Traffic Safety: Young & Aging Drivers

Focusing resources on both young drivers and aging drivers is critical to reducing traffic-related fatalities.

Despite a downward trend in young driver fatalities in recent years, (almost 6% fewer teens died in 2018 than in 2017), crashes remain the leading cause of teen deaths. 3,255 teen drivers aged 15 to 19 years were involved in fatal crashes in 2017.

2018 crash statistics from NHTSA also show there are more aging drivers on the roads as our overall US population grows older. In 2018, drivers in the 65+ age group had the largest percent increase in fatal crashes compared to all the other age groups. A 10-year comparison from 2009 to 2018 shows an almost 35% increase in traffic deaths for those 65 years and older.


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