Driving in California usually means paying attention to a thousand things at once. People with experience on the freeway or local boulevards get used to the demands of driving in such busy conditions. But those with fewer driving miles under their belt, like teenagers, can struggle to drive safely and to avoid the mistakes of others.
Maison Law examined national statistics on teen driving safety and California figures for this study. It’s hoped that visual reminders of the heartbreaking numbers of serious accidents and fatalities involving teens can encourage young drivers to take better care once they get their licenses.
Teen Driving Tragedies on U.S. Roads
The CDC reports that U.S. teen drivers between 16 and 19 have a fatal crash rate that’s three times greater than for drivers 20 and older. Brand new drivers, usually around 16 years old, also put themselves and others at more risk than even slightly older drivers. 16-year-old drivers have an accident rate that’s about 1.5 times higher than drivers who are 18 to 19 years old.
The National Safety Council (NSC) found that in the most recent years for which data is available, fatalities in U.S. accidents involving at least one teen driver are on the rise. In 2023, there were a tragic 5,588 lives lost in accidents involving a teen driver. That was up from 2022’s 5,361 deaths.
Of the fatalities recorded in 2023, 2,148 of the deaths were the young drivers themselves (ages 15-20). 1,114 victims were documented as passengers in the teen drivers’ cars. It remains to be seen if these shockingly high numbers will start a downward trend in 2024 and 2025.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that alcohol-involved teen driving accidents have been increasing across the nation in recent years. In 2022, the percentage of teen drivers (16-17) killed in accidents who had a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08% or above was at 22%. That number was 18% in 2021, and 17% the year before that.
Teen Drivers In California Fatal Accidents
Getting a driver’s license is a big moment in any young person’s life. Sadly, that joyous period of initial freedom can also come with life-threatening risks. Teens may act more recklessly when they are driving without parents. They may choose to consume alcohol before getting behind the wheel. Even teens doing their best to keep everyone safe can make mistakes due to their lack of experience with California traffic.
Sadly, recent accident statistics show that the fatal risks that teen drivers bring to the road are only growing. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reports that fatal crashes involving teen drivers in our state (ages 15 to 20) only rose by 1% from 2021 to 2022, but that’s still alarmingly high for both years.
Figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that teen drivers in California put other motorists and themselves at risk. In 2021, our state lost 188 teen drivers (15-20) to collisions. When compared to the rest of the United States, that figure is only behind Texas (219) in the loss of young drivers.
California Teen Driving Dangers Across a Decade
The California DOT also put out a report that included teen driver accident statistics over a ten-year span. They examined accidents involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 years old within that time frame.
They discovered that accidents caused by teen motorists remained high, but steady, over the decade that they observed. Teen driver fatalities made up about 13% of the total fatalities on California roads for the decade of data used.
Some cities contributed more than others to the frightening teen accident cases. Los Angeles was the scene for about 50% of the fatal accidents that claimed the lives of teen drivers.
The DOT broke out the number of fatal accidents in certain California cities and the percentage of those accidents that claimed a teen driver’s life.
A few other startling facts that emerged from California’s data on teen driving accidents:
- DOT researchers found that over the decade, serious accidents involving teens were most often caused by three factors. Speeding, improper turning, and drug or alcohol abuse.
- DOT researchers discovered that 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. was the deadliest time for teen driving accidents. Around 50% of all serious teen driving accidents occurred during this period.
- In 2024, Los Angeles recorded 783 accidents w/injuries involving teenage drivers (15-19). Fresno recorded 168 similar accidents. Modesto recorded 177 similar collisions.
Safe Driving for Teens in 2025 and Beyond
Maison Law of California hopes that 2025 accident statistics will show an improvement in these tragic figures. It’s an achievable goal for teens to make better decisions at the wheel and for older drivers to show more caution around young drivers and all California motorists.
For more information on how teens and parents can protect themselves during those first driving years, check out our Ultimate Guide to Safe Teen Driving in California.
