In the United States, teenagers drive less than all but the oldest people, but their numbers of crashes and crash deaths are disproportionately high. Using data from the National Household Travel Survey, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16-19 year-olds is nearly 3 times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over. Risk is highest at ages 16-17.
Beginning in the mid-1990s, all states adopted graduated licensing systems, which phase in full driving privileges. National studies of graduated licensing found that strong laws were associated with substantially lower fatal crash rates and substantially lower insurance claim rates among young teen drivers covered by the laws. Strengthening restrictions on nighttime driving and teen passengers, as well as raising the licensing age, reduced rates of fatal crashes and insurance collision claims (McCartt et al., 2012;Trempel, 2009).
A total of 2,883 teenagers ages 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2022. This is 67% fewer than in 1975 and 7% fewer than in 2021. About 2 of every 3 teenagers killed in crashes in 2022 were males. Since 1975, teenage crash deaths have decreased more among males (70%) than among females (60%).
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by sex, 1975-2022
Motor vehicle crash deaths among 13-19 year-olds by sex, 1975-2022
Year
Male
Female
Total*
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
1975
6,532
75
2,215
25
8,748
100
1976
6,826
73
2,530
27
9,356
100
1977
6,983
72
2,650
28
9,633
100
1978
7,295
73
2,645
27
9,940
100
1979
7,280
73
2,639
27
9,920
100
1980
6,932
73
2,591
27
9,524
100
1981
6,014
72
2,301
28
8,315
100
1982
5,354
73
1,969
27
7,323
100
1983
4,850
71
1,955
29
6,805
100
1984
4,947
71
2,005
29
6,952
100
1985
4,715
70
2,022
30
6,737
100
1986
5,280
71
2,182
29
7,466
100
1987
5,107
70
2,186
30
7,293
100
1988
5,036
70
2,204
30
7,242
100
1989
4,528
68
2,158
32
6,688
100
1990
4,420
69
1,944
31
6,364
100
1991
3,891
68
1,867
32
5,760
100
1992
3,495
67
1,713
33
5,215
100
1993
3,678
68
1,742
32
5,421
100
1994
3,770
67
1,859
33
5,632
100
1995
3,702
65
1,970
35
5,675
100
1996
3,855
66
1,963
34
5,819
100
1997
3,715
65
2,014
35
5,730
100
1998
3,649
65
1,960
35
5,610
100
1999
3,745
65
2,007
35
5,752
100
2000
3,759
66
1,925
34
5,685
100
2001
3,735
67
1,859
33
5,594
100
2002
3,939
66
2,015
34
5,954
100
2003
3,772
66
1,946
34
5,718
100
2004
3,696
65
1,948
35
5,645
100
2005
3,496
66
1,803
34
5,300
100
2006
3,415
66
1,744
34
5,159
100
2007
3,280
66
1,701
34
4,981
100
2008
2,694
66
1,373
34
4,070
100
2009
2,222
64
1,257
36
3,480
100
2010
2,034
65
1,087
35
3,121
100
2011
1,991
66
1,041
34
3,033
100
2012
1,863
66
972
34
2,837
100
2013
1,661
65
880
35
2,543
100
2014
1,802
69
828
31
2,630
100
2015
1,811
66
935
34
2,747
100
2016
1,867
66
969
34
2,837
100
2017
1,829
66
933
34
2,762
100
2018
1,580
63
914
37
2,496
100
2019
1,589
66
804
34
2,394
100
2020
1,887
68
873
32
2,767
100
2021
2,074
67
1,010
33
3,090
100
2022
1,980
69
897
31
2,883
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Motor vehicle crash deaths among 13-19 year-olds by sex, 1975-2022
Year
Male
Female
Total*
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
In 2022, teenagers accounted for 7% of motor vehicle crash deaths. They accounted for 9% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths, 3% of pedestrian deaths, 4% of motorcyclist deaths, 6% of bicyclist deaths and 13% of all-terrain vehicle rider deaths.
