Fatality Facts 2020Teenagers

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. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. (2020). [Unpublished analysis of April 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Household Travel Survey, General Estimates System, and Fatality Analysis Reporting System]. The fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16-19 year-olds is nearly 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. Strong restrictions on nighttime driving and teen passengers, as well as raising the licensing age, reduced rates of fatal crashes and insurance collision claims. McCartt, A. T., Teoh, E. R., Fields, M., Braitman, K. A., & Hellinga, L. A. (2010). Graduated licensing laws and fatal crashes of teenage drivers: A national study. Traffic Injury Prevention, 11, 240-248.Trempel, R. E. (2009). Graduated driver licensing laws and insurance collision claim frequencies of teenage drivers. Highway Loss Data Institute.

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

Posted May 2022.

Passenger vehicle occupants

In 2020, 60 percent of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.

Teenage passenger vehicle occupant deaths by age and seating position, 2020
AgeDriver PassengerTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
13 5 9 52 91 57 100
14 9 10 84 90 93 100
15 24 18 109 82 133 100
16 125 42 171 58 297 100
17 234 57 178 43 412 100
18 367 65 200 35 567 100
19 406 68 193 32 600 100
Total 1,170 54 987 46 2,159 100

In 2020, 56 percent of the deaths of teenage passengers in passenger vehicles occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 15 percent occurred when a teenager was driving.

Passenger vehicle passenger deaths by passenger age and driver age, 2020
Passenger ageDriver AgeAll ages
13-19 years 20-24 years 25-29 years 30-59 years 60-69 years ≥70 yearsUnknown
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number
<13 44 7 70 12 124 21 333 55 21 3 5 1 5 1 602
13-19 553 56 206 21 54 5 149 15 12 1 5 1 8 1 987
20-24 121 15 432 53 138 17 113 14 6 1 2<1 9 1 821
25-29 23 4 111 20 222 40 181 33 7 1 3 1 7 1 554
30-59 74 4 133 8 228 14 1,046 63 113 7 52 3 21 1 1,667
60-69 12 3 11 3 25 7 128 35 136 37 53 14 2 1 367
70+ 3<1 10 1 10 1 157 23 117 17 383 56 1<1 682
Unknown 3 10 9 29 4 13 11 35 1 3 2 6 1 3 31
All ages 833 15 982 17 805 14 2,118 37 413 7 505 9 54 1 5,711

In 2020, belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers age 16 (52 percent), 17 (41 percent), 18 (42 percent) and 19 (46 percent) was higher than among fatally injured drivers ages 20-59 (39 percent), but lower than that among drivers 60 and older combined (59 percent). Among fatally injured 16-19 year-old occupants, belt use among passengers (30 percent) was considerably lower than among drivers (44 percent). Note that belt use among those fatally injured is not always accurately recorded, but it gives an indication of relative belt use rates in serious crashes by age group.

Seat belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants by age and seating position, 2020
AgeDrivers Passengers
Belt used Unbelted Unknown Belt used Unbelted Unknown
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
1300 3 60 2 40 25 48 18 35 9 17
14 2 22 7 7800 30 36 47 56 7 8
15 10 42 12 50 2 8 37 34 55 50 17 16
16 65 52 48 38 12 10 58 34 98 57 15 9
17 96 41 116 50 22 9 56 31 94 53 28 16
18 153 42 175 48 39 11 49 24 120 60 31 16
19 186 46 183 45 37 9 59 31 102 53 32 17
20-24 799 37 1,082 51 259 12 243 30 463 56 115 14
25-29 737 35 1,109 53 258 12 194 35 284 51 76 14
30-59 3,274 40 4,024 50 824 10 638 38 824 49 205 12
60-69 1,130 53 830 39 171 8 211 57 125 34 31 8
70+ 1,620 63 762 30 176 7 505 74 147 22 30 4

Among passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-19 involved in fatal crashes in 2020, 44 percent were involved in single-vehicle crashes. This was higher than for drivers ages 20 and older (37 percent).

Passenger vehicle drivers in fatal crashes by age and crash type, 2020
Single vehicle Multiple vehicleAll crashes
Number%Number%Number%
16-19 1,305 44 1,692 56 2,997 100
20-24 2,174 41 3,093 59 5,267 100
25-29 2,078 40 3,182 60 5,260 100
30-59 7,222 37 12,398 63 19,620 100
60-69 1,507 35 2,815 65 4,322 100
70+ 1,236 30 2,837 70 4,073 100

Population and mileage rates

From 1975 to 2020, the rate of passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 people declined by 62 percent for teenagers ages 16-19 (from 47.6 to 17.9), 43 percent for people ages 20-34 (from 38.7 to 22.0), 33 percent for people ages 35-69 (from 20.5 to 13.7), and 30 percent for people 70 and older (from 15.4 to 10.8). The teenage passenger vehicle driver fatal crash involvement rate rose in 2020 for the first time since 2016, and was 10% higher than the rate in 2019.

Passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 people by age group, 1975-2020
16-19 years 20-34 years 35-69 years 70+ years
PopulationNumberRatePopulationNumberRatePopulationNumberRatePopulationNumberRate
1975 17,016,355 8,09447.6 50,998,09819,71538.7 74,764,82915,32520.5 14,563,945 2,24915.4
1976 17,194,079 8,45749.2 52,745,00519,84737.6 75,419,92115,12720.1 14,960,120 2,39516.0
1977 17,276,153 8,96851.9 54,497,44821,53039.5 76,203,08315,71020.6 15,401,249 2,38715.5
1978 17,287,835 9,29753.8 55,909,06323,28441.6 77,348,22216,32321.1 15,876,541 2,52415.9
1979 17,242,116 9,24053.6 57,499,19723,99141.7 78,311,10716,07520.5 16,388,617 2,38614.6
1980 17,112,117 8,63750.5 58,814,39123,95740.7 79,111,52216,00220.2 16,897,977 2,37514.1
1981 16,756,984 7,80046.5 60,563,41623,75839.2 79,785,59116,13120.2 17,322,714 2,48714.4
1982 16,280,287 6,50940.0 61,099,52420,84834.1 81,488,90214,49117.8 17,783,888 2,52214.2
1983 15,783,684 6,25339.6 61,840,15419,95532.3 82,861,20414,45917.4 18,233,751 2,57414.1
1984 15,257,750 6,46442.4 62,491,25520,96433.5 84,256,66115,07917.9 18,662,938 2,77014.8
1985 14,969,843 6,27641.9 62,961,15420,83733.1 85,628,41015,26517.8 19,072,785 3,00515.8
1986 14,981,380 7,01746.8 63,115,88922,00834.9 87,205,53715,73618.0 19,463,480 3,23516.6
1987 15,172,917 7,02146.3 63,032,29822,38735.5 88,808,04616,74918.9 19,890,817 3,37617.0
1988 15,159,185 7,24947.8 62,784,73922,36735.6 90,464,40617,50119.3 20,302,280 3,62317.8
1989 14,874,579 6,90646.4 62,494,05621,27334.0 92,250,76217,78019.3 20,719,397 3,63117.5
1990 14,424,509 6,35644.1 62,282,68320,71533.3 94,140,10817,57918.7 21,164,283 3,68817.4
1991 13,935,348 5,71841.0 62,025,75019,07330.8 96,068,11116,36617.0 21,751,897 3,76917.3
1992 13,720,071 5,23138.1 61,427,10017,84629.1 98,214,53916,37716.7 22,321,217 3,83417.2
1993 13,874,164 5,43439.2 60,582,33217,69129.2 100,399,64817,02417.0 22,800,673 4,14618.2
1994 14,128,177 5,77340.9 59,629,35117,67229.6 102,541,52517,51417.1 23,243,845 4,32518.6
1995 14,401,118 5,87440.8 58,712,40717,91130.5 104,712,32818,86918.0 23,693,757 4,50519.0
1996 14,907,191 6,02140.4 57,753,91017,73830.7 106,975,95319,26618.0 24,056,323 4,56319.0
1997 15,257,453 5,94739.0 57,046,56916,84729.5 109,232,42619,70818.0 24,408,817 4,82319.8
1998 15,649,272 5,93837.9 56,421,05316,27128.8 111,331,19520,03118.0 24,793,551 4,80819.4
1999 15,927,464 6,15838.7 55,961,40116,15428.9 113,451,31219,58517.3 25,092,805 4,80619.2
2000 16,192,473 6,04137.3 58,971,70916,44427.9 117,114,73919,96617.0 25,559,879 4,57417.9
2001 16,232,934 5,98336.9 59,465,06616,28427.4 119,060,43620,28717.0 25,797,467 4,64918.0
2002 16,287,999 6,13437.7 60,046,06816,68627.8 120,913,20720,35816.8 26,005,326 4,54317.5
2003 16,344,596 5,74535.1 60,599,35016,32926.9 122,772,57820,79916.9 26,200,946 4,64417.7
2004 16,518,068 5,72434.7 61,003,24016,40126.9 124,762,84820,50916.4 26,337,518 4,35516.5
2005 16,652,533 5,36032.2 61,180,77216,51627.0 126,831,71421,00416.6 26,658,669 4,23715.9
2006 16,996,219 5,27031.0 61,527,21916,23726.4 128,907,36120,15215.6 26,884,798 4,06415.1
2007 17,208,807 4,97028.9 61,623,32215,62425.4 130,500,56619,69615.1 27,135,517 4,00414.8
2008 17,314,417 4,04623.4 61,990,54613,69622.1 131,908,05817,86813.5 27,521,034 3,73913.6
2009 17,404,102 3,62020.8 63,105,88112,33819.6 132,693,70816,67112.6 27,786,270 3,56512.8
2010 17,750,955 3,23418.2 62,914,60012,06619.2 135,270,59416,20412.0 27,957,657 3,63013.0
2011 17,503,125 2,97717.0 63,965,81811,96018.7 136,306,91515,82811.6 28,472,279 3,55212.5
2012 17,230,188 2,91716.9 64,900,43312,49319.2 137,323,65816,52812.0 29,152,093 3,65112.5
2013 17,034,699 2,58415.2 65,681,25112,17818.5 138,067,09616,40511.9 30,040,362 3,65612.2
2014 16,896,162 2,62215.5 66,367,80312,20518.4 139,015,31916,25111.7 30,864,009 3,72012.1
2015 16,840,766 2,92417.4 66,762,73713,44420.1 140,231,06918,04312.9 31,624,778 3,94412.5
2016 16,939,001 3,04017.9 67,142,78014,62221.8 141,361,05219,02413.5 32,406,486 4,30213.3
2017 16,992,577 2,96617.5 67,381,46914,39921.4 141,662,25219,48513.8 33,964,043 4,52813.3
2018 16,936,745 2,84416.8 67,504,17013,99120.7 142,087,33019,29613.6 35,290,306 4,55012.9
2019 16,888,181 2,73316.2 67,647,65813,43719.9 142,410,35919,16413.5 36,592,368 4,62112.6
2020 16,785,009 2,99717.9 67,664,40114,89222.0 142,779,66919,57713.7 37,785,698 4,07310.8

