Level 2 driving notes

Young Driver Crash Rate

1 out of 8 drivers will be involved in a crash during the first 3 years of driving.

Serious Crash Rate for 16-Year-Olds

1 out of 11 of 16-year-old drivers will have a serious crash before their 17th birthday.

Speeding Errors

The largest category of error in young driver fatal crashes is speeding due to a lack of experience.

Near-Collision Frequency

Once every 500 miles, a decision made by a driver leads to a near-collision.

Fatal Crash Timing

Fatal crashes for young drivers occur most frequently during the three-hour period after school.

Weekend Fatal Crashes

33% of fatal crashes involving young drivers occur on Friday and Saturday.

Speed Limit and Fatal Crashes

97% of fatal crashes for young drivers occur on roadways with a speed limit of 55 MPH or less.

Rural Road Fatal Crashes

76% of fatal crashes involving young drivers occur on rural roads.

Lack of Traffic Control

69% of fatal crashes for young drivers happen on sections of roadway without traffic control devices.

Straight Road Fatal Crashes

53% of fatal crashes involving young drivers occur while driving on straight roads.

Passengers and Risk

The presence of passengers increases the risk for young drivers.

Passenger Risk Increase

The risk of a crash increases by 44% when one passenger is present in the car.

Recommended Vehicle Type

Over half of young drivers are not driving the recommended mid-size or larger passenger vehicles.

Head-On Collision Rate

14% of serious crashes involving young drivers occur during head-on collisions with another driver.

Age of Involved Children

In fatal crashes involving young drivers, 82% of the passengers are 6 years old and up.

Weather Conditions

81% of fatal crashes involving young drivers occur in fair weather conditions.

Dry Road Surfaces

72% of fatal crashes involving young drivers happen on dry road surfaces.

Cellphone Impairment

Cellphones impair a driver's ability to handle the driving environment similarly to a .08 blood alcohol level.

Crash Likelihood with Cellphones

Drivers using cellphones are 4 times more likely to crash, regardless of whether the phone is hands-free.

Seat Belt Usage

13% of young drivers in fatal crashes do not use seat belts, and 6% had been drinking.

Gender Distribution in Fatal Crashes

Among young drivers in fatal crashes, 36% are women and 64% are men.