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths as percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths, 2022
Death type
Teen crash deaths
Crash deaths for all ages
Percent of all crash deaths that are teens
Passenger vehicle occupant
2,216
25,726
9
Pedestrian
252
7,522
3
Motorcyclist
232
6,222
4
Bicyclist
65
1,084
6
All-terrain vehicle riders
34
256
13
Other
84
1,704
5
Total
2,883
42,514
7
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths as percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths, 2022
Leading causes of death among U.S. teenagers by sex, 2021
Cause of death
Male
Female
Total
Motor vehicle crashes
2,103
1,044
3,147
Homicide
2,538
427
2,965
Suicide
2,044
720
2,764
Leading causes of death among U.S. teenagers by sex, 2021
Cause of death
Male
Female
Total
Passenger vehicle occupants
In 2022, 62% of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.
Teenage passenger vehicle occupant deaths by age and seating position, 2022
Age
Driver
Passenger
Total*
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
13
2
3
57
97
59
100
14
6
6
95
94
101
100
15
25
18
111
81
137
100
16
159
51
152
49
312
100
17
271
59
183
40
456
100
18
358
65
192
35
551
100
19
402
67
198
33
600
100
Total
1,223
55
988
45
2,216
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Teenage passenger vehicle occupant deaths by age and seating position, 2022
Age
Driver
Passenger
Total*
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
In 2022, 56% of the deaths of teenage passengers in passenger vehicles occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 13% occurred when a teenager was driving.
Passenger vehicle passenger deaths by passenger age and driver age, 2022
Passenger age
Driver Age
All ages
13-19 years
20-24 years
25-29 years
30-59 years
60-69 years
≥70 years
Unknown
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
<13
35
6
82
14
111
18
344
57
18
3
11
2
2
<1
603
13-19
557
56
189
19
52
5
167
17
8
1
5
1
10
1
988
20-24
105
15
359
50
120
17
114
16
8
1
2
<1
10
1
718
25-29
15
3
123
23
172
32
205
39
5
1
3
1
8
2
531
30-59
69
4
152
8
203
11
1,243
67
137
7
41
2
22
1
1,867
60-69
6
1
13
3
18
4
194
42
154
33
77
17
4
1
466
70+
13
1
17
2
14
2
213
23
157
17
496
54
3
<1
913
Unknown
3
8
6
17
0
0
16
44
4
11
2
6
5
14
36
All ages
803
13
941
15
690
11
2,496
41
491
8
637
10
64
1
6,122
Passenger vehicle passenger deaths by passenger age and driver age, 2022
Passenger age
Driver Age
All ages
13-19 years
20-24 years
25-29 years
30-59 years
60-69 years
≥70 years
Unknown
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
In 2022, belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-19 was generally higher than those ages 20-59 and lower than those ages 60 and older. For passengers, belt use was similar for teens and those ages 20-29, and increased with age for those ages 30 and older.
Seat belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants by age and seating position, 2022
Age
Drivers
Passengers
Belt used
Unbelted
Unknown
Belt used
Unbelted
Unknown
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
13
2
100
0
0
0
0
20
35
25
44
12
21
14
0
0
4
67
2
33
33
35
49
52
13
14
15
9
36
13
52
3
12
26
23
69
62
16
14
16
67
42
74
47
18
11
52
34
84
55
16
11
17
126
46
118
44
27
10
49
27
112
61
22
12
18
158
44
159
44
41
11
59
31
110
57
23
12
19
155
39
200
50
47
12
58
29
120
61
20
10
20-24
777
37
1,065
50
272
13
221
31
393
55
104
14
25-29
728
36
1,070
53
236
12
160
30
293
55
78
15
30-59
3,535
40
4,247
49
957
11
687
37
927
50
253
14
60-69
1,291
55
873
37
176
8
258
55
168
36
40
9
70+
1,982
64
885
29
218
7
660
72
183
20
70
8
Seat belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants by age and seating position, 2022
Age
Drivers
Passengers
Belt used
Unbelted
Unknown
Belt used
Unbelted
Unknown
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Among passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-19 involved in fatal crashes in 2022, 43% were involved in single-vehicle crashes. This was the highest of any age group.