The rate of deaths per 100,000 people in 2020 peaked at ages 20-24 for male drivers (14.3) and at age 18 for male passengers (5.1). Death rates peaked at age 19-24 for female drivers (5.3) and at age 18 for female passengers (4.5).

Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age and sex, 2020

Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age and sex, 2020
Age Male FemaleTotal
PopulationDriver deathsPassenger deathsPopulationDriver deathsPassenger deathsPopulationDriver deathsPassenger deaths
NumberRateNumberRateNumberRateNumberRateNumberRateNumberRate
<13 26,508,833 2 0.0 324 1.2 25,378,314 1 0.0 276 1.1 51,887,147 3 0.0 600 1.2
13 2,155,552 5 0.2 26 1.2 2,064,369 0 0.0 26 1.3 4,219,921 5 0.1 52 1.2
14 2,138,493 8 0.4 49 2.3 2,047,865 1 0.0 35 1.7 4,186,358 9 0.2 84 2.0
15 2,131,384 12 0.6 66 3.1 2,044,536 12 0.6 42 2.1 4,175,920 24 0.6 108 2.6
16 2,136,152 99 4.6 94 4.4 2,051,722 26 1.3 76 3.7 4,187,874 125 3.0 170 4.1
17 2,123,989 180 8.5 94 4.4 2,040,904 54 2.6 83 4.1 4,164,893 234 5.6 177 4.2
18 2,122,009 283 13.3 108 5.1 2,037,848 84 4.1 92 4.5 4,159,857 367 8.8 200 4.8
19 2,181,063 296 13.6 109 5.0 2,091,322 110 5.3 83 4.0 4,272,385 406 9.5 192 4.5
20-24 11,032,846 1,579 14.3 452 4.1 10,561,909 561 5.3 368 3.5 21,594,755 2,140 9.9 820 3.8
25-29 11,875,126 1,515 12.8 326 2.7 11,356,117 587 5.2 228 2.0 23,231,243 2,102 9.0 554 2.4
30-59 63,051,741 5,847 9.3 827 1.3 63,892,086 2,268 3.5 839 1.3 126,943,827 8,115 6.4 1,666 1.3
60-69 18,367,857 1,535 8.4 155 0.8 20,306,388 595 2.9 212 1.0 38,674,245 2,130 5.5 367 0.9
70+ 16,431,157 1,766 10.7 202 1.2 21,354,541 788 3.7 479 2.2 37,785,698 2,554 6.8 681 1.8

The rate of fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled in 2016-17 was highest at ages 16-19 for male drivers and at ages 80 and over for female drivers.Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. (2020). [Unpublished analysis of April 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Household Travel Survey, General Estimates System, and Fatality Analysis Reporting System]. 

Fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled by driver age and sex, April 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017
AgeMale FemaleTotal*
Crash involvementsMilesRateCrash involvementsMilesRateCrash involvementsMilesRate
16-19 2,019 31,732,691,896 6.4 1,003 30,677,731,652 3.3 3,024 62,410,423,548 4.8
20-24 3,898 89,913,330,623 4.3 1,713 82,245,489,504 2.1 5,618 172,158,820,127 3.3
25-29 3,429 97,584,235,223 3.5 1,533 115,903,021,775 1.3 4,964 213,487,256,997 2.3
30-59 12,875 785,270,175,131 1.6 6,011 558,224,868,022 1.1 18,889 1,343,495,043,154 1.4
60-69 3,019 207,918,951,320 1.5 1,380 136,711,746,704 1.0 4,401 344,630,698,024 1.3
70-79 1,754 85,010,352,002 2.1 807 54,430,675,479 1.5 2,563 139,441,027,481 1.8
80+ 1,169 19,674,241,353 5.9 568 12,308,938,944 4.6 1,737 31,983,180,297 5.4

The rate of nighttime fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled in 2016-17 for male drivers ages 16-19 was almost 3 times that of male drivers ages 30-59. The corresponding comparison for females yields just over double the rate. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. (2020). [Unpublished analysis of April 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Household Travel Survey, General Estimates System, and Fatality Analysis Reporting System]. 

Nighttime (9 p.m.-6 a.m.) fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled by driver age and sex, April 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017
AgeMale Female
Crash involvementsMilesRateCrash involvementsMilesRate
16-19 788 4,931,226,605 16.0 300 2,916,766,045 10.3
20-24 1,788 12,749,476,470 14.0 662 11,332,793,419 5.8
25-29 1,565 12,346,988,856 12.7 555 6,306,786,823 8.8
30-59 4,372 79,775,321,852 5.5 1,480 35,496,839,100 4.2
60-69 592 15,786,500,196 3.8 196 7,501,060,309 2.6
70+ 294 4,365,410,112 6.7 99 1,972,194,094 5.0

When teenagers died

In 2020, teenage crash deaths occurred most often in summer months (June, July and August).

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by month, 2020
MonthDeaths%
January 198 7
February 172 6
March 166 6
April 176 6
May 231 8
June 282 10
July 276 10
August 285 10
September 253 9
October 241 9
November 246 9
December 212 8
Total 2,738 100

Fifty percent of motor vehicle crash deaths among teenagers in 2020 occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2020
Day of weekDeaths%
Sunday 499 18
Monday 354 13
Tuesday 326 12
Wednesday 344 13
Thursday 342 13
Friday 390 14
Saturday 483 18
Total 2,738 100

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2020 occurred most frequently from 9 p.m. to midnight (19 percent), followed closely by the time between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. (both 16 percent).

Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2020
Time of dayDeaths%
Midnight - 3 a.m. 419 15
3 a.m. - 6 a.m. 259 10
6 a.m. - 9 a.m. 207 8
9 a.m. - noon 163 6
Noon - 3 p.m. 277 10
3 p.m. - 6 p.m. 430 16
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. 445 16
9 p.m. - midnight 524 19
Total* 2,738 100

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). Voas, R. B., Torres, P., Romano, E., & Lacey, J. H. (2012). Alcohol-related risk of driver fatalities: An update using 2007 data. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 73(3), 341-350. The estimated percentage of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17 who had BACs at or above 0.08 percent in 2020 was 18 percent, down 56 percent since 1982. Most of this decline took place in the 1980s. This age group experienced a similar decline in alcohol involvement as drivers ages 18-20 (51 percent). These age groups experienced a larger decline in alcohol involvement than drivers ages 21-30 (35 percent) and drivers over age 30 (36 percent).

Percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by age, 1982-2020

Estimated percent and number of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by age group, 1982-2020
Year16-17 years18-20 years21-30 years>30 years
Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%
1982 895 368 41 2,561 1,458 57 6,244 3,948 63 9,861 4,208 43
1983 899 345 38 2,427 1,336 55 6,053 3,859 64 9,845 3,943 40
1984 969 321 33 2,472 1,274 52 6,413 3,885 61 10,337 3,860 37
1985 935 250 27 2,292 1,009 44 6,263 3,659 58 10,441 3,713 36
1986 1,172 336 29 2,464 1,158 47 6,695 3,974 59 11,042 3,887 35
1987 1,192 311 26 2,438 1,004 41 6,802 3,975 58 11,579 4,016 35
1988 1,177 302 26 2,611 1,056 40 6,819 3,991 59 12,145 4,203 35
1989 1,060 234 22 2,476 991 40 6,475 3,675 57 12,401 4,272 34
1990 999 224 22 2,398 974 41 6,152 3,510 57 12,274 4,238 35
1991 902 193 21 2,119 852 40 5,623 3,183 57 11,801 3,993 34
1992 900 165 18 1,797 664 37 5,122 2,759 54 11,639 3,823 33
1993 935 152 16 1,870 643 34 5,065 2,658 52 12,038 3,851 32
1994 1,006 167 17 1,984 632 32 4,975 2,484 50 12,525 3,771 30
1995 1,015 150 15 1,968 575 29 5,081 2,585 51 13,247 4,155 31
1996 1,106 186 17 1,920 583 30 4,989 2,475 50 13,478 4,070 30
1997 1,090 180 17 1,946 594 31 4,775 2,275 48 13,777 4,004 29
1998 1,059 161 15 2,035 607 30 4,577 2,222 49 13,839 3,930 28
1999 1,092 172 16 2,169 677 31 4,653 2,260 49 13,870 3,866 28
2000 999 158 16 2,251 686 30 4,706 2,268 48 13,743 3,997 29
2001 993 132 13 2,254 691 31 4,735 2,358 50 13,790 4,005 29
2002 1,126 155 14 2,326 718 31 4,938 2,462 50 14,006 4,020 29
2003 994 159 16 2,266 699 31 4,852 2,308 48 13,957 3,930 28
2004 969 149 15 2,206 665 30 4,970 2,372 48 13,689 3,743 27
2005 879 132 15 2,106 603 29 5,067 2,492 49 13,809 3,852 28
2006 859 151 18 2,161 680 31 5,159 2,535 49 13,321 3,779 28
2007 775 133 17 1,953 633 32 5,028 2,592 52 12,697 3,675 29
2008 580 91 16 1,712 535 31 4,388 2,327 53 11,528 3,308 29
2009 503 69 14 1,546 540 35 3,870 2,020 52 10,869 3,156 29
2010 410 58 14 1,265 380 30 3,697 1,816 49 10,613 2,914 27
2011 422 78 18 1,300 410 32 3,612 1,747 48 10,193 2,820 28
2012 390 60 15 1,234 376 30 3,748 1,803 48 10,505 2,958 28
2013 302 31 10 1,079 328 30 3,671 1,788 49 10,492 2,958 28
2014 344 50 15 1,090 294 27 3,636 1,707 47 10,384 2,849 27
2015 381 53 14 1,210 295 24 3,860 1,658 43 11,134 2,901 26
2016 406 47 12 1,185 284 24 4,205 1,812 43 11,801 2,997 25
2017 375 48 13 1,108 274 25 4,057 1,721 42 12,168 3,066 25
2018 355 53 15 1,084 236 22 3,962 1,674 42 11,827 2,988 25
2019 295 50 17 1,039 236 23 3,639 1,552 43 11,869 2,946 25
2020 359 65 18 1,203 335 28 4,241 1,745 41 12,384 3,387 27

Among fatally injured teenage drivers in 2020, females were less likely than males to have high BACs. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17, 20 percent of males and 12 percent of females had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. Among fatally injured drivers ages 18-19, 28 percent of males and 21 percent of females had BACs at or above 0.08 percent.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08 percent by sex and age, 2020
Age Male FemaleTotal*
Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08Drivers killedEstimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
NumberNumber%NumberNumber%NumberNumber%
16-17 279 56 20 80 9 12 359 65 18
18-19 579 162 28 194 41 21 773 202 26
20 316 106 33 114 27 24 430 133 31
21-30 3,094 1,338 43 1,145 406 35 4,241 1,745 41
31-60 5,741 2,172 38 2,229 579 26 7,978 2,755 35
61-70 1,440 330 23 578 80 14 2,019 411 20
>70 1,651 174 11 733 46 6 2,387 221 9
All ages* 13,153 4,351 33 5,091 1,192 23 18,261 5,550 30