Teen Driver Safety

Florida has more than 800,000 registered teen drivers (ages 15 to 19), according to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration.  West Florida is one of the top regions of the state where young males live that are involved in fatal and serious injury crashes – some 20,000 crashes from 2015-2020. Polk, Manatee, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties are the highest.

Teen drivers are inexperienced, therefore more likely to underestimate dangerous situations and allow shorter distances between vehicles.

The highest crash rate of teenage drivers is age 16 and 17. A recent NHTSA study found teens are 2.5 times more likely to engage in potentially risky behavior when driving. The likelihood of a crash increased to three times when traveling with multiple passengers.

In a study that examined the relative risk of death among teen driver crashes found teens in crashes carrying at least two passengers where twice as likely to die as teen drivers with no passengers.  The teen driver was seven times as likely to die when carrying a mix of teens and young adult passengers compared to teens driving along (Journal of Adolescent Health, 2022).

In another study using installed in-vehicle feedback device and phone app, researchers found that 63% of teen drivers were speeding (Injury Prevention, 2022). Other behaviors included hard braking and sudden acceleration.

What can teen drivers do to be safer on the road? 

• Both teen driver and parent can sign a pledge or commitment to safe driving.
• Reduce distractions – this is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, changing stations on the radio or entertainment system.
• Drive alone and focus on driving.

Our target is ZERO fatalities and serious injuries. Because when it comes to human lives, no other number is acceptable.

Resources Available:

• Teen Safe Driving Coalition
• Parent & Teen Safe Driving Agreement
• Practice Log for Learner’s Permit
• Graduated Driver Licensing