Fatality Facts 2024Teenagers

Overview

In the United States, teenagers drive less than all but the oldest people, but their numbers of crashes and crash deaths are disproportionately high. Using data from the National Household Travel Survey, the fatal crash rate per miles driven for 16-19 year-olds is just over 3 times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over. Risk is highest at ages 16-17.

Beginning in the mid-1990s, all states adopted graduated licensing systems, which phase in full driving privileges. National studies of graduated licensing found that strong laws were associated with substantially lower fatal crash rates and substantially lower insurance claim rates among young teen drivers covered by the laws. Strengthening restrictions on nighttime driving and teen passengers, as well as raising the licensing age, reduced rates of fatal crashes and insurance collision claims (McCartt et al., 2012; Trempel, 2009).

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

Posted June 2026.

Passenger vehicle occupants

In 2024, 63% of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.

Teenage passenger vehicle occupant deaths by age and seating position, 2024
Age Driver Passenger Total*
Number % Number % Number %
13 0 0 47 100 47 100
14 11 14 69 86 80 100
15 36 28 92 72 128 100
16 159 58 114 42 273 100
17 245 60 162 40 408 100
18 312 61 194 38 508 100
19 394 68 181 31 579 100
Total 1,157 57 859 42 2,023 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2024, 58% of the deaths of teenage passengers in passenger vehicles occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 13% occurred when a teenager was driving.

Passenger vehicle passenger deaths by passenger age and driver age, 2024
Passenger age Driver Age All ages
13-19 years 20-24 years 25-29 years 30-59 years 60-69 years ≥70 years Unknown
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number
<13 22 4 65 12 111 20 319 58 18 3 8 1 5 1 549
13-19 502 58 153 18 37 4 143 17 7 1 3 <1 14 2 859
20-24 82 12 310 47 119 18 124 19 5 1 4 1 15 2 659
25-29 14 3 89 22 150 36 145 35 7 2 1 <1 6 1 412
30-59 62 4 115 7 177 11 991 64 118 8 61 4 25 2 1,549
60-69 4 1 13 3 9 2 159 38 149 36 76 18 4 1 414
70+ 5 1 12 1 7 1 203 21 159 17 560 59 1 <1 947
Unknown 1 4 4 16 4 16 6 24 1 4 1 4 8 32 25
All ages 692 13 761 14 614 11 2,090 39 464 9 714 13 78 1 5,414

In 2024, belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-19 was generally higher than among those ages 20-29 and lower than among those ages 60 and older. For passengers, belt use was similar for teens and those ages 20-29 and increased with age for those ages 30 and older. 

Seat belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants by age and seating position, 2024
Age Drivers Passengers
Belt used Unbelted Unknown Belt used Unbelted Unknown
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
13 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 49 15 32 9 19
14 4 36 6 55 1 9 20 29 41 59 8 12
15 11 31 16 44 9 25 24 26 59 64 9 10
16 71 45 68 43 20 13 33 29 60 53 21 18
17 103 42 107 44 35 14 49 30 79 49 34 21
18 128 41 139 45 45 14 69 36 97 50 28 14
19 159 40 188 48 47 12 58 32 90 50 33 18
20-24 667 37 934 51 220 12 205 31 345 52 109 17
25-29 538 34 819 52 209 13 144 35 207 50 61 15
30-59 3,067 41 3,609 48 843 11 632 41 731 47 186 12
60-69 1,192 55 819 38 169 8 240 58 133 32 41 10
70+ 1,930 64 830 28 241 8 712 75 166 18 69 7

Among passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-19 involved in fatal crashes in 2024, 41% were involved in single-vehicle crashes. This was the highest of any age group.

Passenger vehicle drivers in fatal crashes by age and crash type, 2024
Single vehicle Multiple vehicle All crashes
Number % Number % Number %
16-19 1,256 41 1,801 59 3,057 100
20-24 1,827 38 2,934 62 4,761 100
25-29 1,544 36 2,706 64 4,250 100
30-59 6,941 36 12,609 64 19,550 100
60-69 1,626 35 3,041 65 4,667 100
70+ 1,505 30 3,515 70 5,020 100

Population and mileage rates

From 1975 to 2024, the rate of passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 people declined by 64% for teenagers ages 16-19, 50% for people ages 20-34, 35% for people ages 35-69, and 23% for people 70 and older. 

Passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 people by age group, 1975-2024
16-19 years 20-34 years 35-69 years 70+ years
Population Number Rate Population Number Rate Population Number Rate Population Number Rate
1975 17,016,355 8,135 47.8 50,998,098 19,930 39.1 74,764,829 15,503 20.7 14,563,945 2,270 15.6
1976 17,194,079 8,424 49.0 52,745,005 19,863 37.7 75,419,921 15,182 20.1 14,960,120 2,383 15.9
1977 17,276,153 8,954 51.8 54,497,448 21,612 39.7 76,203,083 15,719 20.6 15,401,249 2,371 15.4
1978 17,287,835 9,286 53.7 55,909,063 23,381 41.8 77,348,222 16,408 21.2 15,876,541 2,518 15.9
1979 17,242,116 9,245 53.6 57,499,197 24,018 41.8 78,311,107 16,062 20.5 16,388,617 2,390 14.6
1980 17,112,117 8,618 50.4 58,814,391 23,930 40.7 79,111,522 15,960 20.2 16,897,977 2,370 14.0
1981 16,756,984 7,812 46.6 60,563,416 23,850 39.4 79,785,591 16,176 20.3 17,322,714 2,484 14.3
1982 16,280,287 6,515 40.0 61,099,524 20,972 34.3 81,488,902 14,565 17.9 17,783,888 2,515 14.1
1983 15,783,684 6,259 39.7 61,840,154 20,102 32.5 82,861,204 14,553 17.6 18,233,751 2,571 14.1
1984 15,257,750 6,462 42.4 62,491,255 21,172 33.9 84,256,661 15,240 18.1 18,662,938 2,764 14.8
1985 14,969,843 6,288 42.0 62,961,154 21,055 33.4 85,628,410 15,441 18.0 19,072,785 3,003 15.7
1986 14,981,380 7,028 46.9 63,115,889 22,199 35.2 87,205,537 15,894 18.2 19,463,480 3,235 16.6
1987 15,172,917 7,029 46.3 63,032,298 22,618 35.9 88,808,046 16,930 19.1 19,890,817 3,375 17.0
1988 15,159,185 7,246 47.8 62,784,739 22,552 35.9 90,464,406 17,675 19.5 20,302,280 3,616 17.8
1989 14,874,579 6,909 46.4 62,494,056 21,521 34.4 92,250,762 17,925 19.4 20,719,397 3,628 17.5
1990 14,424,509 6,351 44.0 62,282,683 20,863 33.5 94,140,108 17,714 18.8 21,164,283 3,677 17.4
1991 13,935,348 5,714 41.0 62,025,750 19,162 30.9 96,068,111 16,439 17.1 21,751,897 3,763 17.3
1992 13,720,071 5,238 38.2 61,427,100 17,980 29.3 98,214,539 16,499 16.8 22,321,217 3,834 17.2
1993 13,874,164 5,437 39.2 60,582,332 17,809 29.4 100,399,648 17,167 17.1 22,800,673 4,144 18.2
1994 14,128,177 5,789 41.0 59,629,351 17,834 29.9 102,541,525 17,663 17.2 23,243,845 4,332 18.6
1995 14,401,118 5,892 40.9 58,712,407 18,071 30.8 104,712,328 19,045 18.2 23,693,757 4,508 19.0
1996 14,907,191 6,042 40.5 57,753,910 17,879 31.0 106,975,953 19,479 18.2 24,056,323 4,557 18.9
1997 15,257,453 5,964 39.1 57,046,569 17,005 29.8 109,232,426 19,895 18.2 24,408,817 4,832 19.8
1998 15,649,272 5,958 38.1 56,421,053 16,434 29.1 111,331,195 20,277 18.2 24,793,551 4,816 19.4
1999 15,927,464 6,178 38.8 55,961,401 16,320 29.2 113,451,312 19,832 17.5 25,092,805 4,811 19.2
2000 16,192,473 6,054 37.4 58,971,709 16,606 28.2 117,114,739 20,185 17.2 25,559,879 4,587 17.9
2001 16,232,934 5,990 36.9 59,465,066 16,401 27.6 119,060,436 20,500 17.2 25,797,467 4,655 18.0
2002 16,287,999 6,151 37.8 60,046,068 16,834 28.0 120,913,207 20,590 17.0 26,005,326 4,548 17.5
2003 16,344,596 5,761 35.2 60,599,350 16,468 27.2 122,772,578 21,053 17.1 26,200,946 4,654 17.8
2004 16,518,068 5,737 34.7 61,003,240 16,533 27.1 124,762,848 20,742 16.6 26,337,518 4,363 16.6
2005 16,652,533 5,364 32.2 61,180,772 16,598 27.1 126,831,714 21,200 16.7 26,658,669 4,252 15.9
2006 16,996,219 5,279 31.1 61,527,219 16,315 26.5 128,907,361 20,315 15.8 26,884,798 4,074 15.2
2007 17,208,807 4,962 28.8 61,623,322 15,549 25.2 130,500,566 19,540 15.0 27,135,517 3,995 14.7
2008 17,314,417 4,036 23.3 61,990,546 13,630 22.0 131,908,058 17,698 13.4 27,521,034 3,720 13.5
2009 17,404,102 3,615 20.8 63,105,881 12,272 19.4 132,693,708 16,491 12.4 27,786,270 3,552 12.8
2010 17,750,955 3,232 18.2 62,914,600 11,973 19.0 135,270,594 16,002 11.8 27,957,657 3,610 12.9
2011 17,503,125 2,963 16.9 63,965,818 11,808 18.5 136,306,915 15,566 11.4 28,472,279 3,533 12.4
2012 17,230,188 2,901 16.8 64,900,433 12,368 19.1 137,323,658 16,230 11.8 29,152,093 3,637 12.5
2013 17,034,699 2,573 15.1 65,681,251 12,058 18.4 138,067,096 16,119 11.7 30,040,362 3,641 12.1
2014 16,896,162 2,618 15.5 66,367,803 12,126 18.3 139,015,319 16,072 11.6 30,864,009 3,706 12.0
2015 16,840,766 2,919 17.3 66,762,737 13,366 20.0 140,231,069 17,855 12.7 31,624,778 3,925 12.4
2016 16,939,001 3,020 17.8 67,142,780 14,420 21.5 141,361,052 18,578 13.1 32,406,486 4,269 13.2
2017 16,992,577 2,940 17.3 67,381,469 14,151 21.0 141,662,252 19,015 13.4 33,964,043 4,483 13.2
2018 16,936,745 2,812 16.6 67,504,170 13,707 20.3 142,087,330 18,793 13.2 35,290,306 4,510 12.8
2019 16,888,181 2,706 16.0 67,647,658 13,142 19.4 142,410,359 18,641 13.1 36,592,368 4,576 12.5
2020 16,785,009 2,990 17.8 67,664,401 14,717 21.7 142,779,669 19,099 13.4 37,785,698 4,044 10.7
2021 17,208,740 3,419 19.9 67,019,102 16,428 24.5 145,289,674 21,704 14.9 37,453,633 4,692 12.5
2022 17,239,226 3,205 18.6 68,207,079 15,344 22.5 144,843,869 21,544 14.9 39,163,430 5,001 12.8
2023 17,603,088 3,265 18.5 67,353,688 14,603 21.7 145,889,613 20,600 14.1 40,097,633 4,925 12.3
2024 18,012,130 3,057 17.0 68,875,800 13,341 19.4 147,470,776 19,887 13.5 41,690,447 5,020 12.0

