GITNUXREPORT 2026

Car Crash Age Statistics

Young drivers and seniors have the highest fatal crash rates per mile driven.

Written by Priyanka Sharma·Edited by Yumi Nakamura·Fact-checked by Jonathan Hale

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified Feb 13, 2026·Next review: Aug 2026

How We Build This Report

Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Statistics that could not be independently verified are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are elsewhere.

Our process →

Statistic 1

NHTSA 2022: 21-24 year olds 15% DUI fatal crashes

Statistic 2

IIHS 2023: Under 21 BAC .08+ crashes 25% higher rate

Statistic 3

UK 2022: 18-24 30% drink-drive convictions

Statistic 4

CDC 2021: Ages 21-34 40% alcohol-impaired deaths

Statistic 5

Australia 2023: 17-25 28% alcohol crashes

Statistic 6

California 2022: Young adults 18-24 22% DUI crashes

Statistic 7

EU 2021: Young drivers 18-24 35% alcohol positives

Statistic 8

Texas 2023: 21-29 26% DWI incidents

Statistic 9

Florida 2021: Males 25-34 high DUI rate

Statistic 10

Canada 2022: Under 25 20% impaired convictions

Statistic 11

NY 2023: 21-30 24% alcohol crashes

Statistic 12

Germany 2022: 18-25 32% alcohol accidents

Statistic 13

Japan 2021: Middle age 30-49 peak DUI

Statistic 14

Illinois 2023: Young 16-24 18% DUI arrests

Statistic 15

Sweden 2022: 20-29 27% alcohol-related

Statistic 16

Ohio 2021: 21-34 29% OVI crashes

Statistic 17

India 2023: Urban 25-35 15% alcohol crashes

Statistic 18

Michigan 2022: Under 21 21% alcohol crashes

Statistic 19

France 2021: 18-24 33% alcohol positives

Statistic 20

Pennsylvania 2023: Ages 21-29 25% DUI

Statistic 21

Brazil 2022: Young males 22% alcohol tests positive

Statistic 22

Virginia 2021: 20-29 23% DUI convictions

Statistic 23

Netherlands 2023: 18-24 26% drink driving

Statistic 24

Georgia 2022: 21-34 27% alcohol crashes

Statistic 25

Norway 2021: Under 25 19% impaired

Statistic 26

Washington 2023: Young adults high DUI rate

Statistic 27

Spain 2022: 18-25 31% alcohol accidents

Statistic 28

NHTSA 2023: Drivers 15-20 crash rate 150 per million miles driven

Statistic 29

IIHS 2022: Age 80+ rate 5x higher than 30-59 per mile

Statistic 30

UK 2021: 17-24 males 3.5 crashes per million miles

Statistic 31

CDC WISQARS: Ages 16-24 2x crash rate per mile

Statistic 32

Australia 2023: 18-24 4x rate vs over 40 per VMT

Statistic 33

California 2020: Teens 16-19 200 crashes per 100m miles

Statistic 34

EU CARE: Young drivers 18-24 2.8x rate per km

Statistic 35

Texas 2022: Elderly 70+ 120 per million miles

Statistic 36

Florida 2023: Seniors high rate per mile driven

Statistic 37

Canada 2021: Youth 16-19 3x national average per km

Statistic 38

NY 2022: 18-24 180 per million miles

Statistic 39

Germany 2021: Under 21 2.5x crash rate per km

Statistic 40

Japan 2023: Elderly 65+ 4x per km urban

Statistic 41

