All drivers face risks, but the factor that contributes most to crashes and deaths appears to be inexperience.1 Newly licensed drivers, primarily teenagers, have the highest crash rates. Risk factors for motor vehicle crashes among drivers of all ages include:
- Having teenage passengers
- Being distracted while driving, including from using cell phones or texting
- Driving at excessive speeds, close following, and other risky driving
- Drinking and driving
- Driving at night
- Being male. Teenage boys, especially ones with male passengers, are involved in more car crashes than teenage girls. However, the number of females involved in car crashes is increasing.2
Often, several of these risk factors are present. In addition, young drivers who own their cars may take more risks. They are more likely to speed, especially at night, and have two or more teen passengers with them.2
A positive factor for teen drivers is the presence of an adult passenger. One study showed that teen crash rates were 75% lower when an adult was in the car but nearly 100% higher with teenage passengers only.3
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). (2012). Fatality facts 2010: Teenagers. Retrieved May 3, 2012, from http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality.aspx?topicName=Teenagers&year=2010 [top]
- Klauer, S. G., Simons-Morton, B., Lee, S. E., Quimet, M. C., Howard, E. H., & Dingus, T. A. (2011). Novice drivers' exposure to known risk factors during the first 18 months of licensure: The effect of vehicle ownership. Traffic Injury Prevention, 12, 159–168. [top]
- Simons-Morton, B. G., Quimet, M. C., Zhang, Z., Klauer, S. E., Lee, S. E., Wang, J., et al. (2011). The effect of passengers and risk-taking friends on risky driving and crashes/near crashes among novice drivers. Journal of Adolescent Health, 49, 587–593. [top]