Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for people aged 15–20.
From 2000–2009, more than 58,000 people aged 15–20 died in traffic crashes—an average of 110 each week. In 2008, 2,739 drivers 15–20 years old were killed, and an additional 228,000 15–20-year-olds were injured in motor vehicle crashes. In 2009, 5,866 drivers in this age group were involved in fatal crashes.
Over the last 10 years, teen drivers have represented less than 7 percent of the driving population but accounted for more than 13 percent of drivers involved in all deadly crashes. Almost 21 percent of all highway fatalities occurred in crashes that involved teen drivers.
The risk of a crash involving a teenage driver increases with each additional teen passenger in the vehicle. Sixteen-year-old drivers are almost five times as likely to be in a crash when traveling with peer passengers.
Passengers riding with young teen drivers are especially at risk; two-thirds of the fatally injured passengers in single-vehicle teen-driver crashes were teenagers themselves (between ages 15–19).
Research has shown that the cognitive effects of conducting a conversation on a wireless telephone can decrease situational awareness and that wireless telephone use can slow reaction time. Experience has demonstrated that distractions have detrimental effects for all drivers, but the effects are significantly more detrimental for novice drivers.
This issue area currently includes three recommendations (H-02-30, H-02-32, and H-03-8).
(1) Safety Recommendations H-02-30 and H-02-32 (enact graduated driver licensing [GDL] and passenger restriction)
H-02-30 (to 29 states and the District of Columbia, which had a GDL system but no passenger restrictions)
Issued: November 8, 2002
Added to the Most Wanted List: 2004
Status: Varies
Restrict young, novice drivers with provisional (intermediate) licenses, unless accompanied by a supervising adult driver who is at least 21 years old, from carrying more than one passenger under the age of 20 until they receive an unrestricted license or for at least 6 months (whichever is longer). (Source: Letter of recommendation in November 8, 2002 addressing restricting the number of teen passengers permitted to travel with an unsupervised, young novice driver)
H-02-32 (to 14 states that had neither a GDL system nor passenger restrictions), superseded H-93-8
Issued: November 8, 2002
Added to the Most Wanted List: 2003
Status: Varies
Enact laws to provide for a three-stage graduated licensing system for young novice drivers, and restrict young novice drivers with provisional or intermediate licenses (second stage), unless accompanied by a supervising adult driver who is at least 21 years old, from carrying more than one passenger under the age of 20 until they receive an unrestricted license or for at least 6 months (whichever is longer). (Source: Letter of recommendation in November 8, 2002 addressing restricting the number of teen passengers permitted to travel with an unsupervised, young novice driver)
Forty-three states and the District of Columbia have established passenger restrictions for young drivers in the intermediate (provisional) stage of licensing. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia prohibit for at least 6 months intermediate driver's license holders from carrying more than one passenger under age 20. Louisiana's law applies to second-stage license holders between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Missouri's and Nebraska's laws apply only to passengers under age 19, laws in nine other states apply only to passengers under age 18, and Idaho's law applies only to passengers under age 17. Two states have other passenger restriction laws that do not satisfy the NTSB's recommendation.
In 2009, Arkansas and Kansas enacted legislation to implement passenger restrictions. Indiana and New York enacted legislation to strengthen their passenger restrictions. At least seven states (AL, FL, HI, ID, MD, MI, and ND) considered legislation to implement or strengthen passenger restrictions.
In 2010, Alabama enacted legislation to implement passenger restrictions. Louisiana enacted legislation to prohibit second-stage license holders from transporting more than one passenger under age 21 and not a family member between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. At least five states (FL, IA, MD, MI, and PA) considered legislation to implement or strengthen passenger restrictions.
The states have substantially changed their driver licensing practices since the NTSB issued its first GDL recommendations in 1993. These changes represent the most significant alteration of young driver licensing practices in over 50 years.
Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia have adopted a three-stage graduated licensing system, although some states do not include all recommended elements. All of these laws have been enacted since 1993.
In 2009, Arkansas enacted legislation implementing a three-stage graduated licensing system with a passenger restriction. Kansas enacted legislation to improve its graduated licensing requirements.
Twenty-two states should implement a passenger restriction that satisfies the NTSB's recommendation.
North Dakota should implement a three-stage graduated licensing system with a passenger restriction. Three states should strengthen their existing systems.
(2) Safety Recommendation H-03-8 (restrict use of wireless communication devices)
H-03-8 (to 48 states)
Issued: June 13, 2003
Added to the Most Wanted List: 2005
Status: Varies
Enact legislation to prohibit holders of learner's permits and intermediate licenses from using interactive wireless communication devices while driving. (Source: Ford Explorer Sport Collision with Ford Windstar Minivan and Jeep Grand Cherokee on Interstate 95/495 Near Largo, Maryland on February 1, 2002, Highway Accident Report NTSB/HAR-03/02)
Currently, 30 states and the District of Columbia have laws related to the use of wireless communication devices by young novice drivers. Twenty-five states (AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, NE, NJ, NC, OR, RI, TN, VT, WA, and WV) have laws prohibiting the use of cell phones or other mobile communication devices for holders of learner's permits and intermediate licenses. The District of Columbia prohibits holders of learner's permits from using cell phones, and Texas and Virginia prohibit holders of intermediate licenses from using cell phones. Oklahoma prohibits hand-held use for holders of learner's permits and intermediate licenses. New York and Utah prohibit hand-held use of cell phones by any driver.
In 2009, four states (AR, CO, IN, and KS) enacted legislation that meets the NTSB's recommendation. Utah enacted legislation that prohibits the use of hand-held wireless devices. At least 19 states (AL, AK, FL, GA, HI, ID, KY, MA, MI, MO, NV, NY, ND, OH, OK, SC, VT, WI, and WY) considered some form of legislation to prohibit the use of cell phones or wireless devices. Some proposals were consistent with the NTSB's recommendation to prevent holders of learner's permits and intermediate licenses from using any wireless device while driving, while other proposals addressed hand-held use of cell phones only, but by any driver.
In 2010, six states (GA, IA, KY, MA, VT, and WA) enacted legislation that meets the NTSB's recommendation. Oklahoma enacted legislation that prohibits hand-held use for holders of learner's permits and intermediate licenses, while Texas strengthened its law that applies only to intermediate license holders. At least seven states (AL, HI, MA, MI, OH, PA, and SC) considered some form of legislation to prohibit the use of cell phones or wireless devices. Some proposals were consistent with the NTSB's recommendation to prevent holders of learner's permits and intermediate licenses from using any wireless device while driving, while other proposals addressed hand-held use of cell phones only, but by any driver.
Twenty-five states should implement an interactive wireless communication prohibition that applies both to holders of learner's permits and to holders of intermediate licenses.