Passenger vehicle drivers in fatal crashes by age and crash type, 2022
Single vehicle
Multiple vehicle
All crashes
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
16-19
1,368
43
1,844
57
3,212
100
20-24
2,241
40
3,309
60
5,550
100
25-29
1,931
38
3,202
62
5,133
100
30-59
7,947
36
14,294
64
22,241
100
60-69
1,642
33
3,299
67
4,941
100
70+
1,516
30
3,538
70
5,054
100
Passenger vehicle drivers in fatal crashes by age and crash type, 2022
Single vehicle
Multiple vehicle
All crashes
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Population and mileage rates
From 1975 to 2022, the rate of passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 people declined by 61% for teenagers ages 16-19, 41% for people ages 20-34, 25% for people ages 35-69, and 16% for people 70 and older. The teenage passenger vehicle driver fatal crash involvement rate fell in 2022 for the first time since 2019, and was 7% lower than the rate in 2021.
Passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 people by age group, 1975-2022
16-19 years
20-34 years
35-69 years
70+ years
Population
Number
Rate
Population
Number
Rate
Population
Number
Rate
Population
Number
Rate
1975
17,016,355
8,094
47.6
50,998,098
19,715
38.7
74,764,829
15,325
20.5
14,563,945
2,249
15.4
1976
17,194,079
8,457
49.2
52,745,005
19,847
37.6
75,419,921
15,127
20.1
14,960,120
2,395
16.0
1977
17,276,153
8,968
51.9
54,497,448
21,530
39.5
76,203,083
15,710
20.6
15,401,249
2,387
15.5
1978
17,287,835
9,297
53.8
55,909,063
23,284
41.6
77,348,222
16,323
21.1
15,876,541
2,524
15.9
1979
17,242,116
9,240
53.6
57,499,197
23,991
41.7
78,311,107
16,075
20.5
16,388,617
2,386
14.6
1980
17,112,117
8,637
50.5
58,814,391
23,957
40.7
79,111,522
16,002
20.2
16,897,977
2,375
14.1
1981
16,756,984
7,800
46.5
60,563,416
23,758
39.2
79,785,591
16,131
20.2
17,322,714
2,487
14.4
1982
16,280,287
6,509
40.0
61,099,524
20,848
34.1
81,488,902
14,491
17.8
17,783,888
2,522
14.2
1983
15,783,684
6,253
39.6
61,840,154
19,955
32.3
82,861,204
14,459
17.4
18,233,751
2,574
14.1
1984
15,257,750
6,464
42.4
62,491,255
20,964
33.5
84,256,661
15,079
17.9
18,662,938
2,770
14.8
1985
14,969,843
6,276
41.9
62,961,154
20,837
33.1
85,628,410
15,265
17.8
19,072,785
3,005
15.8
1986
14,981,380
7,017
46.8
63,115,889
22,008
34.9
87,205,537
15,736
18.0
19,463,480
3,235
16.6
1987
15,172,917
7,021
46.3
63,032,298
22,387
35.5
88,808,046
16,749
18.9
19,890,817
3,376
17.0
1988
15,159,185
7,249
47.8
62,784,739
22,367
35.6
90,464,406
17,501
19.3
20,302,280
3,623
17.8
1989
14,874,579
6,906
46.4
62,494,056
21,273
34.0
92,250,762
17,780
19.3
20,719,397
3,631
17.5
1990
14,424,509
6,356
44.1
62,282,683
20,715
33.3
94,140,108
17,579
18.7
21,164,283
3,688
17.4
1991
13,935,348
5,718
41.0
62,025,750
19,073
30.8
96,068,111
16,366
17.0
21,751,897
3,769
17.3
1992
13,720,071
5,231
38.1
61,427,100
17,846
29.1
98,214,539
16,377
16.7
22,321,217
3,834
17.2
1993
13,874,164
5,434
39.2
60,582,332
17,691
29.2
100,399,648
17,024
17.0
22,800,673
4,146
18.2
1994
14,128,177
5,773
40.9
59,629,351
17,672
29.6
102,541,525
17,514
17.1
23,243,845
4,325
18.6
1995
14,401,118
5,874
40.8
58,712,407