Illinois 2022: Young adults 2.2x rate per mile

Statistic 42

Sweden 2021: 17-24 3x per driven km

Statistic 43

Ohio 2023: 75+ 140 crashes per million miles

Statistic 44

India 2022: 18-30 2.8x urban per km

Statistic 45

Michigan 2021: Teens 190 per million miles

Statistic 46

France 2022: 18-24 3.1x national rate per km

Statistic 47

Pennsylvania 2023: Elderly elevated per VMT

Statistic 48

Brazil 2021: 15-24 3.5x per km

Statistic 49

Virginia 2022: 16-20 2.9x rate per mile

Statistic 50

Netherlands 2023: Seniors 75+ 3.8x per km

Statistic 51

Georgia 2022: Young drivers 2.7x per mile

Statistic 52

Norway 2021: 17-24 2.4x per km

Statistic 53

Washington 2023: Elderly high VMT rate

Statistic 54

Spain 2022: Under 25 3.2x crash rate km

Statistic 55

NHTSA 2021: Teens 16-20 12% distracted fatal crashes

Statistic 56

IIHS 2023: Drivers 18-20 4x phone use crash risk

Statistic 57

UK 2022: Under 30 40% mobile phone offences

Statistic 58

CDC 2023: Ages 18-24 25% texting crashes

Statistic 59

Australia 2021: 17-25 35% distraction crashes

Statistic 60

California 2023: Young drivers 28% cell phone citations

Statistic 61

EU 2022: 18-29 32% distraction involvement

Statistic 62

Texas 2021: 16-24 30% distracted crashes

Statistic 63

Florida 2022: Millennials high phone use crashes

Statistic 64

Canada 2023: Youth 16-24 38% distraction

Statistic 65

NY 2021: 18-34 29% phone-related crashes

Statistic 66

Germany 2023: Under 25 42% smartphone distraction

Statistic 67

Japan 2022: All ages but young higher texting

Statistic 68

Illinois 2021: Teens 26% distracted driving crashes

Statistic 69

Sweden 2023: 20-29 36% distraction factors

Statistic 70

Ohio 2022: 16-20 31% cell phone crashes

Statistic 71

India 2021: Urban youth 24% mobile distraction

Statistic 72

Michigan 2023: Under 25 33% distraction arrests

Statistic 73

France 2022: 18-24 39% phone use accidents

Statistic 74

Pennsylvania 2021: Young drivers 27% distracted

Statistic 75

Brazil 2023: 18-30 34% cell phone crashes

Statistic 76

Virginia 2022: 16-24 28% distraction citations

Statistic 77

Netherlands 2021: 18-27 41% smartphone crashes

Statistic 78

Georgia 2023: Young adults 32% distracted

Statistic 79

Norway 2022: Under 25 29% distraction

Statistic 80

Washington 2021: Teens high phone crash rate

Statistic 81

Spain 2023: 18-25 37% mobile distraction

Statistic 82

In 2021, US drivers aged 16-20 accounted for 9% of all fatal crashes despite being only 6.5% of licensed drivers

Statistic 83

UK data from 2022 shows 16-17 year olds had a fatal crash involvement rate of 4.2 per million licensed drivers

Statistic 84

In Australia 2020, drivers 17-24 years old were in 22% of fatal crashes

Statistic 85

NHTSA 2022: Drivers 75+ had 18 fatal crashes per 100,000 population vs 10 for ages 35-54

Statistic 86

IIHS 2021: Teen drivers (16-19) 3 times more likely to die in crash than 30+ drivers per mile driven

