Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
To mark National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 19-25) and help save lives, AAA Northeast is urging young drivers to make smart decisions behind the wheel.
— an announcement from AAA Northeast
In 2023, 2,810 teens ages 15 to 19 died in U.S. traffic crashes, up 7% from 2022, NHTSA data shows. Speed, alcohol impairment and distraction were all top contributors to those crashes. In addition, more than half of teen drivers killed in 2023 were not wearing seat belts.
New teen drivers are twice as likely as adult drivers to be involved in a deadly crash, according to NHTSA, largely due to inexperience behind the wheel.
Teen drivers are also three times more likely to engage in risky behaviors when traveling with multiple passengers compared to when driving alone.
In Connecticut, teen drivers were involved in 11,400 crashes in 2024, up 1.6% from 2023, according to the Connecticut Crash Data Repository. Of those crashes, 2,710 resulted in injuries and 22 were fatal.
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AAA: Teens driving with passengers need to be more careful.
National Teen Driver Safety Week is a good opportunity for parents and teens to become familiar with their state’s graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws.
These laws allow young drivers to safely gain driving experience under lower-risk conditions before obtaining full driving privileges. This approach can reduce a teen’s crash risk by as much as 50%, according to NHTSA.
“Many teens see their driver’s license as a sign of freedom, but before parents hand over the keys, teens need to understand what’s at stake if they disobey traffic laws,” said Lauren Fabrizi, spokesperson for AAA Northeast.
“In addition to modeling safe driving behaviors, parents should remind their children that making poor decisions behind the wheel can have life-altering consequences.”
Safe Driving Habits to Discuss With Your Teens
AAA offers the following talking points for parents when discussing safe driving habits with their teens:
• Ditch the distractions. AAA research shows talking or interacting with passengers is the most common distracting behavior in teen-driver crashes followed by cellphone use.
• Slow down. Faster speeds rob drivers of the extra reaction time needed to avoid a crash. Inexperience behind the wheel makes speeding especially dangerous for young drivers.
• Buckle up. Wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to prevent serious injuries or death in the event of a crash. Remember to buckle up and ask your passengers to do the same.
• Limit passengers. Research shows the risk of a fatal crash dramatically increases when teen passengers accompany a teen driver, but having a parent or guardian in the car decreases the risk of a deadly crash.
• Drive sober. It’s illegal for people under age 21 to consume alcohol, and it’s illegal to drive impaired. But if you’ve consumed alcohol or drugs, hand your keys to a sober friend or use a ride-sharing service to get home safely.
• Get enough sleep. Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as impaired driving. Make sure you’re well-rested before getting behind the wheel.
To request or learn more about AAA Northeast’s teen safe driving programs, contact Adelle Zocher at azocher@aaanortheast.com or visit Community Outreach | AAA Northeast.