What Is the Teenage Driver Accident Rate?

The teenage driver accident rate is much higher than that of adults — in fact, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. When crash rates are adjusted for distances driven, a teenager is more than four times as likely as an adult to be involved in a car crash.

More facts about teenage drivers:

• Researchers have determined that the majority of teenage car crashes are caused by the same three things: failure to scan the road for hazards, distraction and speeding.


• Male teenage drivers are about twice as likely as teenage female drivers to be involved in a fatal accident.


• Teenage drivers have the lowest rate of using seat belts of any age group in the U.S.