Auto Insurance
Teen Driver Deaths: How They’ve Changed in the Past 10 Years, Where They’re Most (and Least) Common and How They’re Happening
Teen Driver Deaths: How They’ve Changed in the Past 10 Years, Where They’re Most (and Least) Common and How They’re Happening
While getting a driver’s license is a rite of passage for many teens, the road is a dangerous place — particularly for the inexperienced. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S.
We’ll go over where teen driver deaths are the most common and which states are the safest for the U.S.’ youngest and most vulnerable drivers. Additionally, stick around for tips on how to utilize your car insurance to improve road safety.
On this page
- Key findings
- Teen driver deaths dropped in the past 10 years but rose in the most recent year-over-year period
- Where teen fatality rates are highest
- Minnesota is the safest state for teen drivers
- Which states saw the biggest jump in teen driver deaths?
- Speeding was involved in 44.4% of teen driver deaths — here are some other common factors
- Can your car insurance help improve teen driver safety? Experts say yes
- Methodology
Key findings
- Teen driver deaths dropped 6.4% over the past 10 years for which data was available, but they rose 14.3% in the most recent year-over-year period. 1,495 teen drivers younger than 20 were killed in fatal crashes in 2011, compared with 1,225 in 2019 and 1,400 in 2020 (the latest year for which data was available). Overall, 13,554 teen drivers died between 2011 and 2020.
- Kentucky had the highest fatality rate among teen drivers between 2011 and 2020 — 5.79 annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers. Mississippi (4.31) and Wyoming (2.98) are next. To compare, the fatality rate among teen drivers in the U.S. during the same period was 1.59 annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers.
- The safest state for teen drivers was Minnesota, which had 0.65 annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers. The next closest states were New Jersey (0.69) and Utah (0.75). Overall, nine states had a fatality rate of less than 1.00 annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers between 2011 and 2020.
- Delaware saw a 300.0% jump in teen driver deaths between 2011 and 2020 — the highest across the U.S. That said, the death total went from two in 2011 to eight in 2020. The states with the next biggest increases were Alaska (150.0%, from two in 2011 to five in 2022) and New Mexico (144.4%, from nine in 2011 to 22 in 2020).
- Speeding was 38.0% more likely in teen driver deaths than across all driver deaths between 2011 and 2020. 44.4% of teen driver deaths in the past 10 years involved speeding, versus 32.2% across all driver deaths.
Teen driver deaths dropped in the past 10 years but rose in the most recent year-over-year period
Over the past 10 years for which data was available, teen driver deaths dropped 6.4%. In 2011, 1,495 teen drivers younger than 20 were killed in fatal crashes. Meanwhile, there were 1,400 teen driver deaths in 2020 (the latest year available).
Although teen driver deaths have decreased in the past 10 years, they spiked from 1,225 in 2019 to 1,400 in 2020 — a significant increase of 14.3%.
According to ValuePenguin auto insurance expert Divya Sangameshwar, that uptick is likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The 2020 spike in fatalities is part of a larger trend of an increase in fatalities during the pandemic," she says. "Crash fatalities rose 7.2% in 2020 despite a historic decrease in the number of miles Americans drove. Sadly, teenagers’ inexperience behind the wheel meant they were more likely to engage in risky behaviors during the pandemic — which largely caused the spike in overall crash fatalities throughout 2020."
Teen driver fatalities by year
Year | Teen driver deaths | Year-over-year change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1,495 | N/A |
| 2012 | 1,374 | -8.1% |
| 2013 | 1,198 | -12.8% |
| 2014 | 1,309 | 9.3% |
| 2015 | 1,420 | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 1,441 | 1.5% |
| 2017 | 1,389 | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 1,303 | -6.2% |
| 2019 | 1,225 | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 1,400 | 14.3% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data from 2011 through 2020.
Overall, 13,554 teen drivers died between 2011 and 2020 — part of the 224,437 total fatal driver deaths in that period.
What risk factors are particularly present in teens? According to Sangameshwar, the majority of teen risk factors boil down to inexperience on the road.
