In the U.S., teens drive less than older people, but the numbers of car accidents are disproportionally high amongst teenage drivers. The fatal crash rate per mile driven for teen drivers between 16 to 19 years old is nearly three times the rate for older drivers who are 20 and over. The risk for car accidents is highest between the ages of 16 to 17 years old, and statistics show that one in five 16 year old teen drivers has been involved in a car accident.
In a recent study conducted by WalletHub.com, state-by-state comparisons showed that some states are better for teen drivers than others. Factors in this study included average cost of auto body or car repairs, teen driver fatalities, and impaired-driving laws. The teen driver study ranks all 50 states from best and worst, excluding the District of Columbia.
Top 10 Best States for Teen Drivers
1. New York
2. Hawaii
3. Illinois
4. Oregon
5. Rhode Island
6. Massachusetts
7. Maryland
8. Delaware
9. Washington
10. Nevada
Top 10 Worst States for Teen Drivers
1. South Dakota
2. Mississippi
3. Nebraska
4. Oklahoma
5. Wyoming
6. Arkansas
7. Montana
8. South Carolina
9. Missouri
10. Arizona
The state with the highest population of residents, California ranked 11th best on the teen drivers list. Texas and Florida, which have the second and fourth largest populations, were ranked 19th and 34th.
Sources
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
USAToday.com
GEICO
