U.S. Reference Page

Teen driver safety statistics.

Current, citable facts about teen driver crashes and the conditions that make a serious mistake more likely.

Last updated August 25, 2026. Every figure below names its reporting year and source.

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At a glance

What the latest numbers make clear.

Teen drivers are learning a complex skill at the same time they are gaining independence. The numbers below are a practical reference for families, schools, community groups, and anyone writing about teen driver safety. They are not a substitute for state licensing rules or individual professional advice.

2,899

Teen crash deaths

Teenagers ages 13 to 19 who died in U.S. motor-vehicle crashes in 2024.

That total includes teens in every road-user role, not only drivers. IIHS Fatality Facts, 2024 data.

3 of 4

Male teen crash deaths

About three of every four teenagers killed in U.S. motor-vehicle crashes in 2024 were male.

This pattern has long appeared in national crash-fatality data, even as the overall number of teen crash deaths has fallen. IIHS Fatality Facts, 2024 data.

41%

Single-vehicle fatal crashes

Of passenger-vehicle drivers ages 16 to 19 involved in fatal crashes in 2024 were involved in a single-vehicle crash.

IIHS reports that this was the highest share of any age group. IIHS Fatality Facts, 2024 data.

Fatal-crash rate

The approximate fatal-crash rate per mile driven for drivers ages 16 to 19, compared with drivers 20 and older.

Police-reported crashes of all severities also put the teen crash rate at more than four times the rate for drivers 20 and older. IIHS, 2024 overview.

51%

Weekend crash deaths

Of U.S. motor-vehicle crash deaths among teenagers occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday in 2024.

Teen crash deaths also occurred most often from 9 p.m. to midnight, followed by 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and midnight to 3 a.m. IIHS Fatality Facts, 2024 data.

39%

Texting or emailing

Of high school students who drove in the prior 30 days said they had texted or emailed while driving on at least one of those days.

This is a survey measure, not a crash count. CDC, 2019 survey data.

43.1%

Seat belt use

Of U.S. high school students said they had not always worn a seat belt when riding in a car driven by someone else during the prior 30 days.

In the same 2019 survey, 16.7% reported riding with a drinking driver and 5.4% of students who drove reported driving after drinking alcohol. CDC survey, 2019 data.

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A practical takeaway

Experience matters, especially when the road gets less forgiving.

The statistics do not mean a teen is destined to make a dangerous choice. They show why graduated practice, calm coaching, seat belts, phone-free driving, passenger limits, and extra care at night deserve attention before a difficult situation arrives.

Families and schools looking for controlled practice around hazard recognition and decision-making can explore Training Wheelz USA's instructor-led simulator courses.

Explore the D.E.F.E.N.S.E. Course →

Methodology and sources

How to use this page.

This page brings together the most recent public figures available from the named source for each topic. Reporting years differ because national crash and survey datasets are released on different schedules. The figures are presented as reported, without combining totals from different datasets.

Training Wheelz USA. “Teen Driver Safety Statistics: U.S. Data.” Updated August 25, 2026. https://trainingwheelzusa.com/teen-driver-safety-statistics.

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