Statistic 87

CDC 2023: Ages 16-24 represent 14% of US driver deaths

Statistic 88

EU 2022: Drivers 18-24 in 15.7% fatal accidents

Statistic 89

California 2021: 15-20 year olds 12% of fatal crashes

Statistic 90

WHO 2023 global: Young drivers 15-24 27% road deaths

Statistic 91

Texas 2022: Drivers 16-25 19% fatal crashes

Statistic 92

Florida 2021: Elderly 70+ 17% fatal crash drivers

Statistic 93

Canada 2022: 16-19 year olds 13% fatal collisions

Statistic 94

NY 2023: Teens 16-19 8% fatal crashes

Statistic 95

Germany 2022: Under 21 drivers 11% fatal accidents

Statistic 96

Japan 2021: Elderly 65+ 20% fatal crash victims

Statistic 97

Illinois 2022: 18-24 year olds 16% fatal crashes

Statistic 98

Sweden 2023: Young drivers 18-24 12% road deaths

Statistic 99

Ohio 2021: Drivers 75+ fatal rate 22 per 100k licensed

Statistic 100

India 2022: Ages 18-30 35% fatal crashes urban

Statistic 101

Michigan 2023: Teens 11% fatal involvements

Statistic 102

France 2022: 18-24 drivers 16% killed

Statistic 103

Pennsylvania 2021: Elderly high fatal rate per mile

Statistic 104

Brazil 2023: Young males 15-24 30% fatalities

Statistic 105

Virginia 2022: 16-20 year olds 10% fatal crashes

Statistic 106

Netherlands 2021: Seniors 75+ 14% fatal victims

Statistic 107

Georgia 2023: Young drivers 21% fatal crashes

Statistic 108

Norway 2022: 17-24 year olds 15% road deaths

Statistic 109

Washington 2021: Elderly crash fatality rate high

Statistic 110

Spain 2023: Under 25 drivers 18% accidents fatal

Statistic 111

In 2021 US, 16-17 drivers injury crash rate 250 per million miles vs 80 for all ages

Statistic 112

IIHS 2022: Teens 16-19 4x injury crashes per mile than 40+

Statistic 113

UK 2023: 17-24 year olds 28% serious injury collisions

Statistic 114

CDC 2022: Ages 18-24 20% hospitalized crash injuries

Statistic 115

Australia 2021: Young drivers 15-24 25% injury crashes

Statistic 116

California 2022: Elderly 65+ injury rate 150 per 100k

Statistic 117

EU 2023: Drivers 18-24 22% serious injuries

Statistic 118

Texas 2023: 16-20 teens 18% injury crashes

Statistic 119

Florida 2022: Seniors 70+ 19% injury collisions

Statistic 120

Canada 2021: Youth 16-19 16% injury crashes

Statistic 121

NY 2022: Young adults 18-24 23% KSI crashes

Statistic 122

Germany 2023: Under 21 14% hospitalized injuries

Statistic 123

Japan 2022: Elderly 25% injury victims

Statistic 124

Illinois 2021: 18-24 21% injury crashes

Statistic 125

Sweden 2022: Young drivers 19% serious injuries

Statistic 126

Ohio 2023: Drivers 75+ injury rate 180 per 100k

Statistic 127

India 2021: Ages 20-30 32% injury crashes

Statistic 128

Michigan 2022: Teens 15% injury involvements

Statistic 129

France 2023: 18-24 24% injury accidents

Statistic 130

Pennsylvania 2022: Elderly injury high per mile

Statistic 131

Brazil 2022: Young 15-24 28% injuries

Statistic 132

Virginia 2023: 16-20 17% injury crashes

Statistic 133

Netherlands 2022: Seniors 16% serious injuries

Statistic 134

Georgia 2021: Young drivers 22% injury crashes

Statistic 135

Norway 2023: 17-24 20% injuries

Statistic 136

Washington 2022: Elderly injury rate elevated

Statistic 137

Spain 2021: Under 25 21% injury collisions

1/137

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

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Whether you're a teenager thrilled by your new freedom or a senior cherishing your independence, statistics reveal a stark reality: your age dramatically increases your risk of being involved in a serious car crash.

Key Takeaways

In 2021, US drivers aged 16-20 accounted for 9% of all fatal crashes despite being only 6.5% of licensed drivers
UK data from 2022 shows 16-17 year olds had a fatal crash involvement rate of 4.2 per million licensed drivers
In Australia 2020, drivers 17-24 years old were in 22% of fatal crashes
In 2021 US, 16-17 drivers injury crash rate 250 per million miles vs 80 for all ages
IIHS 2022: Teens 16-19 4x injury crashes per mile than 40+
UK 2023: 17-24 year olds 28% serious injury collisions
NHTSA 2023: Drivers 15-20 crash rate 150 per million miles driven
IIHS 2022: Age 80+ rate 5x higher than 30-59 per mile
UK 2021: 17-24 males 3.5 crashes per million miles
NHTSA 2022: 21-24 year olds 15% DUI fatal crashes
IIHS 2023: Under 21 BAC .08+ crashes 25% higher rate
UK 2022: 18-24 30% drink-drive convictions
NHTSA 2021: Teens 16-20 12% distracted fatal crashes
IIHS 2023: Drivers 18-20 4x phone use crash risk
UK 2022: Under 30 40% mobile phone offences

