Teen drivers are safer in the Mid-Atlantic states than in the Midwest, according to an analysis by CarInsurance.com.
The website analyzed the number of teen driver fatalities per capita, the strength of each state’s Graduated Driving License (GDL) laws, teen drinking and driving rates, teen emailing/texting and driving rates and average annual insurance costs for teen drivers.
In 2015, 2,898 teens’ passenger vehicle drivers were involved in fatal vehicle crashes nationwide, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). While that represents a slight uptick from the prior year, teen drivers are much safer than they were in the 1970s, when they were involved in close to 10,000 crashes a year.
GDL Laws
CarInsurance.com found that states with strong GDL laws, which limit young drivers, tended to be safest for teens. Strengthening laws in states where they are weak would save lives, IIHS said.
No matter where teens live, they are considered among the highest risk drivers on the road, because of their inexperience. That makes them very expensive to ensure. However, many insurance companies offer discounts to for students with good grades. Check out these other car insurance discounts you should ask about, and remember that many factors, including your credit score, can impact your auto insurance rates. (Your score can also affect your auto loan rate. Check two of your credit scores free on Credit.com.)
Here are the 10 safest and 10 most dangerous states for teen drivers, along with results from a Centers for Disease Control survey asking teens about whether they drank alcohol while driving and texted or emailed while driving.
10th Safest State: Vermont
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 7%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 33%
9th Safest State: Maine
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 5%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 39%
8th Safest State: Hawaii
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 7%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 41%
7th Safest State: Virginia
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 7%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 31%
6th Safest State: California
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 7%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 32%
5th Safest State: Massachusetts
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 9%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 40%
4th Safest State: Connecticut
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 7%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 30%
3rd Safest State: Pennsylvania
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 5%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 35%
2nd Safest State: New York
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 8%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 29%
Safest State: Maryland
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 7%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 26%
10th Most Dangerous State: South Dakota
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 8%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 63%
9th Most Dangerous State: Louisiana
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 7%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 39%
8th Most Dangerous State: Iowa
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 7%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 39%
7th Most Dangerous State: Nebraska
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 10%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 49%
6th Most Dangerous State: Mississippi
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 7%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 44%
5th Most Dangerous State: Alabama
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 11%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 44%
4th Most Dangerous State: Wyoming
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 10%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 52%
3rd Most Dangerous State: Kansas
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 9%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 39%
2nd Most Dangerous State: North Dakota
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 8%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 58%
Most Dangerous State: Montana
Teen drivers drinking and driving: 11%
Teen drivers texting/emailing and driving: 55%
Image: kali9
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