The rate of deaths per 100,000 people in 2024 peaked at age 19 for male drivers (13.7) and at age 18 for male passengers (4.7). Death rates peaked at ages 20-24 for female drivers (4.2) and at age 18 for female passengers (3.9).

Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age and sex, 2024

Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age and sex, 2024
Age Male Female Total
Population Driver deaths Passenger deaths Population Driver deaths Passenger deaths Population Driver deaths Passenger deaths
Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate
<13 26,186,557 1 0.0 239 0.9 25,052,130 0 0.0 308 1.2 51,238,687 1 0.0 547 1.1
13 2,147,339 0 0.0 33 1.5 2,039,680 0 0.0 13 0.6 4,187,019 0 0.0 46 1.1
14 2,187,937 6 0.3 43 2.0 2,084,497 5 0.2 26 1.2 4,272,434 11 0.3 69 1.6
15 2,234,299 26 1.2 51 2.3 2,129,396 10 0.5 41 1.9 4,363,695 36 0.8 92 2.1
16 2,322,582 123 5.3 71 3.1 2,210,108 36 1.6 43 1.9 4,532,690 159 3.5 114 2.5
17 2,326,541 175 7.5 101 4.3 2,211,654 69 3.1 59 2.7 4,538,195 244 5.4 160 3.5
18 2,296,205 242 10.5 109 4.7 2,187,878 70 3.2 85 3.9 4,484,083 312 7.0 194 4.3
19 2,282,142 313 13.7 100 4.4 2,175,020 81 3.7 81 3.7 4,457,162 394 8.8 181 4.1
20-24 11,451,815 1,360 11.9 377 3.3 10,970,121 461 4.2 280 2.6 22,421,936 1,821 8.1 657 2.9
25-29 11,390,736 1,131 9.9 219 1.9 11,069,140 434 3.9 192 1.7 22,459,876 1,565 7.0 411 1.8
30-59 65,458,093 5,477 8.4 751 1.1 65,215,403 2,037 3.1 795 1.2 130,673,496 7,514 5.8 1,546 1.2
60-69 19,660,608 1,576 8.0 153 0.8 21,130,660 603 2.9 261 1.2 40,791,268 2,179 5.3 414 1.0
70+ 18,393,028 2,019 11.0 266 1.4 23,297,419 978 4.2 681 2.9 41,690,447 2,997 7.2 947 2.3

