Teens or seniors: Which group causes more accidents?

Teen vs. senior driver crash rates

According to the NSC’s Injury Facts report, the most recent data shows that teen crash rates are disproportionate to the number of teen drivers on the road.

• Drivers aged 16-19 account for 3.8% of licensed drivers in the U.S. but are responsible for 8.8% of crashes.
• Drivers aged 65-74 account for 13.6% of licensed drivers and .6% of crashes.
• Drivers aged 75 and older make up about 8.7% of all licensed drivers and are involved in about 6.2% of crashes. That means drivers older than 70 are involved in fewer accidents than teen drivers.
• Only 3.8% of drivers, an age group spanning four years, cause 8.8% of all accidents.
• The total for all ages 65 and up is 22.3%, covering an age group that spans several decades and includes far more people.

In other words, teens cause a lot more accidents than seniors. And teen males cause even more accidents than females; the IIHS reports that two of every three teens in fatal crashes are male.

Why are teens riskier drivers than seniors?

Teens crash more often because they are new drivers and have less skill in recognizing hazards, judging speed, and managing complex traffic. Risk rises further with speeding, nighttime driving, teen passengers, distraction and inconsistent seat belt use. NHTSA says speeding was a factor in 33% of teen passenger-vehicle drivers in fatal crashes.

• Teens are more likely to be distracted while driving, especially by their phones. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that teen drivers have a much higher rate of distracted driving, particularly cell phone use.
• Teen drivers are more likely to speed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speed was a factor in 33% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers. Among drivers ages 15 to 20 involved in fatal crashes, 39% of males and 20% of females were speeding. 
• Teens are inexperienced drivers. They haven't been on the road long and haven't honed their skills.

This third item on the list may be the biggest reason. The CDC says the crash rate is 1.5 times higher in the first six months of licensure than in the rest of the teen years. Teens simply don’t have the experience yet to avoid a crash.

While seniors may have decreased response times and weakening vision, they have decades of experience behind the wheel. However, seniors do have a higher crash rate and are more likely to be injured in a crash than drivers in their 30s through 50s, according to the CDC. Still, there’s a good reason cheap car insurance for seniors is easier to find than for teens.

Safer driving for teens and seniors

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs have had a major impact on teen crash rates by easing teens into the responsibility of driving, removing risks like night driving and the distraction of friends and requiring more practice behind the wheel with an adult before going solo.

Parents can help keep teens safe on the road by:

• Adhering to all of the rules of their state’s GDL program
• Spending as much time as possible on supervised practice
• Modeling safe driving habits such as wearing a seatbelt, never driving impaired and avoiding the temptation of checking a text message while behind the wheel

Not only will these things reduce the risk of an accident, but they’ll also reduce the chances of a teen driver getting a ticket that will raise insurance rates.

And while the risks aren’t quite the same for senior driving, keeping up driving skills remains a vital factor. There’s a reason insurance companies give car insurance discounts for taking a defensive driving course as you head into retirement. Less time on the road can dull skills, and the extra instruction can be a good refresher.

Senior drivers can reduce their risk by:

• Having regular vision checks and medication reviews with a doctor or pharmacist
• Driving in safer conditions (daylight, good weather, familiar or low-traffic routes)
• Staying physically active and maintaining driving skills through courses like mature-driver or defensive driving programs
• Discussing any driving difficulties with family or health professionals

While aging can increase some risks, most older adults are still safe drivers. Overall, they are safer than teen drivers. Many can continue driving safely for years by adjusting their habits and staying aware of their health and driving skills. re safer than teen drivers. Many can continue driving safely for years by adjusting their habits and staying aware of their health and driving skills.  

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