Young Driver Survey [Traffic Tech]

NHTSA · 2019 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death among young people, with drivers aged 16–21 representing a disproportionate share of fatal crashes relative to their population size. To understand the factors influencing this risk, including immaturity, inexperience, and risky behaviors, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted the Young Driver Survey. The study aimed to gather self-reported data on traffic safety behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs to inform the design of more effective countermeasures. Between 2014 and 2017, researchers administered the survey to 17,698 drivers aged 16 to 21 in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The sample was drawn from Department of Motor Vehicles databases, with invitations mailed to nearly 80,000 eligible drivers. Respondents completed the survey online or by mail, receiving financial incentives for participation. Data were weighted to align with state demographics, and chi-square tests evaluated associations between responses and variables such as sex, age (under or over the age of majority), and geographic location (rural, urban cluster, or urbanized area). The results indicated that most young drivers reported safe behaviors, such as wearing seat belts while driving (89%) and avoiding alcohol-impaired driving. However, significant risks persisted. Only 57% always wore seat belts as back-seat passengers, and 55% admitted to speeding significantly above the flow of traffic. Regarding distraction, 23% of drivers with cell phones reported reading texts while driving, a behavior more common among those over the age of majority and in rural areas. Approximately 25% of respondents reported being involved in at least one crash. Crash involvement was associated with risky behaviors including late-night driving, alcohol consumption, texting, and speeding. Additionally, 26% reported police stops in the past year, with speeding being the primary reason. Perceptions of risk varied, with nearly half of drivers believing it was safe to take eyes off the road for three or more seconds. The study concludes that while many young drivers adhere to safe practices, those engaging in risky behaviors experience higher crash rates. The findings suggest that Graduated Driver Licensing laws, while helpful, require supplementation. Recommended interventions include banning cell phone use for beginning drivers, enforcing high-visibility bans on texting, and enhancing speed enforcement outreach. The authors note limitations regarding self-report bias and the geographic restriction to five states, which may affect generalizability.

Key finding

Young drivers who engaged in risky behaviors such as texting while driving, speeding, and driving after 10 p.m. reported significantly higher rates of crash involvement compared to those who did not.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 17698

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified_with_issues.

Topics

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• novice drivers
• sex gender
• passenger effects
• incidence prevalence
• urban rural setting

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence, crash risk outcomes, behavioral performance data