Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.1 In 2010, seven teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries. Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.2Fortunately, teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable, and proven strategies can improve the safety of young drivers on the road.

How big is the problem?

In 2010, about 2,700 teens in the United States aged 16–19 were killed and almost 282,000 were treated and released from emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes.1

Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.3

Who is most at risk?

The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16- to 19-year-olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.2

Among teen drivers, those at especially high risk for motor vehicle crashes are:

• Males: In 2010, the motor vehicle death rate for male drivers and passengers ages 16 to 19 was almost two times that of their female counterparts.1
• Teens driving with teen passengers: The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. This risk increases with the number of teen passengers.4
• Newly licensed teens: Crash risk is particularly high during the first months of licensure.5,6

What factors put teen drivers at risk?

• Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations.7
• Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter headways (the distance from the front of one vehicle to the front of the next). The presence of male teenage passengers increases the likelihood of this risky driving behavior.8
• Among male drivers between 15 and 20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes in 2010, 39% were speeding at the time of the crash9 and 25% had been drinking.10
• Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. In 2011, only 54% of high school students reported they always wear seat belts when riding with someone else.11
• At all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash is greater for teens than for older drivers.12
• In 2010, 22% of drivers aged 15 to 20 involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes were drinking.10
  • In a national survey conducted in 2011, 24% of teens reported that, within the previous month, they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol and 8% reported having driven after drinking alcohol within the same one-month period.13
  • In 2010, 56% of drivers aged 15 to 20 were killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt.10
  • In 2010, half of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight and 55% occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.2

How can deaths and injuries resulting from crashes involving teen drivers be prevented?

There are proven methods to helping teens become safer drivers. Research suggests that the most comprehensive graduated drivers licensing (GDL) programs are associated with reductions of 38% and 40% in fatal and injury crashes, respectively, among 16-year-old drivers.14

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems are designed to delay full licensure while allowing teens to get their initial driving experience under low-risk conditions.

When parents know their state’s GDL laws, they can help enforce the laws and, in effect, help keep their teen drivers safe.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [Online]. (2012). National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (producer). [Cited 2012 Sept 28].
2. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Fatality facts: teenagers 2010. Arlington (VA): The Institute; 2012 [cited 2012 Sept 28]. http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality.aspx?topicName=Teenagers&year=2010
3. Finkelstein EA, Corso PS, Miller TR, Associates. Incidence and Economic Burden of Injuries in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press; 2006.
4. Chen L, Baker SP, Braver ER, Li G. Carrying passengers as a risk factor for crashes fatal to 16- and 17-year old drivers. JAMA 2000;283(12):1578–82. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=192524
5. Mayhew, D.R.; Simpson, H.M.; and Pak, A. 2003. Changes in collision rates among novice drivers during the first months of driving.Accident Analysis and Prevention 35:683-91.
6. McCartt, A.T.; Shabanova, V.I. and Leaf, W.A. 2003. Driving experiences, crashes, and teenage beginning drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention 35:311-20.
7. Jonah BA, Dawson NE. Youth and risk: age differences in risky driving, risk perception, and risk utility. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving 1987;3:13–29.
8. Simons-Morton B, Lerner N, Singer J. The observed effects of teenage passengers on the risky driving behavior of teenage drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention 2005;37(6):973-82.
9. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Dept. of Transportation (US).Traffic safety facts 2010: Speeding . Washington (DC): NHTSA; August 2012 [cited 2012 Sept 28].
10. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Dept. of Transportation (US).Traffic safety facts 2010: Young Drivers . Washington (DC): NHTSA; May 2012 [cited 2012 Sept 28 ].
11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 2011 YRBS Data User’s Guide [Online]. (2012). National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health (producer). [Cited 2012 Oct 1].ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/data/yrbs/2011/YRBS_2011_National_User_Guide.pdf  
12. Voas RB, Torres P, Romano E, Lacey JH. Alcohol-related risk of driver fatalities: an update using 2007 data. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2012 May;73(3):341-50.
13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2011 [Online]. (2012). MMWR 2012; 61(4). [Cited 2012 Sept 28 ].
14. Baker SP, Chen L, Li G. Nationwide review of graduated driver licensing. Washington (DC): AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety; 2007.http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/NationwideReviewOfGDL.pdf 

Source: CDC, “Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet” http://www.cdc.gov website. Accessed November 24, 2015. http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Dear Valued Customer,

According to the National Safety Council, the sad truth is that every day, more than 10 young drivers between 15 and 20 years old are killed in crashes, and another 745 are injured.