"Teen drivers are more likely to underestimate or not recognize dangerous situations, leading them to make critical errors that lead to fatal crashes," she says. "Older drivers develop a sixth sense when it comes to road awareness, which is something teens are still developing. Things like regularly checking mirrors or blind spots and driving a safe distance behind other vehicles are behaviors that we learn through years of driving experience. This inexperience and lack of road awareness puts teens at greater risk of fatal crashes, especially if they’re also participating in risky driving."
Where teen fatality rates are highest
Kentucky had the highest fatality rate among teen drivers, with 5.79 annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers between 2011 and 2020. To put that into context, the fatality rate among teen drivers in the U.S. during the same period was 1.59 annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers.
Why Kentucky? One possible factor could be the state's rural nature, with many areas lacking public transportation and forcing teenagers to drive long distances to school, work and elsewhere. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), just 1.0% of Kentucky workers older than 16 took public transportation to work in 2018 (the latest data available). That compares with a national average of 4.9%.
States with the highest teen driver fatality rates, 2011-2020
Rank | State | Annual teen driver deaths | Teen drivers | Annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | 28.0 | 48,325 | 5.79 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 33.0 | 76,586 | 4.31 |
| 3 | Wyoming | 6.3 | 21,152 | 2.98 |
| 4 | Arkansas | 21.5 | 78,601 | 2.74 |
| 5 | Montana | 10.6 | 39,338 | 2.69 |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data from 2011 through 2020 and Office of Highway Policy Information data from 2021.
Mississippi ranked second, with 4.31 annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers in the past 10 years. Like Kentucky, Mississippi’s rural nature means a lack of public transportation, forcing more teen drivers on the road. According to the BTS, just 0.3% of Mississippi workers older than 16 took public transportation to work.
Additionally, Mississippi has a low seat belt usage rate, which could also account for teen driving deaths in the state. In 2021, seat belt usage in Mississippi was 80.0%, according to the NHTSA’s National Occupant Protection Use Survey. That compares with a national seat belt usage rate of 90.4%.
Wyoming followed, with a rate of 2.98 annual teen driver deaths between 2011 and 2020. Another rural state, just 1.2% of workers older than 16 took public transportation to work in 2018, according to the BTS. Wyoming also had an exceptionally low seat belt usage rate at 80.2%, according to the NHTSA use survey.
Minnesota is the safest state for teen drivers
On the other hand, the safest state for teen drivers was Minnesota. Despite its severe weather (with frequent snowstorms often increasing the risk of icy roads and low visibility), Minnesota had 0.65 annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers between 2011 and 2020.
Why Minnesota? Unlike the states with the highest rates of teen driver deaths, Minnesota has a higher rate of public transportation usage — likely due to the state’s metropolitan areas. According to the BTS, 3.5% of Minnesota workers older than 16 took public transportation to work in 2018. Seat belt usage was also higher in the state, at a rate of 92.4% in 2021.
States with the lowest teen driver fatality rates, 2011-2020
Rank | State | Annual teen driver deaths | Teen drivers | Annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | 15.6 | 239,892 | 0.65 |
| 2 | New Jersey | 15.1 | 219,821 | 0.69 |
| 3 | Utah | 11.3 | 150,246 | 0.75 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 12.3 | 159,961 | 0.77 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 8.5 | 90,226 | 0.94 |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data from 2011 through 2020 and Office of Highway Policy Information data from 2021.
Following that, New Jersey (0.69) was the next safest state. Like Minnesota, New Jersey had a high seat belt usage rate of 93.9% in 2021. More residents here also use public transportation, reducing the risk of accidents among teen drivers. In 2018, 11.7% of workers older than 16 used public transportation — nearly 7 percentage points higher than the national average.
That’s followed by Utah, with 0.75 annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers.
Overall, nine states had a fatality rate of less than 1.00 deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers between 2011 and 2020. Notably, five of the nine states had a higher seat belt usage rate in 2021 than the national average.