17,911
30.5
104,712,328
18,869
18.0
23,693,757
4,505
19.0
1996
14,907,191
6,021
40.4
57,753,910
17,738
30.7
106,975,953
19,266
18.0
24,056,323
4,563
19.0
1997
15,257,453
5,947
39.0
57,046,569
16,847
29.5
109,232,426
19,708
18.0
24,408,817
4,823
19.8
1998
15,649,272
5,938
37.9
56,421,053
16,271
28.8
111,331,195
20,031
18.0
24,793,551
4,808
19.4
1999
15,927,464
6,158
38.7
55,961,401
16,154
28.9
113,451,312
19,585
17.3
25,092,805
4,806
19.2
2000
16,192,473
6,041
37.3
58,971,709
16,444
27.9
117,114,739
19,966
17.0
25,559,879
4,574
17.9
2001
16,232,934
5,983
36.9
59,465,066
16,284
27.4
119,060,436
20,287
17.0
25,797,467
4,649
18.0
2002
16,287,999
6,134
37.7
60,046,068
16,686
27.8
120,913,207
20,358
16.8
26,005,326
4,543
17.5
2003
16,344,596
5,745
35.1
60,599,350
16,329
26.9
122,772,578
20,799
16.9
26,200,946
4,644
17.7
2004
16,518,068
5,724
34.7
61,003,240
16,401
26.9
124,762,848
20,509
16.4
26,337,518
4,355
16.5
2005
16,652,533
5,360
32.2
61,180,772
16,516
27.0
126,831,714
21,004
16.6
26,658,669
4,237
15.9
2006
16,996,219
5,270
31.0
61,527,219
16,237
26.4
128,907,361
20,152
15.6
26,884,798
4,064
15.1
2007
17,208,807
4,970
28.9
61,623,322
15,624
25.4
130,500,566
19,696
15.1
27,135,517
4,004
14.8
2008
17,314,417
4,046
23.4
61,990,546
13,696
22.1
131,908,058
17,868
13.5
27,521,034
3,739
13.6
2009
17,404,102
3,620
20.8
63,105,881
12,338
19.6
132,693,708
16,671
12.6
27,786,270
3,565
12.8
2010
17,750,955
3,234
18.2
62,914,600
12,066
19.2
135,270,594
16,204
12.0
27,957,657
3,630
13.0
2011
17,503,125
2,977
17.0
63,965,818
11,960
18.7
136,306,915
15,828
11.6
28,472,279
3,552
12.5
2012
17,230,188
2,917
16.9
64,900,433
12,493
19.2
137,323,658
16,528
12.0
29,152,093
3,651
12.5
2013
17,034,699
2,584
15.2
65,681,251
12,178
18.5
138,067,096
16,405
11.9
30,040,362
3,656
12.2
2014
16,896,162
2,622
15.5
66,367,803
12,205
18.4
139,015,319
16,251
11.7
30,864,009
3,720
12.1
2015
16,840,766
2,924
17.4
66,762,737
13,444
20.1
140,231,069
18,043
12.9
31,624,778
3,944
12.5
2016
16,939,001
3,040
17.9
67,142,780
14,622
21.8
141,361,052
19,024
13.5
32,406,486
4,302
13.3
2017
16,992,577
2,966
17.5
67,381,469
14,399
21.4
141,662,252
19,485
13.8
33,964,043
4,528
13.3
2018
16,936,745
2,844
16.8
67,504,170
13,991
20.7
142,087,330
19,296
13.6
35,290,306
4,550
12.9
2019
16,888,181
2,733
16.2
67,647,658
13,437
19.9
142,410,359
19,164
13.5
36,592,368
4,621
12.6
2020
16,785,009
3,022
18.0
67,664,401
14,991
22.2
142,779,669
19,691
13.8
37,785,698
4,090
10.8
2021
17,208,740
3,454
20.1
67,019,102
16,782
25.0
145,289,674
22,435
15.4
37,453,633
4,753
12.7
2022
17,239,226
3,212
18.6
68,207,079
15,645
22.9
144,843,869
22,220
15.3
39,163,430
5,054
12.9
Passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 people by age group, 1975-2022
16-19 years
20-34 years
35-69 years
70+ years
Population
Number
Rate
Population
Number
Rate
Population
Number
Rate
Population
Number
Rate
The rate of deaths per 100,000 people in 2022 peaked at age 19 for male drivers (13.9) and at age 17 for male passengers (5.1). Death rates peaked at age 20-24 for female drivers (5.2) and at age 19 for female passengers (4.2).
Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age and sex, 2022
Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age and sex, 2022
Age
Male
Female
Total
Population
Driver deaths
Passenger deaths
Population
Driver deaths
Passenger deaths
Population
Driver deaths
Passenger deaths
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
<13
25,981,412
0
0.0
305
1.2
24,812,058
1
0.0
298
1.2
50,793,470
1
0.0
603
1.2
13
2,171,725
2
0.1
31
1.4
2,069,159
0
0.0
26
1.3
4,240,884
2
0.0
57
1.3
14
2,255,757
6
0.3
45
2.0
2,147,276
0
0.0
49
2.3
4,403,033
6
0.1
94
2.1
15
2,253,101
17
0.8
72
3.2
2,143,465
8
0.4
39
1.8
4,396,566
25
0.6
111
2.5
16
2,214,662
109
4.9
88
4.0
2,111,146
50
2.4
64
3.0
4,325,808
159
3.7
152
3.5
17
2,197,612
194
8.8
113
5.1
2,093,454
77
3.7
69
3.3
4,291,066
271
6.3
182
4.2
18
2,216,084
272
12.3
103
4.6
2,110,558
86
4.1
89
4.2
4,326,642
358
8.3
192
4.4
19
2,200,584
306
13.9
108
4.9
2,095,126
96
4.6
89
4.2
4,295,710
402
9.4
197
4.6
20-24
11,601,988
1,532
13.2
411
3.5
11,103,791
581
5.2
305
2.7
22,705,779
2,113
9.3
716
3.2
25-29
11,352,742
1,476
13.0
318
2.8
10,840,422
558
5.1
212
2.0
22,193,164
2,034
9.2
530
2.4
30-59
64,610,562
6,339
9.8
890
1.4
63,791,598
2,395
3.8
976
1.5
128,402,160
8,734
6.8
1,866
1.5
60-69
19,171,881
1,681
8.8
198
1.0
20,577,964
658
3.2
268
1.3
39,749,845
2,339
5.9
466
1.2
70+
17,055,443
2,108
12.4
277
1.6
22,107,987
975
4.4
634
2.9
39,163,430
3,083
7.9
911
2.3
Deaths in passenger vehicles per 100,000 people by seating position, age and sex, 2022
Age
Male
Female
Total
Population
Driver deaths
Passenger deaths
Population
Driver deaths
Passenger deaths
Population
Driver deaths
Passenger deaths
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
Based on calculations made using data from the National Household Travel Survey, the rate of fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled in 2016-17 was highest at ages 16-19 for male drivers and at ages 80 and over for female drivers.
Fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled by driver age and sex, April 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017
Age
Male
Female
Total*
Crash involvements
Miles
Rate
Crash involvements
Miles
Rate
Crash involvements
Miles
Rate
16-19
2,019
31,732,691,896
6.4
1,003
30,677,731,652
3.3
3,024
62,410,423,548
4.8
20-24
3,898
89,913,330,623
4.3
1,713
82,245,489,504
2.1
5,618
172,158,820,127
3.3
25-29
3,429
97,584,235,223
3.5
1,533
115,903,021,775
1.3
4,964
213,487,256,997
2.3
30-59
12,875
785,270,175,131
1.6
6,011
558,224,868,022
1.1
18,889
1,343,495,043,154
1.4
60-69
3,019
207,918,951,320
1.5
1,380
136,711,746,704
1.0
4,401
344,630,698,024
1.3
70-79
1,754
85,010,352,002
2.1
807
54,430,675,479
1.5
2,563
139,441,027,481
1.8
80+
1,169
19,674,241,353
5.9
568
12,308,938,944
4.6
1,737
31,983,180,297
5.4
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled by driver age and sex, April 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017
Age
Male
Female
Total*
Crash involvements
Miles
Rate
Crash involvements
Miles
Rate
Crash involvements
Miles
Rate
The rate of nighttime fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled in 2016-17 for male drivers ages 16-19 was almost 3 times that of male drivers ages 30-59. The corresponding comparison for females yields just over double the rate.
