturity when it comes to making good decisions and judging the road conditions. These factors make teenagers more dangerous when they’re behind the wheel. Even the most responsible and cautious of teens have a higher risk of getting into an accident. The answer to the question of is it true that teenage drivers cause automobile accidents is yes. 

Why Are Teen Drivers Overrepresented in Fatal Crashes?

The statistics of fatal crashes for teens begs the question of why are teen drivers overrepresented in fatal crashes. A finger can be pointed at the lack of experience factor, but it’s not the whole picture. Teens are more likely to make risky decisions. They’re also more prone to getting distracted when driving. They’re also prone to underestimate the risk of making a particular maneuver. Another factor involves teens driving while intoxicated. 

Teenage Driver Accident Rate

The teenage driver accident rate for non-fatal accidents was 12% in 2022. What percent of 16-year-olds get in car accidents isn’t available. but the number of teens receiving care for auto accident injuries is around 200,000 every year.  

Fatal Crash Rate for Teen Drivers 16 Years of Age

The fatal crash rate for teen drivers 16 years of age was 3.6% in 2023. For all car accident deaths under 18, the percentage is 7%. It’s estimated that teen drivers make up 5% of all licensed drivers in the US. 

Common Causes of Teenage Car Crashes

Teenagers get into accidents for a variety of reasons. The most common causes of teenage car crashes include:

• Distracted driving
• Cell phone use
• Driving under the influence
• Driving at night
• Speeding

How Many Teens Die From Drunk Driving?

Taking a look at how many teens die from drunk driving shows that a total of 687 teens were killed in DUI crashes. This number includes teens that range in age from 16 to 20. Excessive speeding is also a factor in a drunk driving fatality.

Most Dangerous Driving Times for Teenage Drivers

The most dangerous driving times for teenage drivers are between the hours of:

• 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. (15%)
• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (14%)

The hours of 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. are the next most dangerous hours for teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day.

Teen Crash Deaths by Day of the Week

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week spike on the weekends, and are lower during the weekdays. Over 50% of fatal teen car accidents happen on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Monday through Thursday has the lowest percentage of teen death crashes at 11% on average. Fatal accidents are also more likely to happen at night on the weekends. 

Teen Crash Deaths by Month

The teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by month for 2023 are:

• January: 234
• February: 198
• March: 204
• April: 249
• May: 254
• June: 315
• July: 275
• August: 280
• September: 261
• October: 289
• November: 233
• December: 256

The total number of teenage car accident deaths for 2023 is 3,048. 

Teen-Related Crash Fatalities by State

The following list of teen-related crash fatalities by state is listed from highest to lowest. The major causes for these deaths vary from state to state. 

• Kentucky: 114
• Mississippi: 66
• Tennessee: 41
• Arizona: 40
• Arkansas: 40
• North Carolina: 38
• Montana: 37
• West Virginia: 35
• Texas: 33
• Indiana: 33
• Missouri: 33
• Florida: 33
• Kansas: 32
• New Mexico: 30
• Colorado: 29
• Alabama: 28
• Oklahoma: 27
• Louisiana: 27
• Nevada: 24
• Pennsylvania: 23
• California: 23
• South Carolina: 22
• Wyoming: 21
• Washington: 21
• Nebraska: 20
• Rhode Island: 20
• Georgia: 20
• Maryland: 20
• Ohio: 19
• Illinois: 19
• Virginia: 18
• Vermont: 18
• Idaho: 18
• Delaware: 18
• New York: 17
• Wisconsin: 17
• Michigan: 17
• Hawaii: 16
• Oregon: 15
• Massachusetts: 14
• South Dakota: 13
• Iowa: 12
• Utah: 12
• Maine: 12
• Connecticut: 11
• Minnesota: 9
• New Jersey: 9
• North Dakota: 9
• New Hampshire: 8
• Alaska: 1

Parent Rules for Teenage Drivers

Parent rules for teenage drivers have been proven to keep teenagers safe and lower the odds of an accident. Some of the driving rules a parent can enforce include:

• Curfews on weekdays and weekends
• No more than one friend as a passenger
• No phone use while driving
• Seat belts on when behind the wheel
• Don’t drive with an unlicensed driver
• No driving late at night 

Teen Driving Safety Tips and Resources

Teen driving safety tips and resources are freely available from a number of organizations. All states offer teen driving guides for parents, as do schools and even hospitals. Parents can use the advice from these resources, and then create a set of rules that make sense to everyone. 

The odds are that a teenager is more likely to get into trouble behind the wheel of a car. If you’re in a vehicle accident with a teen, get help from the personal injury attorneys at Ledger Law. Our team can help you with your claim and get a teenage accident settlement. 

FAQs – What Percentage of Car Accidents Are Caused by Teenage Drivers?

How often do teenage drivers cause traffic collisions?

Teenage drivers are involved in a disproportionate number of accidents. Although they only make up about 5% of licensed drivers in the U.S., they account for around 12% of police-reported crashes. This overrepresentation is largely due to inexperience and risky driving behavior.

Are teenage males more likely to crash than teenage females?

Yes. Male teen drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than their female counterparts. In 2023 alone, 2,163 male teens were involved in deadly accidents compared to 882 female teens.

What age group has the highest crash involvement?

Drivers aged 16 to 19 have one of the highest crash involvement rates. Within this group, 16-year-olds tend to have the highest risk due to limited experience behind the wheel and poor decision-making in challenging driving situations.

Why do young drivers struggle with road safety?

Young drivers often lack the maturity and experience needed to judge distance, speed, and danger effectively. They’re more prone to distractions like phone use, peer influence, and overconfidence, which increases their chances of being in an accident.

What risky habits lead teens to crash more frequently?

Common high-risk behaviors among teen drivers include speeding, texting while driving, driving under the influence, and driving late at night. These actions significantly raise their chances of being involved in serious or fatal accidents.

Are teenage DUI crashes a big issue?

Yes, DUI crashes involving teens remain a serious concern. In the most recent data, 687 teens aged 16 to 20 died in crashes related to driving under the influence. Alcohol and drug use continue to play a deadly role in teen-involved accidents.

When are teens most likely to get into accidents?

Teen drivers are most at risk during late-night and early-morning hours, especially between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. Accidents also spike in the afternoon when teens are commuting from school and on weekends when they’re more likely to be out with friends.

Which U.S. states report the highest number of teen crash deaths?

States like Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee have some of the highest teen crash fatality rates. These variations often reflect regional factors like rural road conditions, fewer driving restrictions, and limited access to driver education programs.

What can parents do to help prevent teen driving accidents?

Parents play a key role in promoting safe driving habits. Enforcing rules like no texting, using seat belts, setting curfews, limiting passengers, and prohibiting nighttime driving can significantly lower the risk of accidents for teen drivers.

Where can families find resources for safer teen driving?

Numerous resources are available through DMV offices, school programs, pediatric hospitals, and traffic safety organizations. These offer parent-teen driving contracts, safety guides, and monitoring tools to support good habits and reduce risk.

Emery Ledger

Emery Brett Ledger brings more than 27 years of experience to personal injury law. He founded & led The Ledger Law Firm in securing over $100 million in compensation for clients with life-altering injuries & complex claims. Licensed in California, Texas, & Washington, Emery earned his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. His practice areas include car & truck accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, maritime claims, & mass tort litigation. He has been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100, Mass Tort Trial Lawyers Top 25, and America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys. Emery also received the 2025 Elite Lawyer Award & holds a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating with Platinum Client Champion status. His legal work has been featured on CNN, Forbes, NBC, & ABC.