Teens & Novice Drivers
Governors Highway Safety Association
The States' Voice on Highway Safety
Issue Overview
Teen and new driver inexperience, coupled with immaturity, often results in risk-taking behaviors such as speeding, alcohol use and not wearing a seat belt — all of which contribute to an increased death rate.
Young drivers are nearly four times more likely to be involved in a fatal traffic crash than their older counterparts. Despite that disparity, research conducted by GHSA found that crash and fatality rates for drivers under 21 have improved drastically between 2002 and 2021 – more so than for other drivers (Young Drivers and Traffic Fatalities: 20 Years of Progress on the Road to Zero, GHSA).
The analysis found that fatal crashes involving a young driver fell 38%, while they increased nearly 8% for drivers 21 and older. At the same time, deaths of young drivers fell about 45%, compared to an 11% increase in fatalities for older drivers. Young people are less likely to drive today than they were 20 years ago, but this accounts for only a small portion of the large decreases.
Parental Involvement
Parents play a key role in helping teens become good drivers. Parents should not rely solely on driver education classes to teach good driving habits and should restrict night driving, restrict the numbers of passengers riding with their teen, supervise practice driving, always require use of seat belts and choose vehicles for safety, not image. Parents can also set a good example by practicing safe driving themselves.
Ford Driving Skills for Life
To supplement driver education, GHSA and Ford Philanthropy developed Ford Driving Skills for Life (Ford DSFL), an innovative program that teaches newly licensed teens the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what they learn in standard driver education programs, creating safer roadways for not only themselves but everyone else on the road.
State Laws Overview
To keep teen drivers safer on the roads, all states have enacted Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws that phase in driving privileges. GDL programs includes three stages:
- Learner Stage: supervised driving, cumulating with a driving test;
- Intermediate Stage: limiting unsupervised driving in high risk situations; and
- Full Privilege Stage: a standard driver's license.
Research has shown that significant reductions in deaths have been associated with GDL laws that included age requirements, a waiting period of at least three months before the intermediate stage, a restriction on nighttime driving, 30 or more hours of supervised driving and a restriction on carrying passengers or the number and age of passengers carried.
During the 1990s, many states began enacting GDL laws. The programs and types of restrictions vary from state to state. Below are some highlights:
- Cell Phones/Texting: 37 states and D.C. ban all cell phone use by novice drivers.
- Nighttime Driving Restriction: All states except Vermont restrict nighttime driving during the intermediate stage.
- Passenger Restriction: 47 states and D.C. restrict the number of passengers during the intermediate stage.
- Novice Driver Decal: New Jersey is the only state with a measure requiring those younger than 21 without full-privilege licenses to display a decal on their vehicle identifying them as new drivers.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on GDL laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office (SHSO).
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and SHSOs.
Last updated in May 2024. Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2024.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Facts & Figures
Over the past two decades, deaths of young drivers fell about 45%, while they increased 11% for drivers 21 and older.
Related Resources
View All Resources
Federal Research Projects
June 24, 2025
Causal Factors Associated with Higher Crash Rates Among Young Drivers that Delay Licensure (BTS-44)
The objective of this research is to identify causal factors associated with higher crash risk among young drivers that delay licensure until age 18+ and the effectiveness of driver training and-or GDL requirements in reducing this risk. To support this objective, the selected research agency will (1) conduct a broad national study of causal crash factors associated with higher crash risk and (2) conduct a scoping study for evaluating driver education and/or GDL requirements for a potential follow-on research effort.
Federal Research Projects
June 24, 2025
Effects of Pre-hospital Blood Programs and Improved EMS Response Time on the Risk of Motor Vehicle Crash Mortality (BTS-43)
The objective of this research is to determine the accuracy of the FARS estimate that 40 percent of motor vehicle fatalities were alive at the scene by reviewing a sample of motor vehicle fatalities who did not die at the scene to determine if improved interventions, such as the availability of pre-hospital care options, blood products, and improved response times would improve survivability.
Newsletters
May 22, 2025
Directions in Highway Safety: Spring 2025 Issue
This issue of GHSA's newsletter covers the critical issue of teen driver safety as we prepare for the “100 deadliest days of summer,” the latest GHSA Annual Meeting updates, federal advocacy news, active youth transportation safety funding for states and much more.