NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Young drivers aged 15-20 were involved in 1 in every 8 fatal crashes over the past decade, according to a new ValuePenguin.com analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). And while the number is still worryingly high - the yearly number of fatal crashes involving the youngest drivers has fallen since 2010.

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Key Findings:

  • Drivers aged 15 to 20 were behind the wheel in 13% of fatal auto crashes in the past decade and accounted for 10% of Americans killed in deadly crashes. From 2010 to 2019 - the latest year of data available - young drivers were behind the wheel in 41,187 fatal crashes.
  • Nebraska, Utah, Kansas, Idaho and Montana topped the country for the highest percentage of fatal crashes with young drivers behind the wheel since 2010. Maryland, Hawaii, Rhode Island and New Jersey had the lowest percentage of fatal crashes with young drivers behind the wheel since 2010
  • Additionally Nebraska, Missouri, Montana, Idaho and Kansas also had the largest share of 15-20 year old fatalities in car crashes. In Delaware,Rhode Island, New Jersey, Nevada, and Oregon this age range accounted for 8-9% of roadway fatalities, the lowest in the U.S.
  • Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, North Dakota and New York saw the steepest drop in young and teen driver fatalities over the past decade - fatalities here have fallen a tremendous 43% to 54% since 2010. Nevada, Alaska and Oregon saw teen driver fatalities increase 29% to 58% since 2010.

According to Andrew Hurst, Insurance Data analyst at ValuePenguin.com, "On National Teen Driver safety week - these findings underscore the importance of educating teens and young drivers about safe driving." He adds, "In addition to safety, young drivers face steep financial penalties for unsafe driving. In addition to costly repairs, an 18-year-old driver's car insurance rates will increase by an average of 253% after an accident."

To view the full report, visit: https://www.valuepenguin.com/car-accidents-young-drivers

ValuePenguin researchers calculated the number of deaths and fatal crashes involving young people ages 15 to 20 as drivers and passengers. This analysis covers 2010 to 2019 — the most recently available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Analysts also looked at insurance rate data for 18-year-old drivers before and after an accident. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings.

How Does Your State Fare for Teen Driver Fatalities?

State

Young Drivers'
Share of fatal
crashes

Young Drivers and
Passengers' Share of
deaths

Increase/Decrease
in Fatal Crashes
since 2010

Nebraska

16.30%

13%

-3%

Utah

16.00%

11%

-9%

fKansas

15.70%

12%

-27%

Idaho

15%

12%

-13%

North Dakota

14%

10%

-47%

Iowa

14%

12%

-43%

Minnesota

14%

10%

-41%

South Dakota

14%

11%

-33%

Ohio

14%

11%

-28%

Indiana

14%

11%

-22%

Oklahoma

14%

11%

-21%

Mississippi

14%

11%

-19%

Michigan

14%

10%

-18%

Alabama

14%

11%

-18%

Wisconsin

14%

10%

-11%

Missouri

14%

12%

-8%

Texas

14%

11%

-5%

Montana

14%

12%

7%

Colorado

14%

11%

16%

Pennsylvania

13%

10%

-38%

Washington

13%

11%

-31%

North Carolina

13%

10%

-27%

Louisiana

13%

11%

-25%

Illinois

13%

10%

-21%

South Carolina

13%

10%

-17%

Georgia

13%

10%

-7%

New Mexico

13%

10%

6%

Tennessee

13%

10%

6%

Alaska

13%

11%

43%

Maine

12%

11%

-54%

New Hampshire

12%

10%

-53%

West Virginia

12%

9%

-40%

Kentucky

12%

9%

-38%

Virginia

12%

10%

-22%

Wyoming

12%

10%

-13%

Delaware

12%

8%

0%

Florida

12%

9%

7%

California

12%

11%

8%

Arkansas

12%

10%

11%

Arizona

12%

10%

16%

Rhode Island

11%

9%

-50%

New York

11%

10%

-43%

Massachusetts

11%

10%

-42%

Vermont

11%

11%

-33%

New Jersey

11%

9%

-20%

Connecticut

11%

10%

7%

Nevada

11%

9%

29%

Oregon

11%

9%

58%

Maryland

10%

10%

-23%

Hawaii

10%

12%

-21%

District of Columbia

7%

12%

Insufficient Data

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SOURCE ValuePenguin.com