Passing a driver's test has moved from exciting stage of growth to death sentence for thousands of teens each year. Motor vehicle crashes still account as the leading cause of death for teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19, and that age group is three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.
Those aged 15 to 24 represent only 14% of the population, but they account for 30% of total costs of motor vehicle injuries, according data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Using data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, InsuranceQuotes.com and other soruces, WalletHub weighed 16 key metrics to identify the best and worst states for teen drivers.
The metrics include safety conditions (including the number and percentage of licensed teens in each state, vehicle miles traveled, teen driver fatalities, road quality), economic environment (including cost of speeding and other driving tickets, average cost of car repairs, premium increases due to a teen driver on the policy) and driving laws (including impaired-driving laws, graduated driver licensing program laws, occupant protection laws, distracted driving laws).
Lowest Percent of Teen Population with Driver's Licenses
1. Indiana
2. New Mexico
3. New York
4. Kentucky
5. Hawaii
Highest Percent of Teen Population with Driver's Licenses
50. Iowa
49. South Dakota
48. Kansas
47. South Carolina
46. Alabama
Least Teen Driver Fatalities per Licensed Teen Drivers
1. Utah
2. Delaware
3. Connecticut
4. Vermont
5. Washington
Most Teen Driver Fatalties per Licensed Teen Drivers
50. Indiana
49. Kentucky
48. New Mexico
47. North Dakota
46. Montana
Next page: States with the highest/lowest number of teen "under the influence" driving violations, states with the highest/lowest average cost of car repairs and states with the best/worst graduated driver license program laws
Lowest Number of Teen "Under the Influence" Traffic Violations per Licensed Teen Drivers
1. Alabama
2. Illinois
3. Ohio
4. Louisiana
5. Hawaii
Highest Number of Teen "Under the Influence" Traffic Violations per Licensed Teen Drivers
50. New Mexico
49. Indiana
48. Colorado
47. Nebraska
46. Wyoming
Lowest Average Cost of Car Repairs
1. Vermont
2. West Virginia
3. South Dakota
4. Delaware
5. Iowa
Highest Average Cost of Car Repairs
50. New Jersey
49. California
48. North Carolina
47. Maryland
46. Georgia
Teen Driver's Graduated Driver License Program Laws
Eleven states have at least five of seven optimal GDL provisions, which are minimage age 16 for learner's permit, 6-month holding period, 30 to 50 hours of supervised driving, nightime driving restrictions, passenger restrictions, cell phone restrictions and age 18 for unrestricted license.
These states are Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Rhode Island.
Five states have less than two of the seven optimal GDL provisions: Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi, Nebraska and South Dakota.
Next page: Best states for teen drivers
Best States for Teen Drivers:
1. New York: Ranks 2nd in safety conditions, 7th in economic environment and 1st in driving laws
2. Hawaii: 1st in safety conditions, 12th in economic environment and 14th in driving laws
3. Illinois: 9th in safety conditions, 10th in economic environment and 1st in driving laws
4. Oregon: 3rd in safety conditions, 27th in economic environment and 3rd in driving laws
5. Rhode Island: 4th in safety conditions, 38th in economic environment and 6th in driving laws
6. Massachusetts: 6th in safety conditions, 12th in economic environment and 28th in driving laws
7. Maryland: 8th in safety conditions, 25th in economic environment and 9th in driving laws
8. Delaware: 15th in safety conditions, 2nd in economic environment and 24th in driving laws
9. Washington: 13th in safety conditions, 36th in economic environment and 3rd in driving laws
10. Nevada: 5th in safety conditions, 20th in economic environment and 24th in driving laws
Next page: Worst states for teen drivers
Worst States for Teen Drivers:
50. South Dakota: Ranks 48th in safety conditions, 1st in economic environment and 50th in driving laws
49. Mississippi: 45th in safety conditions, 26th in economic environment and 49th in driving laws
48. Nebraska: 47th in safety conditions, 14th in economic environment and 48th in driving laws
47. Oklahoma: 50th in safety conditions, 18th in economic environment and 43rd in driving laws
46. Wyoming: 46th in safety conditions, 37th in economic environment and 40th in driving laws
45. Arkansas: 43rd in safety conditions, 50th in economic environment and 32nd in driving laws
44. Montana: 41st in safety conditions, 21st in economic environment and 43rd in driving laws
T-42. South Carolina: 44th in safety conditions, 32nd in economic environment and 37th in driving laws
T-42. Missouri: 37th in safety conditions, 23rd in economic environment and 43rd in driving laws
41. Arizona: 23rd in safety conditions, 44th in economic environment and 43rd in driving laws
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