Gen Z might be the safest generation of teen drivers, experts say (Bankrate)
Shift into Safe News
For generations, teens have been considered the most dangerous drivers on the road. But Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) might be the first generation of teens to challenge that stereotype.
Since 2012, when the first Gen Z teens got their permits, teenage drivers have seen fewer fatal crashes than any previous generation. Despite unprecedented levels of distraction from smartphones and social media, teens today are less likely to get into a serious car crash than ever before.
To understand the factors driving increased road safety for Gen Z — and what they could mean for families — Bankrate’s insurance editorial team dug into the numbers and talked to experts in teen driver safety. What we discovered: Today’s teens may not be better drivers than previous generations, but external factors are making them safer than ever on the road.
Are Gen Z teens more dangerous drivers than millennials?
The short answer: No, teens today aren’t more dangerous drivers than before. In fact, on average, Gen Z is the safest generation of teen drivers we’ve seen yet.
But it’s a little more complicated than that.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows a significant decrease in fatal crash involvement among young drivers (ages 15 to 20) over the past 30 years. Since NHTSA published its first annual report on Traffic Safety Facts for Young Drivers in 1994, young drivers’ fatal crash involvement rate has dropped by nearly 40%.
Millennials — drivers born between 1981 and 1996 — saw greater gains in teen driver safety than either Gen X or Gen Z. Between 1996, when the first millennial drivers got their licenses, and 2012, when the first Gen Z drivers hit the road, fatal crash involvement among drivers aged 15 to 20 dropped by nearly 48%. In the same time period, the number of young drivers killed dropped by nearly 45%.
By contrast, Gen Z has seen fatal crash involvement tick up among young drivers. While fatal teen crashes hit a historic low in 2013, they’ve crept up again in recent years, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2022, teen driver fatalities were up 8.5% since 2012, and fatal crash involvement per 100,000 licensed drivers is up by 16%.
But even with these recent shifts, Gen Z teens still see fewer traffic fatalities than any generation before them. On average, since Gen Z entered the driving force, the U.S. has seen just over 1,800 young driver fatalities per year, compared to over 3,000 for both Gen X and millennials.
