For the Second Year in a Row, A National Survey Names New York As Best State in Nation for Teen Drivers

A recent traffic safety analysis of all 50 states ranks New York as the best state for teen drivers. Teen driving is a huge concern for parents, but New York State soars to the top of the 2025 WalletHub study as the best state for teen drivers and second in the nation for both teen driver safety and teen driving laws.

New York placed first among all other states for many reasons, including having the second fewest teen driver fatalities per capita, the fourth-lowest percentage of drivers who use phones while driving and the third-lowest prevalence of poor turning (turning while accelerating too much).

“Teen drivers crash primarily because of inexperience, inattention, impairment and nighttime driving,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, DMV Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. “In response, New York State has adopted a series of programs and rules to target these risky practices to better prepare youth and keep them off the road until they’ve gained some quality driving time. We’re thrilled to achieve this ranking, and we will continue to educate young people to be safe and responsible drivers.”

The WalletHub analysis also found that New York has the most driving schools per capita, and the fifth-fewest teen DUI arrests per capita, and that New York has nearly all the optimal driving laws recommended by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

WalletHub analyzed 23 key metrics across all 50 states, specifically looking at safety, accidents and injuries, and state laws. They used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Governors Highway Safety Association, the American Automobile Association and more organizations.

Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens aged 16 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In 2023, in New York State teen drivers were over-represented in crashes: 7% of the drivers involved in crashes were ages 16-20, while representing only 4% of all licensed drivers.

As part of New York’s ongoing effort to promote teen driver safety, Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) sponsors and implements initiatives throughout the year directly targeting teens and young drivers. For example, the “No Empty Chair” teen driving safety, education and enforcement campaign raises awareness of highway dangers in the hope there will be no empty chairs during prom and graduation season. Another program provides schools with speakers who will share their personal experience of having been a victim of a crash or having lost a loved one in a crash.

Also, NASCAR driver Ross Chastain has partnered with GTSC’s Protect Your Melon initiative, and they visit high schools throughout the state to demonstrate the importance of seat belt safety to young people, who are often the least likely to properly use and wear seat belts.

Beyond educating students about safe driving through these campaigns, state and local law enforcement increase patrols near local high schools throughout the state, and officers strictly enforce violations of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law. The GDL requires teens under age 18 to progress through a series of phases that expands the times and places they can drive as they gain successful driving experiences.

Finally, the GTSC website provides many resources for teens and parents, including a young drivers tool kit. These helpful resources can be used in homes and schools to supplement other ongoing programs the DMV and GTSC offers for teen drivers.

For more information about the GTSC and the requirements for teen drivers, visit the GTSC website or follow the conversation online at Facebook, X, and Instagram. 

###