NHTSA Breaks Down 2018 Teen Distracted Driving Deaths

Youth ages 15-19 represented 7% of those killed in vehicle crashes linked to distracted driving in 2018, according to a recent data report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That is 202 of 2,841 deaths.

The one-page report (bit.ly/2y3lsPM) does not indicate what percentage of the cases involved use of consumer products like smart phones or other handheld devices. However, they have been a primary focus of the agency's distracted-driving activity (bit.ly/2zDmCC9) for numerous years, and the photos in the new study indicate that such items are the main concern.

Other data from the report included (ages 15-19):

• Teens killed in distracted-driving crashes were 9% of teens killed in all crashes (202 of 2,318).

 

• Teen drivers linked to distracted-driving fatalities were 9% of all such drivers (237 of 2,688).

 

• Distracted teen drivers in fatal crashes were 8% of all teens in fatal crashes (237 of 3,070).

 

• People killed in crashes with a distracted teen driver were 8% of all fatal crashes with teen drives (256 of 3,370).

 

• Teens were 53% of people killed in fatal crashes with distracted teen drivers (136 of 256).