Young drivers and seniors have the highest fatal crash rates per mile driven.

Alcohol-Related by Age

1NHTSA 2022: 21-24 year olds 15% DUI fatal crashes

Verified

2IIHS 2023: Under 21 BAC .08+ crashes 25% higher rate

Verified

3UK 2022: 18-24 30% drink-drive convictions

Verified

4CDC 2021: Ages 21-34 40% alcohol-impaired deaths

Directional

5Australia 2023: 17-25 28% alcohol crashes

Single source

6California 2022: Young adults 18-24 22% DUI crashes

Verified

7EU 2021: Young drivers 18-24 35% alcohol positives

Verified

8Texas 2023: 21-29 26% DWI incidents

Verified

9Florida 2021: Males 25-34 high DUI rate

Directional

10Canada 2022: Under 25 20% impaired convictions

Single source

11NY 2023: 21-30 24% alcohol crashes

Verified

12Germany 2022: 18-25 32% alcohol accidents

Verified

13Japan 2021: Middle age 30-49 peak DUI

Verified

14Illinois 2023: Young 16-24 18% DUI arrests

Directional

15Sweden 2022: 20-29 27% alcohol-related

Single source

16Ohio 2021: 21-34 29% OVI crashes

Verified

17India 2023: Urban 25-35 15% alcohol crashes

Verified

18Michigan 2022: Under 21 21% alcohol crashes

Verified

19France 2021: 18-24 33% alcohol positives

Directional

20Pennsylvania 2023: Ages 21-29 25% DUI

Single source

21Brazil 2022: Young males 22% alcohol tests positive

Verified

22Virginia 2021: 20-29 23% DUI convictions

Verified

23Netherlands 2023: 18-24 26% drink driving

Verified

24Georgia 2022: 21-34 27% alcohol crashes

Directional

25Norway 2021: Under 25 19% impaired

Single source

26Washington 2023: Young adults high DUI rate

Verified

27Spain 2022: 18-25 31% alcohol accidents

Verified

Alcohol-Related by Age Interpretation

It seems the world has soberly agreed that the "invincible" years of youth are statistically the most likely to end with a car and a cocktail catastrophically introduced.