Full rankings
States with the highest/lowest teen driver fatality rates, 2011-2020
Rank | State | Annual teen driver deaths | Teen drivers | Annual deaths per 10,000 licensed teen drivers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | 28.0 | 48,325 | 5.79 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 33.0 | 76,586 | 4.31 |
| 3 | Wyoming | 6.3 | 21,152 | 2.98 |
| 4 | Arkansas | 21.5 | 78,601 | 2.74 |
| 5 | Montana | 10.6 | 39,338 | 2.69 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 54.5 | 206,802 | 2.64 |
| 7 | Louisiana | 30.2 | 117,186 | 2.58 |
| 8 | New Mexico | 12.4 | 50,630 | 2.45 |
| 9 | Missouri | 43.7 | 191,445 | 2.28 |
| 10 | West Virginia | 11.9 | 52,750 | 2.26 |
| 11 | Maine | 7.5 | 33,336 | 2.25 |
| 12 | North Dakota | 6.4 | 29,707 | 2.15 |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data from 2011 through 2020 and Office of Highway Policy Information data from 2021.
Which states saw the biggest jump in teen driver deaths?
When it comes to which states saw the biggest jump in teen driver deaths, Delaware ranked first. Between 2011 and 2020, Delaware saw a 300.0% jump in teen driver deaths. While that’s a significant increase, it’s important to note that the overall number of teen driver deaths in the state is relatively low — increasing from two teen driver deaths in 2011 to eight in 2020.
With that in mind, it’s hard to link any factors to the increase in deaths. With such a small number of deaths occurring each year in Delaware, that jump could be statistical noise rather than an underlying trend — although pandemic-related increases in dangerous driving habits may certainly play a role.
States with the biggest jumps in teen driver deaths
Rank | State | Deaths in 2011 | Deaths in 2020 | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 2 | 8 | 300.0% |
| 2 | Alaska | 2 | 5 | 150.0% |
| 3 | New Mexico | 9 | 22 | 144.4% |
| 4 | Nevada | 5 | 8 | 60.0% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 2 | 3 | 50.0% |
| 5 | Utah | 10 | 15 | 50.0% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data from 2011 through 2020.
Alaska followed, with teen driver deaths jumping from two in 2011 to five in 2022 — an increase of 150.0%. While those numbers are also relatively low (meaning the increase here could also be due to chance or random fluctuations), the third-ranking state — New Mexico — saw a significant change in teen driver deaths. In New Mexico, teen driver deaths jumped from nine in 2011 to 22 in 2020 — a 144.4% increase.
It’s worth noting that seat belt usage in the state declined. While no data is available for 2020, the seat belt usage rate in New Mexico was 89.6% in 2021, according to the NHTSA use survey. While the state had a similarly low rate in 2011 — at 89.2% — seat belt usage in the state rose to 93.3% in 2015 before declining again.
Full rankings
States with the biggest/smallest jumps in teen driver deaths
Rank | State | Deaths in 2011 | Deaths in 2020 | Percent change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 2 | 8 | 300.0% |
| 2 | Alaska | 2 | 5 | 150.0% |
| 3 | New Mexico | 9 | 22 | 144.4% |
| 4 | Nevada | 5 | 8 | 60.0% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 2 | 3 | 50.0% |
| 5 | Utah | 10 | 15 | 50.0% |
| 7 | California | 79 | 113 | 43.0% |
| 8 | Arkansas | 24 | 33 | 37.5% |
| 9 | Mississippi | 29 | 38 | 31.0% |
| 10 | Oregon | 14 | 18 | 28.6% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 9 | 11 | 22.2% |
| 12 | Arizona | 30 | 36 | 20.0% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data from 2011 through 2020.
Speeding was involved in 44.4% of teen driver deaths — here are some other common factors
Some factors play a larger role in fatalities among teen drivers, one of which is speeding. While 44.4% of teen driver deaths in the past 10 years involved speeding, speeding was involved in 32.2% across all driver deaths — meaning teen driver deaths were 38.0% more likely to involve high speeds.
Percentage of driver deaths that involved speeding, distracted driving and drunken driving
Age | Number of driver deaths that involved speeding | Total driver deaths | Percentage of driver deaths that involved speeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 20 years old | 6,021 | 13,554 | 44.4% |
| All driver fatalities | 72,237 | 224,437 | 32.2% |
| Age | Number of driver deaths that involved distracted driving | Total driver deaths | Percentage of driver deaths that involved distracted driving |
| Under 20 years old | 1,164 | 13,554 | 8.6% |
| All driver fatalities | 13,620 | 224,437 | 6.1% |
| Age | Number of driver deaths that involved drunken driving | Total driver deaths | Percentage of driver deaths that involved drunken driving |
| Under 20 years old | 3,120 | 13,554 | 23% |
| All driver fatalities | 75,918 | 224,437 | 34% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data from 2011 through 2020.
