It has long been acknowledged that teenage drivers are not only inexperienced when it comes to driving, but they are at the greatest risk of being involved in traffic crashes. The California Department of Motor Vehicles says that traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers across the country.

Teens between the ages of 16 and 19 years-of-age have the highest average annual crash rate, more than any other age group, according to the California DMV.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute, in the U.S. teenagers drive the least except for the oldest drivers, but still teenage driver crashes continue to be disproportionate.

The Institute reports that the fatal crash rate for 16 to 19 year-olds is 3 times higher for drivers over the age of 20. What's more, the fatal crash rate is more than double for 16 to 17 year-olds than it is for 18 to 19 year-olds.

Laws Changed in the 1990s

In the mid-1990s, lawmakers started to be proactive about the widespread problem of teenage crashes and traffic violations. States across the country began adopting tougher laws that phased in driving privileges for teenagers, and the legislative changes paid off.

After the changes were implemented, national studies found that the tougher licensing laws were directly related to the decline in fatal crashes involving young drivers.

States placed strong restrictions on teens driving with passengers and nighttime driving, both of which helped reduce the number of fatalities and insurance claims, the Institute reports.

These changes have led to dramatic results. In 2014, for example, 2,623 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 died in fatal motor vehicle crashes. That's a 70% decrease from the number of teens that died in 1975. Hopefully, the number of fatalities will continue to decline as lawmakers better understand the root causes of teenage crashes.

If you or your teen was involved in a car wreck, reach out to a car accident lawyer for help!