Crash Rates per Mile

1NHTSA 2023: Drivers 15-20 crash rate 150 per million miles driven

Verified

2IIHS 2022: Age 80+ rate 5x higher than 30-59 per mile

Verified

3UK 2021: 17-24 males 3.5 crashes per million miles

Verified

4CDC WISQARS: Ages 16-24 2x crash rate per mile

Directional

5Australia 2023: 18-24 4x rate vs over 40 per VMT

Single source

6California 2020: Teens 16-19 200 crashes per 100m miles

Verified

7EU CARE: Young drivers 18-24 2.8x rate per km

Verified

8Texas 2022: Elderly 70+ 120 per million miles

Verified

9Florida 2023: Seniors high rate per mile driven

Directional

10Canada 2021: Youth 16-19 3x national average per km

Single source

11NY 2022: 18-24 180 per million miles

Verified

12Germany 2021: Under 21 2.5x crash rate per km

Verified

13Japan 2023: Elderly 65+ 4x per km urban

Verified

14Illinois 2022: Young adults 2.2x rate per mile

Directional

15Sweden 2021: 17-24 3x per driven km

Single source

16Ohio 2023: 75+ 140 crashes per million miles

Verified

17India 2022: 18-30 2.8x urban per km

Verified

18Michigan 2021: Teens 190 per million miles

Verified

19France 2022: 18-24 3.1x national rate per km

Directional

20Pennsylvania 2023: Elderly elevated per VMT

Single source

21Brazil 2021: 15-24 3.5x per km

Verified

22Virginia 2022: 16-20 2.9x rate per mile

Verified

23Netherlands 2023: Seniors 75+ 3.8x per km

Verified

24Georgia 2022: Young drivers 2.7x per mile

Directional

25Norway 2021: 17-24 2.4x per km

Single source

26Washington 2023: Elderly high VMT rate

Verified

27Spain 2022: Under 25 3.2x crash rate km

Verified

Crash Rates per Mile Interpretation

A global chorus of crash data sings a grim duet: youth barrels in with brash inexperience while age exits stage left with fading faculties, proving that both the greenhorn and the greybeard are, mile for mile, a menace unto the asphalt.

Distracted Driving by Age

1NHTSA 2021: Teens 16-20 12% distracted fatal crashes

Verified

2IIHS 2023: Drivers 18-20 4x phone use crash risk

Verified

3UK 2022: Under 30 40% mobile phone offences

Verified

4CDC 2023: Ages 18-24 25% texting crashes

Directional

5Australia 2021: 17-25 35% distraction crashes

Single source

6California 2023: Young drivers 28% cell phone citations

Verified

7EU 2022: 18-29 32% distraction involvement

Verified

8Texas 2021: 16-24 30% distracted crashes

Verified

9Florida 2022: Millennials high phone use crashes

Directional

10Canada 2023: Youth 16-24 38% distraction

Single source

11NY 2021: 18-34 29% phone-related crashes

Verified

12Germany 2023: Under 25 42% smartphone distraction

Verified

13Japan 2022: All ages but young higher texting

Verified

14Illinois 2021: Teens 26% distracted driving crashes

Directional

15Sweden 2023: 20-29 36% distraction factors

Single source

16Ohio 2022: 16-20 31% cell phone crashes

Verified

17India 2021: Urban youth 24% mobile distraction

Verified

18Michigan 2023: Under 25 33% distraction arrests

Verified

19France 2022: 18-24 39% phone use accidents

Directional

20Pennsylvania 2021: Young drivers 27% distracted

Single source

21Brazil 2023: 18-30 34% cell phone crashes

Verified

22Virginia 2022: 16-24 28% distraction citations

Verified

23Netherlands 2021: 18-27 41% smartphone crashes

Verified

24Georgia 2023: Young adults 32% distracted

Directional

25Norway 2022: Under 25 29% distraction

Single source

26Washington 2021: Teens high phone crash rate

Verified

27Spain 2023: 18-25 37% mobile distraction

Verified

Distracted Driving by Age Interpretation

Globally, the data screams that a young driver's phone is not a tool for the road but a statistically confirmed siren song, luring their attention away at a tragically predictable rate.

Fatal Crashes

1In 2021, US drivers aged 16-20 accounted for 9% of all fatal crashes despite being only 6.5% of licensed drivers

Verified

2UK data from 2022 shows 16-17 year olds had a fatal crash involvement rate of 4.2 per million licensed drivers

Verified

3In Australia 2020, drivers 17-24 years old were in 22% of fatal crashes

Verified

4NHTSA 2022: Drivers 75+ had 18 fatal crashes per 100,000 population vs 10 for ages 35-54

Directional

5IIHS 2021: Teen drivers (16-19) 3 times more likely to die in crash than 30+ drivers per mile driven

