How do teenage crash rates compare with rates from other age groups?
New drivers have very high rates of all types of crashes compared with drivers of other ages. Many teenagers also die each year as passengers in motor vehicle accidents. 62% of teenage passenger deaths in 2001 occurred in crashes where another teenager was at the wheel. Teenagers experience greater fatality rates than other age groups as both drivers and passengers, but fatality rates are even higher for passengers than for drivers.

What makes accidents involving teenagers different?
Teenagers not only have higher crash rates than other age groups, but their crashes are different from those of other drivers. In an accident between a teenager, and a non-teenager, the teenager is much more likely to have been the one at fault. Teenagers are much more likely to be involved in single-vehicle accidents. Teenagers are also more likely to drive fast, and as a result, teenage car accidents are much more often an issue of speed than in any other age group. Teenagers drive more often at night than other age groups, and often in older, less safe vehicles. Teenagers tend to have a higher number of people in their cars during an accident. 

Are younger teens less safe than older teens?
Yes.  Not surprisingly, the newest drivers are the least safe. 16-year olds have a heightened rate in almost every category discussed, including speeding, fatalities, single vehicle accidents and so on. As teenagers get older, they slowly get safer due to driving experience.

Why is the teenage crash and fatality rate so high?
Immaturity and lack of driving experience are the two most reported factors that contribute to crash and fatality rates. There are, however, many other issues and circumstances that occur in teenage vehicles much more often that lead to the unusually high accident rate. Teenagers as a group are more willing to take risks of all kinds, and this translates into their driving. They often tend to underestimate the dangers of certain road conditions and to not wear seat belts. Teenage car accidents are much more likely to involve alcohol in some way. These are four main reasons and factors that lead to the high accident and fatality rate among teenage car accidents.

How important is the issue of alcohol in teenagers' crashes?
Very. Drinking plays a role in far too many car accidents involving teenagers, mainly because of their inexperience with alcohol and driving. Even at legal and moderate levels of alcohol concentration, teenage drivers are far more likely to be involved in an accident. 1 out of every 5 teenage drivers involved in accidents had an illegal blood alcohol level in their system. This is a staggering figure.

These answers provide a little more knowledge on the issue of driving responsibly, but it’s really up to you.  Millions of teenagers undergo tedious driver education courses, a course detailing driver safety. Ultimately it’s up to you to be safe.  The long and short of it is simple: Safe driving is a huge issue today simply because some teenagers are inexperienced and unsafe behind the wheel. They don’t realize the importance of following simple traffic laws.