While Sangameshwar says this isn’t surprising, she says it’s devastating due to its preventability.
"Teens may not realize that going faster isn’t going to get them to their destination quicker, and that maneuvering around slower cars and hard braking at stops puts them at tremendous risk," she says. "There is a cautionary tale for parents and members of the community. Conversations with teens around safe driving are heavily focused on not drinking and driving or the perils of distracted driving. Speeding needs to be a bigger part of the conversation."
Despite being a focal point in safe driving conversations, distracted driving and drunken driving aren’t as prevalent in teen driver deaths (though still significant). Teen drivers are more likely to be distracted during a fatal wreck than any other age group — 8.6% of teen driver deaths involve distracted driving, compared with 6.1% across all driver deaths. Meanwhile, the driver in 23% of teen driver deaths had a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher. That compares with 34% of all driver deaths.
There are also some notable statistics surrounding the time that teen driver deaths occur. Teen drivers are more likely to be involved in fatal crashes on the weekend (43.1%) than all drivers (40.0%). Meanwhile, teen drivers are also more likely to be involved in fatal crashes during the nighttime (52.3%) than all drivers (46.8%)
Percentage of driver deaths by the time of day and the day of the week
Age | Weekday | Weekend | Total | Percentage of driver deaths that occurred over the weekend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 20 years old | 7,696 | 5,835 | 13,554 | 43.1% |
| All driver fatalities | 134,244 | 89,693 | 224,437 | 40.0% |
| Age | Daytime | Nighttime | Total | Percentage of fatal accidents that occurred during nighttime |
| Under 20 years old | 6,348 | 7,090 | 13,554 | 52.3% |
| All driver fatalities | 117,430 | 105,082 | 224,437 | 46.8% |
Additionally, it’s worth noting that boys account for 72.4% of teen driver deaths between 2011 and 2020 — the lowest percentage among boys and men across any age group. That compares with 77.2% across all age groups.
Can your car insurance help improve teen driver safety? Experts say yes
For most parents, ensuring their teen practices safe driving habits is crucial. Sangameshwar says there are a few ways you can help instill these habits in your teen driver — and some can also net you insurance premium discounts. Particularly, she recommends the following:
- Comply with your state’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) requirements. "One of the reasons why teen driver fatalities have declined over the years is because there’ve been laws passed by every state restricting teenagers’ access to full driving privileges until they’ve gained some experience behind the wheel," Sangameshwar says. "Restrictions include no driving at night, no cellphone use in the car, no driving with other teens in the car and making sure every passenger is wearing a seat belt. It’s important to learn these restrictions and enforce them with your teen to keep them safe, and compliant with the law."
- Look into telematics insurance. "Telematics insurance uses monitoring devices to adjust your insurance rates," she says. "Installing a telematics device or using your car’s own telematics tracking capabilities will help you and your teen track speed, aggressive accelerating, aggressive cornering, harsh braking, seat belt use and smartphone use while you’re behind the wheel. You can use this information to improve your teen’s — and your own — driving safety. The bonus? Auto insurance companies offer discounts if you’ve demonstrated good driving behavior."
- Ask your insurer about their teen driver safety program. "Most insurers offer programs that educate teen drivers about safe driving that go beyond what they may have learned in driving school or from their parents," she says. "These comprehensive programs — which can be free — include an online course teaching teens about everything from road awareness to risk to blind zones. Completing a program like this will also make your teen eligible for a discount on their auto insurance premiums."
Methodology
ValuePenguin analysts researched National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data to compile the number of teen driver deaths — those younger than 20 — between 2011 and 2020 (the latest year available). Our figures look at drivers, so they don’t include vehicle occupant, pedestrian or cyclist fatalities.
We compared teen driver deaths to licensing numbers from the Office of Highway Policy Information for 2021. We compared these numbers to estimate an annual fatality rate per 10,000 licensed teen drivers, which we used to rank the states from high to low.
We also ranked the percentage change in the number of teen driver deaths from 2011 to 2020, from high to low.
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