The number of hours a teen spends behind the wheel and the length of the driving experience behind the wheel is a good indicator of the risk new drivers are to themselves and others when they begin to drive independently.

A study of newly licensed teen drivers conducted several years ago has not changed in relation to incidents of crashes.

Study results indicate that beginning drivers tend to have more problems with hazard anticipation, vehicle control, and driving errors, with few problems with DUI and high speed crashes.

Teenage drivers account for only 6.4 percent (12.5 million) of the total drivers in the United States, but account for 14 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes. Based on crashes of all severities, the crash rate per mile driven among 16-19 year olds is four times that of older drivers. Risk is highest at age 16, when the crash rate per mile driven is twice as high as it is among 18 to 19 year olds (Allstate Foundation, 2008).

Even among 16-17 year olds, there is a dramatic difference in crash rate between the first 6 months of driving and months 7-12. These beginning drivers show crash rates up to 5 times higher than their peers having just a few more months of experience (McCartt, Shabanova, and Leaf, 2003). Beginning drivers also tend to have more problems with hazard anticipation, vehicle control, and driving errors and fewer problems with DUI and high speed crashes.

*You will note that the age of licensure is not qualified, but averaged over requirements from each state. The issue of experience remains consistent.