Based on calculations made using data from the National Household Travel Survey, the rate of fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled in 2022 was higher for males 16-19 than females 16-19. 

Fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled by driver age and sex, 2022
Age Male Female Total*
Crash involvements Miles Rate Crash involvements Miles Rate Crash involvements Miles Rate
16-19 2,268 24,773,280,873 9.2 931 17,958,953,050 5.2 3,202 42,732,233,923 7.5
20-29 7,231 103,551,242,731 7.0 3,205 99,971,939,624 3.2 10,447 203,523,182,355 5.1
30-59 14,700 662,258,967,734 2.2 6,770 469,345,549,163 1.4 21,493 1,131,604,516,897 1.9
60-69 3,319 194,486,635,148 1.7 1,470 102,811,834,430 1.4 4,793 297,298,469,578 1.6
70+ 3,350 116,384,336,202 2.9 1,638 48,262,219,156 3.4 4,996 164,646,555,358 3.0
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

When teenagers died

In 2024, teenage crash deaths peaked in June. 

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by month, 2024
Month Deaths %
January 197 7
February 192 7
March 232 8
April 215 7
May 260 9
June 300 10
July 286 10
August 273 9
September 273 9
October 236 8
November 236 8
December 199 7
Total 2,899 100

Fifty-one percent of motor vehicle crash deaths among teenagers in 2024 occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2024
Day of week Deaths %
Sunday 502 17
Monday 377 13
Tuesday 353 12
Wednesday 324 11
Thursday 375 13
Friday 419 15
Saturday 549 19
Total 2,899 100

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2024 occurred most frequently from 9 p.m. to midnight (18%), followed by the time between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. (18%) and between midnight and 3 a.m. (17%).

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2024
Time of day Deaths %
Midnight - 3 a.m. 488 17
3 a.m. - 6 a.m. 260 9
6 a.m. - 9 a.m. 246 9
9 a.m. - noon 190 7
Noon - 3 p.m. 275 10
3 p.m. - 6 p.m. 386 13
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. 510 18
9 p.m. - midnight 527 18
Total* 2,899 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Alcohol involvement

Young drivers are less likely than adults to drive after drinking alcohol, but their crash risk is substantially higher when they do. This is especially true at low and moderate blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) (Vaos et al., 2012). An estimated 20% of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17 had BACs at or above 0.08% in 2024. That is substantially lower than the 41% estimated in 1982, but the percentage has been mostly climbing since 2017.  

Percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08% by age, 1982-2024

Estimated percent and number of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08% by age group, 1982-2024
Year 16-17 years 18-20 years 21-30 years >30 years
Drivers killed Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 Drivers killed Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 Drivers killed Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 Drivers killed Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Number Number % Number Number % Number Number % Number Number %
1982 894 368 41 2,561 1,458 57 6,255 3,952 63 9,873 4,213 43
1983 896 344 38 2,426 1,336 55 6,059 3,861 64 9,861 3,946 40
1984 966 321 33 2,470 1,270 51 6,413 3,882 61 10,356 3,865 37
1985 931 249 27 2,296 1,010 44 6,277 3,664 58 10,476 3,718 35
1986 1,169 335 29 2,464 1,158 47 6,708 3,973 59 11,056 3,885 35
1987 1,189 311 26 2,434 1,002 41 6,820 3,982 58 11,605 4,030 35
1988 1,174 302 26 2,609 1,054 40 6,828 3,993 58 12,156 4,197 35
1989 1,061 235 22 2,477 991 40 6,486 3,680 57 12,396 4,261 34
1990 997 224 22 2,393 973 41 6,150 3,506 57 12,283 4,237 34
1991 902 193 21 2,115 851 40 5,612 3,180 57 11,806 3,998 34
1992 901 166 18 1,796 663 37 5,133 2,760 54 11,652 3,824 33
1993 935 152 16 1,871 643 34 5,084 2,661 52 12,068 3,861 32
1994 1,005 166 17 1,988 633 32 4,986 2,485 50 12,571 3,787 30
1995 1,015 150 15 1,969 575 29 5,094 2,593 51 13,286 4,174 31
1996 1,107 186 17 1,922 584 30 5,002 2,482 50 13,523 4,085 30
1997 1,092 181 17 1,952 594 30 4,793 2,282 48 13,822 4,016 29
1998 1,060 161 15 2,041 607 30 4,599 2,232 49 13,896 3,952 28
1999 1,094 173 16 2,172 677 31 4,668 2,267 49 13,922 3,882 28
2000 999 159 16 2,255 689 31 4,721 2,278 48 13,798 4,021 29
2001 992 132 13 2,256 692 31 4,748 2,365 50 13,845 4,025 29
2002 1,127 155 14 2,334 720 31 4,957 2,468 50 14,057 4,040 29
2003 994 159 16 2,272 701 31 4,862 2,312 48 14,011 3,946 28
2004 969 149 15 2,207 666 30 4,984 2,375 48 13,748 3,762 27
2005 881 132 15 2,106 603 29 5,079 2,495 49 13,860 3,871 28
2006 861 152 18 2,161 681 32 5,156 2,536 49 13,358 3,785 28
2007 775 133 17 1,949 632 32 5,025 2,592 52 12,655 3,667 29
2008 580 91 16 1,709 534 31 4,376 2,322 53 11,484 3,297 29
2009 503 69 14 1,545 539 35 3,863 2,020 52 10,834 3,146 29
2010 410 58 14 1,265 380 30 3,687 1,812 49 10,562 2,900 27
2011 422 78 18 1,299 410 32 3,595 1,740 48 10,146 2,814 28
2012 390 60 15 1,228 376 31 3,726 1,798 48 10,460 2,946 28
2013 301 31 10 1,076 328 31 3,659 1,785 49 10,426 2,944 28
2014 344 50 15 1,089 294 27 3,627 1,703 47 10,330 2,840 27
2015 380 53 14 1,206 295 24 3,848 1,657 43 11,082 2,896 26
2016 405 47 12 1,181 282 24 4,177 1,802 43 11,706 2,967 25
2017 374 47 12 1,099 272 25 4,031 1,712 42 12,085 3,057 25
2018 354 52 15 1,079 232 21 3,929 1,662 42 11,732 2,974 25
2019 295 51 17 1,035 236 23 3,592 1,541 43 11,781 2,930 25
2020 360 60 17 1,210 326 27 4,227 1,735 41 12,277 3,354 27
2021 405 73 18 1,301 338 26 4,487 1,932 43 13,888 3,800 27
2022 430 85 20 1,177 355 30 4,082 1,826 45 13,666 3,692 27
2023 419 106 25 1,154 351 30 3,712 1,683 45 12,780 3,404 27
2024 404 83 20 1,078 393 36 3,339 1,556 47 12,376 3,333 27

Among all age groups of fatally injured drivers in 2024, females were less likely than males to have high BACs. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17, 22% of males and 17% of females had BACs at or above 0.08%. Among fatally injured drivers ages 18-19, 37% of males and 25% of females had BACs at or above 0.08%.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08% by sex and age, 2024
Age Male Female Total*
Drivers killed Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 Drivers killed Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 Drivers killed Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Number Number % Number Number % Number Number %
16-17 298 65 22 105 18 17 404 83 20
18-19 555 205 37 151 38 25 706 243 34
20 284 122 43 88 28 32 372 150 40
21-30 2,441 1,198 49 897 358 40 3,339 1,556 47
31-60 5,417 2,070 38 2,017 561 28 7,439 2,633 35
61-70 1,511 367 24 586 72 12 2,098 439 21
>70 1,910 198 10 925 63 7 2,839 261 9
All ages* 12,461 4,236 34 4,787 1,142 24 17,268 5,387 31
*Total includes other and/or unknowns