Overview
- NHTSA is leading National Teen Driver Safety Week from Oct. 19–25 with state partners, including Louisiana’s Destination Zero Deaths, to promote teen driver safety.
- NHTSA reports 2,611 people were killed in 2023 crashes involving drivers ages 15–18, including 822 teen drivers.
- Kentucky officials cite more than 48,000 teen-involved crashes over three years, causing over 13,000 injuries and 210 deaths, with the state ranking among the worst for teen fatalities for a fourth year.
- Safety experts stress that parents who set clear driving rules and model safe behavior help teens avoid risky habits and reduce crash involvement.
- Distracted driving is flagged as the leading problem, while states employ graduated licensing, supervised practice requirements such as Utah’s 40-plus hours, and free tools like NRSF’s Passport to Safe Driving.