Teen Drivers

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group.1 In 2009, eight teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries. Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.Teens are at risk because they are inexperienced and teenage drivers are more likely to:

• Drive aggressively

• Not wear seat belts

• Underestimate the dangers associated with hazardous driving situations

Teenage drivers also have the highest percentage of crashes involving speeding, single-vehicle crashes, crashes with driver error and the highest vehicle occupancy or number of passengers in the vehicle.

• Always wear your seat belt--and make sure all passengers buckle up, too.

• Adjust your car's headrest to a height behind your head--not your neck--to minimize whiplash in case you're in an accident.

• Never try to fit more people in the car than you have seatbelts for them to use.

• Obey the speed limits, Going too fast gives you less time to stop or react.

• Don't run red lights.

• Use turn signals to indicate your intention to turn or to change lanes. Turn it on to give the cars behind you enough time to react before you take the action. Also, make sure the signals turns off after you've completed the action.

• When light turns green, make sure intersection clears before you go.

• Don't drive like you own the road; drive like you own the car.

• Make sure your windshield is clean. At sun rise and sun set, light reflecting off your dirty windshield can momentarily blind you from seeing what's going on.

• Drive into your garage straight, not on an angle. Another teen thought her car would straighten out before she got inside, but instead she dented the car and broke the molding on the garage.

• Make sure your car has gas in it. Don't ride around with the gauge on empty--who knows where you might get stranded.

• Don't drink and drive, and don't ride with anyone who has been drinking. Call parents or friends to take you home if you need a ride.

• Don't take drugs or drive if you've taken any. Don't ride with anyone who has been using drugs. Even some over the counter drugs can make you drowsy. Check label for warnings.

For more information about insuring teen drivers, refer to these frequently asked questions and answers or the driver’s licensing information by state. You can also watch Young Drivers: The High-Risk Years (16 min.) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.