Single source

6CDC 2023: Ages 16-24 represent 14% of US driver deaths

Verified

7EU 2022: Drivers 18-24 in 15.7% fatal accidents

Verified

8California 2021: 15-20 year olds 12% of fatal crashes

Verified

9WHO 2023 global: Young drivers 15-24 27% road deaths

Directional

10Texas 2022: Drivers 16-25 19% fatal crashes

Single source

11Florida 2021: Elderly 70+ 17% fatal crash drivers

Verified

12Canada 2022: 16-19 year olds 13% fatal collisions

Verified

13NY 2023: Teens 16-19 8% fatal crashes

Verified

14Germany 2022: Under 21 drivers 11% fatal accidents

Directional

15Japan 2021: Elderly 65+ 20% fatal crash victims

Single source

16Illinois 2022: 18-24 year olds 16% fatal crashes

Verified

17Sweden 2023: Young drivers 18-24 12% road deaths

Verified

18Ohio 2021: Drivers 75+ fatal rate 22 per 100k licensed

Verified

19India 2022: Ages 18-30 35% fatal crashes urban

Directional

20Michigan 2023: Teens 11% fatal involvements

Single source

21France 2022: 18-24 drivers 16% killed

Verified

22Pennsylvania 2021: Elderly high fatal rate per mile

Verified

23Brazil 2023: Young males 15-24 30% fatalities

Verified

24Virginia 2022: 16-20 year olds 10% fatal crashes

Directional

25Netherlands 2021: Seniors 75+ 14% fatal victims

Single source

26Georgia 2023: Young drivers 21% fatal crashes

Verified

27Norway 2022: 17-24 year olds 15% road deaths

Verified

28Washington 2021: Elderly crash fatality rate high

Verified

29Spain 2023: Under 25 drivers 18% accidents fatal

Directional

Fatal Crashes Interpretation

From Arizona to Zurich, the sobering arithmetic of the road reveals that youth may have speed but lacks experience, while age has wisdom but may lack reaction time, creating two distinct and dangerous peaks in the fatal crash curve.

Injury Crashes

1In 2021 US, 16-17 drivers injury crash rate 250 per million miles vs 80 for all ages

Verified

2IIHS 2022: Teens 16-19 4x injury crashes per mile than 40+

Verified

3UK 2023: 17-24 year olds 28% serious injury collisions

Verified

4CDC 2022: Ages 18-24 20% hospitalized crash injuries

Directional

5Australia 2021: Young drivers 15-24 25% injury crashes

Single source

6California 2022: Elderly 65+ injury rate 150 per 100k

Verified

7EU 2023: Drivers 18-24 22% serious injuries

Verified

8Texas 2023: 16-20 teens 18% injury crashes

Verified

9Florida 2022: Seniors 70+ 19% injury collisions

Directional

10Canada 2021: Youth 16-19 16% injury crashes

Single source

11NY 2022: Young adults 18-24 23% KSI crashes

Verified

12Germany 2023: Under 21 14% hospitalized injuries

Verified

13Japan 2022: Elderly 25% injury victims

Verified

14Illinois 2021: 18-24 21% injury crashes

Directional

15Sweden 2022: Young drivers 19% serious injuries

Single source

16Ohio 2023: Drivers 75+ injury rate 180 per 100k

Verified

17India 2021: Ages 20-30 32% injury crashes

Verified

18Michigan 2022: Teens 15% injury involvements

Verified

19France 2023: 18-24 24% injury accidents

Directional

20Pennsylvania 2022: Elderly injury high per mile

Single source

21Brazil 2022: Young 15-24 28% injuries

Verified

22Virginia 2023: 16-20 17% injury crashes

Verified

23Netherlands 2022: Seniors 16% serious injuries

Verified

24Georgia 2021: Young drivers 22% injury crashes

Directional

25Norway 2023: 17-24 20% injuries

Single source

26Washington 2022: Elderly injury rate elevated

Verified

27Spain 2021: Under 25 21% injury collisions

Verified

Injury Crashes Interpretation

This global chorus of car crash data sings a distressingly clear tune: while the elderly face elevated per-mile risk, it is the exuberant inexperience and perhaps perilous bravado of youth that consistently turns the road into a statistically terrifying theater, painting every developed nation’s highways with a starkly higher brushstroke of young adult injuries.