Teen drivers have a much higher risk of being involved in a crash than more seasoned adult drivers. There are many reasons for this increased risk, from the still-developing brain patterns of young teens to inexperience handling Minnesota’s challenging road conditions.

Below, we take a closer look at specific reasons teens have a greater crash risk, some of the biggest contributing factors, and what parents can do to help their teens drive more safely.

At TSR Injury Law, our seasoned car crash lawyers understand the complex dynamics involved when teen drivers cause crashes in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities, and across the state. We strive to help the victims injured in these crashes to secure fair compensation for their injuries and other losses.

Why Do Teen Drivers in Minneapolis Have a Higher Crash Risk Than Adult Drivers?

According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, teens have four times the crash rate per mile driven compared to adults 20 years and older, and three times the fatal crash rate per mile driven.

Here are some additional key factors that impact younger drivers, increasing their risk of a crash:

• Brain Development: The prefrontal cortex (part of the brain that controls decision-making and impulse control) continues to develop and mature well into the twenties.
• Limited Experience: Teens need more time behind the wheel to hone their driving skills. They are still learning and building pattern recognition and hazard detection skills, but these and other driving competencies develop over years of practice.
• Risk-Taking Behaviors: Research shows adolescent brains’ reward systems are especially sensitive when friends and other peers are around, increasing the likelihood of a teen engaging in dangerous driving behaviors.
• Unfocused Attention: Teen drivers struggle more with multi-tasking and are particularly vulnerable to distraction from electronic devices, loud music, or rowdy passengers.

What Types of Negligent Actions Are Most Common for Teen Drivers?

Teen drivers engage in specific types of negligent behaviors, many of which directly stem from the inexperience and developmental factors we already mentioned. But this immaturity results in poor judgement behind the wheel, resulting in teen driver negligence that includes:

Distracted Driving

Teen drivers are much more likely to use their phones to text, take selfies or videos, engage in calls, and post on social media. Other types of distracted driving teens may do behind the wheel including:

• Adjusting their GPS
• Eating or drinking
• Brushing hair, shaving, putting on make-up
• Changing the music they’re listening to
• Grabbing something off the floor or from the backseat
• Interacting with other teen passengers in the car

Drinking and Driving

Despite zero-tolerance laws in Minnesota, some teen drivers still operate vehicles under the influence of alcohol, creating extremely dangerous situations for themselves and other motorists.

Speeding

Teen drivers, especially young male drivers, are more likely to speed. According to a news release from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, approximately 30 teens between the ages of 16 and 17 are killed in crashes each year. In 2022, the NHTSA reported that speed was a contributing factor in 19 percent of fatal crashes involving female teen drivers and 35 percent of fatal crashes involving male teen drivers. In 2023, speeding was found to be a factor in 34 percent of fatal crashes with younger teen drivers aged 15-18 years.

Following Too Closely (Tailgating)

Tailgating is a leading cause of rear-end collisions – and one of the most common types of teen crashes. Following too closely violates Minnesota law, which requires drivers to maintain a “reasonable and prudent” following distance, based on speed and road conditions.

Failure to Wear Seatbelts

According to the CDC, teens and even young adult drivers often skip buckling up. A 2020 report found that 56 percent of teens involved in fatal crashes were not wearing their seatbelts. Teen drivers have the lowest seatbelt usage rate of all age groups.

Failure to Yield Right-of-Way

Inexperience, immaturity, and impairment may result in teens not yielding to other vehicles or pedestrians at intersections or pedestrian crossings.

Running Red Lights and Stop Signs

Teen drivers may violate traffic control devices by trying to beat a yellow light or recklessly running red lights and rolling through stop signs without fully stopping.

Improper Lane Changes

A lack of spatial awareness, combined with poor decision-making and immaturity may lead teens to frequently drift between lanes, cut off other drivers, or engage in other unsafe lane changes.

Carrying Teen Passengers May Create Dangerous Situations

Teen drivers carrying a vehicle full of teen passengers is a lethal combination. Passengers talking loudly, joking around, or being rowdy is a huge distraction for young, inexperienced drivers. It can also lead to teen drivers being pressured into risky behaviors.

