Is Your Teen Safe Behind The Wheel?
Teen drivers are new drivers, which means they simply do not have a lot of experience behind the wheel. Unfortunately, driving inexperience can lead to tragedy. Research from AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety confirms that newly licensed drivers between 16 and 17 are significantly more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident than older, more experienced drivers. This risk spikes even further during the summer months. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, a period known as the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers, the average number of teen driver crashes rises substantially. Given those statistics, preventing teen car accidents should be a top priority for every parent of a new driver.
If your family has been affected by a crash involving a teen driver, our Colorado Springs car accident attorneys are here to help.
Just How Much More Dangerous Are Teen Drivers?
Researchers from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and found that for every mile driven, teen drivers aged 16 to 17 were 3.9 times more likely to be involved in a crash and 2.6 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers over the age of 18. Compared to drivers between the ages of 30 and 50, teen drivers in that age group are 4.5 times as likely to be involved in a crash and 3.2 times more likely to be in a fatal crash. Perhaps most striking of all, even elderly drivers over the age of 80 are statistically less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a 16 or 17-year-old behind the wheel.
More recent NHTSA data reinforces these findings. The fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16-17-year-olds is about 3 times the rate for drivers 20 and older, with risk highest at age 16. And in 2023, the total number of people dying in crashes involving at least one young driver was 5,588. The consequences of teen driving crashes extend far beyond the teenagers themselves.
Why Are Teen Driving Fatalities Still So High?
AAA has identified several key factors that contribute to the elevated crash risk among teen drivers:
Distracted driving. This includes cellphone use, talking to passengers, eating, and performing other tasks while driving. Passenger distraction is one of the leading causes of teen driver crashes, with crash risk increasing with each additional teen passenger in the vehicle. Cellphone use is a close second. In Colorado, more than 8,000 teen drivers were involved in crashes in a recent 12-month period, approximately 23 every day. As of January 1, 2025, Colorado’s new hands-free law makes it illegal for any driver to hold or manually use a phone while driving, which provides additional legal reinforcement of safe driving habits for teens.
Improper seat belt use. Although seat belt use has been rising steadily for decades, some drivers still do not buckle up. Among teen drivers and passengers ages 16 to 19 who were killed in car crashes, 56% were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Making seat belt use a non-negotiable expectation from day one of driving is one of the simplest and most effective things a parent can do.
Speeding. According to NHTSA, speeding contributes to roughly 29% of all fatal crashes nationally. Among teen drivers, 53% of motor vehicle crash deaths in 2023 occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and peak hours for crashes are evening and late night, when teens are more likely to be driving fast and with friends in the car.
Lack of experience. This is the underlying factor that makes all the other risks more dangerous for teens. When teenagers encounter unexpected road conditions, a sudden stop, a vehicle merging without warning, or a patch of ice, they simply do not have the same bank of driving experience to draw on that older drivers do. Their reactions are slower, their hazard perception is less developed, and their tendency to underestimate risk is significantly higher.
What Parents Can Do
The good news is that parents have more influence over teen driver safety than almost any other factor. Here are some of the most effective steps you can take:
- Practice, practice, practice. The first year of driving carries the highest crash risk. Make sure your teen gets extensive supervised practice in a wide variety of conditions — highway driving, night driving, rain, parking lots, school zones, and heavy traffic. The more varied the experience, the better prepared they will be when they encounter those situations alone.
- Make a driving contract. Put your expectations in writing. A formal agreement that outlines the rules — always buckle up, no texting and driving, no passengers without permission, home by a certain time, always drive sober — creates accountability and gives you a clear framework for consequences if rules are broken.
- Limit passengers. Colorado law already restricts the number of passengers a newly licensed teen can carry for the first six months. Enforce this rule at home and be clear about why it matters. Each additional teen in the car meaningfully increases crash risk.
- Set strict night driving rules. Colorado prohibits newly licensed teen drivers from driving between midnight and 5 am. Consider setting an even earlier curfew at home until your teen has demonstrated consistent safe driving habits.
- Use technology. Many insurance companies and third-party apps offer monitoring tools that provide parents with reports on their teen’s driving habits, including speed, hard braking, and phone use. Some vehicle systems can also mute entertainment if the driver is not wearing a seat belt or alert parents when the car exceeds a set speed. These tools are not about distrust — they are about reinforcing the accountability that new drivers need.
- Model the behavior you expect. Teens learn by watching. If they see you on your phone while driving, speeding, or skipping your seat belt, they are far more likely to do the same. Be the driver you want them to be.
If Your Teen Is Involved In A Crash
Even teens who follow all the rules can be injured by another driver’s negligence. If your teen has been hurt in a crash that was not their fault, understanding what damages you may be entitled to recover and acting within Colorado’s statute of limitations are critical first steps. Do not try to navigate the insurance claims process alone.
Contact Our Colorado Springs Car Accident Attorneys
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident caused by another person’s negligence, it is important to understand your legal rights. At Rector Stuzynski Law Firm, our Colorado Springs car accident attorneys have the experience and resources to build a strong case designed to obtain maximum compensation for our clients. Call us today at (719) 578-1106 for a free consultation. We are available 24/7 and ready to help.