In this issue of the “————” we focus on protecting your teen driver. Read on to find out the types of cars which are safer for your teen to drive, the risky behavior you can discourage; speeding, cell phones, text messaging, etc. Last, but not least, read expert tips for keeping your teen driver safe, to help safeguard your teenager from a crucial, even fatal, driving error.

We appreciate your continued business and look forward to serving you.

Kind regards,

If your teenager has just gotten a driver’s license, it may be hard to imagine handing over the keys to your brand new car, but that may be the smartest vehicle to choose.

The first years teenagers spend as drivers are very risky. In fact, teen drivers have the highest death rates of any age group. In 1997 alone, more than 5,700 teenagers died in motor vehicle crashes, and many more were left severely and permanently injured by crashes.

While getting a driver’s license is an exciting rite-of-passage for teens, it can be enough to make a parent frantic. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) say there is something worried parents can do to protect their teens—choose a safe vehicle.

• Avoid vehicles that encourage reckless driving. Teen drivers not only lack experience, but may also lack maturity. As a result, speeding and reckless driving are common. Sports cars and other vehicles with high performance features, such as turbocharging, are likely to encourage speeding. Choosing a vehicle with a more sedate image will reduce the chances your teen will be in a speed-related crash.
• Don’t let your teen drive an unstable vehicle. Sport utility vehicles, especially the smaller ones, are inherently less stable than cars because of their higher centers of gravity. Abrupt steering maneuvers—the kind that can occur when teens are fooling around or over-correcting a driver error—can cause rollovers where a more stable car would, at worst, skid or spin out.
• Pick a vehicle that offers good crash protection. Teenagers should drive vehicles that offer state-of-the-art protection in case they do crash.
• Don’t let your teen drive a small vehicle. Small vehicles offer much less protection in crashes than larger ones. However, this doesn’t mean you should put your child in the largest vehicle you can find. Many mid- and full-size cars offer more than adequate crash protection. Check out the safety ratings for mid-size and larger cars.
• Avoid older vehicles. Most of today’s cars are better designed for crash protection than cars of six to ten years ago. For example, a newer, mid-size car with airbags would be a better choice than an older, larger car without airbags. Before you make a final choice on the car your teenager will drive, consult the U.S. Department of Transportationor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Teenagers and Safe Cars,” iii.org website. Accessed November 24, 2015.

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Do you remember your first year’s driving? Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year-olds? Research shows that more than half of teens who die in crashes are passengers, most were not wearing a seatbelt.

The two factors to the high crash rate in teens are immaturity and lack of driving experience. Teens tend to engage in risky behavior—eating, text messaging, talking to friends in the car—and often without wearing their seatbelts.

How does a parent ensure the safety of their inexperienced teenage driver? The Insurance Information Institute recommends parents take the following steps.

Pick a Safe Car

You and your teenager are encouraged to choose a car that is easy to drive and offer protection in a crash. Avoid small cars and those with high performance images that might encourage speed. Trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) should also be avoided, since they are more prone to rollovers.

Sign Up for a Drivers Education Course

The more driving practice the better; experience will give your teen confidence behind the wheel. A teen who has learned to drive through a education course is viewed more favorably by insurers and can earn a discount. In some states, teens must take a drivers education course to get a license at age 16. 

Enroll Your Teen in a Safe Driver Program

Check whether your insurance company offers a “safe driver” program. Teen participants sign parent-teen driving contracts that outline the driver’s responsibilities and the consequences of failure to meet expectations. If your teenager completes the program, you may be eligible for a discount.

Insurance companies are helping to reduce the number of accidents by subsidizing the cost of electronic devices, such as GPS systems, which can monitor the way teens drive and alert parents of unsafe driving.

Discuss the Dangers of Drug and Alcohol Use

Advise teens never to drink or do drugs, and not to get in a car if the driver has used drugs or alcohol. Encourage your teen to call you to ensure they have a safe way home.

Understand the Dangers of Distracted Driving

Talk to your teen about the importance of never phoning or texting while driving. Teens should also be responsible passengers when in their friends’ cars. New drivers should wait 1,000 miles or six months before picking up their first teen passenger.

Enroll Your Teen in a Graduated Drivers License Program

Many states have been successful in reducing teen accidents by enacting graduated drivers license (GDL) legislation. These laws, include a three-phase program, allowing teen drivers to gain more experience behind the wheel. New drivers are restricted from certain activities, such as late-night driving, until they have had their licenses for a set period. For more information on GDLs, visit www.iihs.org.

Parents should take an active role in their teenagers’ driving and expose them to driving in a variety of conditions to build experience. Allow independent driving only after continued practice, including night driving and driving in difficult weather.

Keep in mind, teens may not get to the appropriate level of maturity to handle a drivers license at the same time. Parents should consider whether teens are easily distracted, nervous or risk takers before allowing them to get a license.