National Survey Names New York Best State In Nation For Teen Drivers
State Also Ranked #1 in Teen Driver Safety
Ahead of National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 20–26, 2024, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today announced a recent national survey of teen driving conditions in each of the 50 states has concluded that New York is the best state for teen drivers.
Conducted by WalletHub, the survey also ranked New York State the safest in the nation for teen drivers. Since 2003, New York State has seen an 80 percent reduction in fatal motor vehicle crashes in which a young driver was involved, based on 2017 data. Personal injury crashes involving young drivers have decreased by 61 percent.
“Ensuring that teen drivers are safe on our roadways is a top priority for New York State,” said Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder. “So, we’re very pleased and proud to be recognized by WalletHub as not only the safest, but also the best state for teen drivers. It’s a testament to our efforts to help teens develop safe driving skills and avoid distractions and other dangerous behaviors on the road.”
The survey focused on three key areas: safety, economic environment and driving laws, using 23 weighted metrics to rank all 50 states. WalletHub collected the data from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, EverQuote, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Road Information Program, CarMD, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, CarInsurance.com, the Governors Highway Safety Association, the American Automobile Association and WalletHub research.
WalletHub said it ranked New York best in large part because the state has 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). WalletHub also noted the state has the most driving schools per capita, the seventh-fewest teen DUI arrests per capita and the seventh-lowest share of teens who text while driving.
New York also has nearly all the optimal driving laws recommended by highway safety advocates and the seventh-lowest auto insurance premiums in the United States, WalletHub said.
As part of New York’s ongoing effort to promote teen driver safety, 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.
Through an ongoing partnership with NASCAR driver Ross Chastain and GTSC’s Protect Your Melon initiative, GTSC and Chastain visit high schools throughout the state each year to demonstrate the importance of seat belt safety to young people, who are often the least likely to properly use and wear seat belts. GTSC also works closely with Students Against Drunk Driving and sponsors a Coaches Care program, which utilizes both teen peers and mentors to spread critical safety information to young New Yorkers.
Beyond educating students about safe driving through this campaign, 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 is intended to provide time for young drivers to gain critical experience in various traffic scenarios in a safe and controlled manner. Parents, caregivers, educators and teens can find more information about the Graduated Driver Licensing Law on the GTSC website.
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 the other ongoing programs the GTSC offers for teen drivers.
###
Contact DMV Communications (GTSC)
Walter McClure, Director of Public Information
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (518) 473-7000
For more information about GTSC, visit trafficsafety.ny.gov, or follow the GTSC conversation on Facebook, X and Instagram.