Teen Passenger Death Rate Starts Climbing at Age 13

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revealed an uptick in the rate of teen passenger deaths beginning at age 13. That means before teens are even old enough to start driving legally, their risk of dying in a car accident increases.

If your teenager has been seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident, an experienced car accident attorney can protect your family’s legal rights.

What Researchers Found

Former IIHS Chief Scientist Allan Williams led the study, in which researchers analyzed fatal crashes involving 13-year-old to 15-year-old drivers and passengers during the period 2005 to 2009. They discovered the following:

  • For teens ages 13 to 15, there were 299 driver deaths and 1,994 passenger deaths, an average of about 460 deaths per year
  • Annually, an average of 89 drivers ages 13 to 15 survived the fatal crashes in which they were involved
  • Older teens (ages 16 to 17) were often driving in crashes involving the deaths of younger teens (ages 13 to 15)
  • Of the teen drivers ages 13 to 15 involved in fatal crashes, 63 percent were driving without a permit or license, and 10 percent were driving with a permit but without required adult supervision
  • About two-thirds of the passengers killed were not wearing seatbelts, and seatbelt use declined as teens got older

According to Williams, “Starting around age 13, the teen passenger death rate per 100,000 population climbs steadily as young teens increasingly travel with friends who already have learner permits or licenses.”

The introduction of graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs has helped to reduce the number of teens killed in vehicle accidents, but too many young lives continue to be lost each year. In 2009, motor vehicle accidents claimed the lives of 258 teen passengers ages 13 to 15. Although that figure represents a 57 percent reduction over 1990, that number is still too high.

Improving GDL Programs

The IIHS claims existing GDL laws have already saved “thousands of teens’ lives,” though the agency believes states can do more. Last year, the IIHS teamed up with the Highway Loss Data Institute to introduce an online calculator that shows the potential safety gains states could achieve by strengthening their GDL laws. Current best practices include:

  • Minimum permit age of 16
  • Minimum intermediate license age of 17
  • At least 65 hours of supervised driving
  • Nighttime driving restriction starting at 8 p.m.
  • Complete ban on teen passengers

As IIHS Senior Vice President for Research Anne McCartt points out, “States don’t have to adopt the toughest laws in the nation to realize safety gains. Strengthening one or two components pays off. To maximize all of the benefits of graduated licensing, however, we would encourage lawmakers to consider the strongest provisions.”

Successful GDL programs may save many lives, but they cannot save them all.

If your teenage son or daughter has been seriously injured or killed in car accident, contact a qualified car accident lawyer today.