Nighttime (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled by driver age and sex, April 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017
Age
Male
Female
Crash involvements
Miles
Rate
Crash involvements
Miles
Rate
16-19
788
4,931,226,605
16.0
300
2,916,766,045
10.3
20-24
1,788
12,749,476,470
14.0
662
11,332,793,419
5.8
25-29
1,565
12,346,988,856
12.7
555
6,306,786,823
8.8
30-59
4,372
79,775,321,852
5.5
1,480
35,496,839,100
4.2
60-69
592
15,786,500,196
3.8
196
7,501,060,309
2.6
70+
294
4,365,410,112
6.7
99
1,972,194,094
5.0
Nighttime (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled by driver age and sex, April 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017
Age
Male
Female
Crash involvements
Miles
Rate
Crash involvements
Miles
Rate
When teenagers died
In 2022, teenage crash deaths occurred most often in the summer and fall, peaking in October.
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by month, 2022
Month
Deaths
%
January
165
6
February
195
7
March
248
9
April
227
8
May
240
8
June
229
8
July
267
9
August
267
9
September
254
9
October
299
10
November
250
9
December
242
8
Total
2,883
100
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by month, 2022
Month
Deaths
%
Fifty-one percent of motor vehicle crash deaths among teenagers in 2022 occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2022
Day of week
Deaths
%
Sunday
554
19
Monday
341
12
Tuesday
353
12
Wednesday
385
13
Thursday
342
12
Friday
379
13
Saturday
529
18
Total
2,883
100
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by day of week, 2022
Day of week
Deaths
%
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2022 occurred most frequently from 9 p.m. to midnight (20%), followed by the time between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. (16%).
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2022
Time of day
Deaths
%
Midnight - 3 a.m.
426
15
3 a.m. - 6 a.m.
274
10
6 a.m. - 9 a.m.
259
9
9 a.m. - noon
190
7
Noon - 3 p.m.
270
9
3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
414
14
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
456
16
9 p.m. - midnight
573
20
Total*
2,883
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths by time of day, 2022
Time of day
Deaths
%
Alcohol involvement
Young drivers are less likely than adults to drive after drinking alcohol, but their crash risk is substantially higher when they do. This is especially true at low and moderate blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) (Vaos et al., 2012). The estimated percentage of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17 who had BACs at or above 0.08% in 2022 was 22%, down 47% since 1982. Most of this decline took place in the 1980s. This age group experienced a similar decline in alcohol involvement as drivers ages 18-20 (46%). These age groups experienced a larger decline in alcohol involvement than drivers ages 21-30 (30%) and drivers over age 30 (36%).
Percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08% by age, 1982-2022
Estimated percent and number of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08% by age group, 1982-2022
Year
16-17 years
18-20 years
21-30 years
>30 years
Drivers killed
Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Drivers killed
Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Drivers killed
Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Drivers killed
Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
1982
895
368
41
2,561
1,458
57
6,244
3,948
63
9,861
4,208
43
1983
899
345
38
2,427
1,336
55
6,053
3,859
64
9,845
3,943
40
1984
969
321
33
2,472
1,274
52
6,413
3,885
61
10,337
3,860
37
1985
935
250
27
2,292
1,009
44
6,263
3,659
58
10,441
3,713
36
1986
1,172
336
29
2,464
1,158
47
6,695
3,974
59
11,042
