(800) 956-3728 Teen Driving: more at-risk than others on the road
Learn about teen driving risks.
Car Insurance for Teens
Even the safest teen drivers need the right protection. Auto insurance for teens helps cover the costs of accidents and provides peace of mind for families. Whether you’re looking for student driver insurance, coverage for a new license holder, or ways to save with discounts, Mercury can help.
Distracted driving, speeding and other factors
Drivers need to focus on one thing when they’re behind the wheel … driving. That means keeping your eyes on the road and continuously scanning for unexpected hazards, other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Giving into distractions limits response time if you need to brake immediately or avoid something in your path.
Distracted driving is a major factor in a number of crashes involving teens. In 2022, distracted driving was was a contributing factor in 8% of auto deaths. According to the same Consumer Reports study, teen drivers used handheld cellphones on over 30% of drives, while they admitted to speeding approximately 40% of their trips.
Parental guidance is required
The old saying “do as I say, not as I do” does not apply when it comes to driving. Kids learn from their parents starting at an early age, as they are constantly observing and mimicking their parents’ behavior. Parents must lead by example and put down the distractions if they expect their teens to do the same.
Parents can guide their teens to be responsible drivers by enforcing their state’s Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) laws. These laws enable teens to gain valuable driving experience before they are granted full license privileges and parents should be diligent about ensuring their children are adhering to them.
Commit to being a responsible driver
Actions speak louder than words. While teens may promise to behave responsibly when not under their parents’ watchful eyes, they may be tempted to break the rules when driving on their own. Parents can help prevent needless accidents and deaths by having their teens put in writing that they understand the rules for retaining driving privileges, as well as the circumstances under which these privileges would be lost. Contracts are binding, so parents should be sure to discuss the specifics of what they’re signing with their teen before handing over the car keys.
For more tips to reduce the number of teen crashes and fatalities, visit Mercury’s Drive Safe Challenge, a platform for parents and teens to have serious discussions about driving. It includes tips to help parents communicate with their teens about appropriate driving behavior, crash statistics, driving tips, videos and additional resources to help teens stay safe behind the wheel. You can also find additional causes of teen driving collisions and how to protect against them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Driving
What are the common collision factors related to teen driving?
Most teen crashes come down to inexperience and distraction. New drivers often misjudge gaps in traffic, miss hazards, or overcorrect when something unexpected happens. Add in texting, talking to friends in the car, or speeding, and the risks climb even higher.
What is the best car insurance for teens?
Finding the right car insurance for a teen driver can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. When shopping for coverage, look for:
- Strong Protection: Ensure your teen is fully protected by including liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage.
- Affordable Options: Seek out insurers that specialize in keeping rates reasonable for young drivers.
- Cost-Saving Discounts: Look for good student discounts, multi-car savings, and bundling options to lower your premium.
- Supportive Service: Choose a company with local agents who can guide you through what your teen really needs on the road.
Mercury makes it simple for teens and families to get quality coverage that fits their budget, without cutting corners. Talk to a Mercury agent today to find a plan that gives your teen the right protection and gives you peace of mind.
What are the risk factors that lead to teen car crashes?
The biggest risks for teen drivers include:
- Lack of experience: Teens are still learning how to spot hazards and make quick decisions.
- Impulsiveness: Risky choices like speeding or following too closely are more common.
- Peer pressure: Friends in the car can encourage unsafe behavior.
- Alcohol or drugs: Even small amounts dramatically raise crash risk.
- Nighttime/weekend driving: More accidents happen during these times.
- Distractions: Phones and passengers make it harder to focus on the road.
What is the impact of distractions on teen drivers?
Distractions are one of the biggest dangers for teen drivers. Checking a text, scrolling through music, or turning to talk to friends takes attention off the road, even for just a few seconds. That short lapse can mean missing a stoplight, drifting out of a lane, or not braking in time.
How do teen passengers influence the driving behavior of their peers?
Friends in the car can be a big distraction for new drivers. Even one passenger makes a teen more likely to take risks, and the chances of a crash go way up when several teens are riding together. Whether it’s talking, laughing, or daring the driver to speed, that peer pressure can pull focus from the road.
What laws protect teen drivers from accidents?
Every state has Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws to help teens ease into driving. These state driving laws set rules like minimum permit age, required supervised hours, limits on nighttime driving, and restrictions on carrying teen passengers.
What are the statistics regarding teen driving accidents?
Here are some key statistics according to the most recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
- Teens ages 16–19 have the highest crash risk of any age group.
- At night, their fatal crash rate is about 3x higher than adult drivers ages 30–59 (per mile driven).
- In 2023, 3,048 teens (ages 13–19) died in motor vehicle crashes.
- Nearly two out of three teens killed in crashes that year were male.
- In 2023, 59% of teen passenger deaths happened when another teen was behind the wheel.
- Across passengers of all ages, 15% of fatalities occurred in crashes where the driver was a teenager.
Why are teens more at risk of driving?
It comes down to a mix of inexperience and behavior. Teens don’t have the same judgment as older drivers, which makes them more likely to take risks such as texting, driving at night, or skipping seat belts. They’re also more influenced by peers, which can add pressure to speed or take chances. Focusing on teen driving safety strategies, like limiting passengers and reducing nighttime driving, can help lower those risks.