3,887
35
1987
1,192
311
26
2,438
1,004
41
6,802
3,975
58
11,579
4,016
35
1988
1,177
302
26
2,611
1,056
40
6,819
3,991
59
12,145
4,203
35
1989
1,060
234
22
2,476
991
40
6,475
3,675
57
12,401
4,272
34
1990
999
224
22
2,398
974
41
6,152
3,510
57
12,274
4,238
35
1991
902
193
21
2,119
852
40
5,623
3,183
57
11,801
3,993
34
1992
900
165
18
1,797
664
37
5,122
2,759
54
11,639
3,823
33
1993
935
152
16
1,870
643
34
5,065
2,658
52
12,038
3,851
32
1994
1,006
167
17
1,984
632
32
4,975
2,484
50
12,525
3,771
30
1995
1,015
150
15
1,968
575
29
5,081
2,585
51
13,247
4,155
31
1996
1,106
186
17
1,920
583
30
4,989
2,475
50
13,478
4,070
30
1997
1,090
180
17
1,946
594
31
4,775
2,275
48
13,777
4,004
29
1998
1,059
161
15
2,035
607
30
4,577
2,222
49
13,839
3,930
28
1999
1,092
172
16
2,169
677
31
4,653
2,260
49
13,870
3,866
28
2000
999
158
16
2,251
686
30
4,706
2,268
48
13,743
3,997
29
2001
993
132
13
2,254
691
31
4,735
2,358
50
13,790
4,005
29
2002
1,126
155
14
2,326
718
31
4,938
2,462
50
14,006
4,020
29
2003
994
159
16
2,266
699
31
4,852
2,308
48
13,957
3,930
28
2004
969
149
15
2,206
665
30
4,970
2,372
48
13,689
3,743
27
2005
879
132
15
2,106
603
29
5,067
2,492
49
13,809
3,852
28
2006
859
151
18
2,161
680
31
5,159
2,535
49
13,321
3,779
28
2007
775
133
17
1,953
633
32
5,028
2,592
52
12,697
3,675
29
2008
580
91
16
1,712
535
31
4,388
2,327
53
11,528
3,308
29
2009
503
69
14
1,546
540
35
3,870
2,020
52
10,869
3,156
29
2010
410
58
14
1,265
380
30
3,697
1,816
49
10,613
2,914
27
2011
422
78
18
1,300
410
32
3,612
1,747
48
10,193
2,820
28
2012
390
60
15
1,234
376
30
3,748
1,803
48
10,505
2,958
28
2013
302
31
10
1,079
328
30
3,671
1,788
49
10,492
2,958
28
2014
344
50
15
1,090
294
27
3,636
1,707
47
10,384
2,849
27
2015
381
53
14
1,210
295
24
3,860
1,658
43
11,134
2,901
26
2016
406
47
12
1,185
284
24
4,205
1,812
43
11,801
2,997
25
2017
375
48
13
1,108
274
25
4,057
1,721
42
12,168
3,066
25
2018
355
53
15
1,084
236
22
3,962
1,674
42
11,827
2,988
25
2019
295
50
17
1,039
236
23
3,639
1,552
43
11,869
2,946
25
2020
360
60
17
1,219
330
27
4,258
1,747
41
12,407
3,384
27
2021
409
73
18
1,311
338
26
4,520
1,943
43
14,034
3,822
27
2022
430
93
22
1,179
361
31
4,104
1,824
44
13,789
3,749
27
Estimated percent and number of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08% by age group, 1982-2022
Year
16-17 years
18-20 years
21-30 years
>30 years
Drivers killed
Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Drivers killed
Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Drivers killed
Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Drivers killed
Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
Among all age groups of fatally injured drivers in 2022, females were less likely than males to have high BACs. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17, 24% of males and 16% of females had BACs at or above 0.08%. Among fatally injured drivers ages 18-19, 30% of males and 21% of females had BACs at or above 0.08%.
Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08% by sex and age, 2022
Age
Male
Female
Total*
Drivers killed
Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Drivers killed
Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Drivers killed
Estimated drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
16-17
303
72
24
127
21
16
430
93
22
18-19
578
174
30
182
38
21
760
211
28
20
301
125
41
118
25
21
419
150
36
21-30
2,964
1,376
46
1,138
446
39
4,104
1,824
44
31-60
6,263
2,363
38
2,351
642
27
8,618
3,007
35
61-70
1,625
372
23
647
93
14
2,273
466
21
>70
1,983
218
11
913
59
6
2,898
276
10
All ages*
14,062
4,709
33
5,489
1,328
24
19,565
6,042
31
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Estimated number and percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥ 0.08% by sex and age, 2022