Caving to Social Pressures Behind the Wheel

When passengers are other teens, there may be social pressure placed on the driver to speed, ignore traffic signals, or drink and drive. Inexperienced drivers may be more likely to cave to this pressure or make risky choices they might not otherwise make to impress their friends.

How Does Inexperience Behind the Wheel Impact Teen Driver Safety in Minnesota?

Inexperience significantly impacts teen driver safety. Not only are they still developing their skills as newer drivers, but they have not yet learned to recognize dangerous situations quickly enough. More experienced drivers are more likely to see and respond appropriately to unexpected dangers on the road. This inexperience affects their safety on the road in specific areas:

• Carrying Rowdy Passengers Creates Dangerous Situations: Teen drivers struggle to manage vehicle control while dealing with loud, distracting passengers who encourage risky behaviors and poor decision-making.
• Caving to Social Pressures: Inexperienced drivers often make dangerous choices to impress friends or avoid appearing cautious, leading to speeding, reckless maneuvers, and ignoring safety rules.
• Failing to Adjust Driving for Minnesota Weather and Road Conditions: Less experience behind the wheel means teens may not always recognize when to slow down for rain, snow, ice, or heavier traffic conditions.
• Missing Critical Road Hazards and Objects: New drivers struggle to effectively scan for unexpected dangers, like objects in the road, a bicycle turning in their blind spot, or a swerving vehicle. They may often be focusing too narrowly on just staying in their lane.
• Slow Response to Construction Zones and Traffic Pattern Changes: Navigating unexpected road construction projects in Minnesota can lead to a crash when teen drivers fail to slow down, follow detours, or merge safely.

Does Night Driving Have Any Impact on Teen Car Crash Rates in Minneapolis?

Night driving has a significant impact on teen car crash rates in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, teen drivers are twice as likely to crash at night compared to driving during normal daylight hours. Key factors contributing to this risk include reduced visibility and fatigue. There is also a greater likelihood of encountering impaired drivers on the roads at night.

How Minnesota’s Graduated Driver Licensing Program Addresses Teen Crash Prevention

Minnesota’s graduated driver licensing program helps to address these risks by restricting teen drivers from being on roads between midnight and 5 a.m. during their first six months with a provisional license, recognizing that nighttime driving poses substantially greater dangers for inexperienced drivers throughout Minneapolis and the state.

Active Steps Parents Can Take to Reduce Their Teen Driver’s Crash Risks

State laws merely provide the foundation for better road safety. Parents have much more influence and can build upon this framework by setting clear expectations and taking other proactive steps. Giving your teen lots of practice time behind the wheel with a responsible adult driver is also critical. The more they drive in different situations with an adult driver to guide them, the faster they will hone their skills.

Here are some additional steps parents can take to help their teens become safer, more confident drivers:

• Establish Clear Driving Rules and Consequences: Set specific guidelines about when, where, and under what conditions your teen can drive. Implement consistent enforcement of violations that go beyond state requirements.
• Require Additional Supervised Practice: Provide more than the minimum 50 hours of required practice. Focus on challenging situations like highway merging, parallel parking, and tackling severe weather conditions common in Minnesota.
• Monitor Driving Behavior Through Technology: Use smartphone apps or vehicle monitoring systems to track speed, location, and driving patterns while maintaining open communication about safety expectations.
• Limit High-Risk Driving Situations: Restrict driving during peak crash times, in unfamiliar areas, or during severe weather until your teen demonstrates consistent safe driving habits.
• Lead by Example: Model safe driving behaviors yourself, as teens often mirror their parents’ driving habits including phone use, speeding, buckling up, and aggressive behaviors.
• Regularly Discuss Driving Experiences: Have ongoing conversations about challenging situations your teen encounters, near-misses, or concerns they have about other drivers on the road.
• Gradually Increase Driving Privileges: Allow expanded driving freedoms, but after your teen consistently demonstrates responsibility and safe decision-making behind the wheel.

Involved in a Crash Involving a Teen Driver? Call TSR Injury Law for Legal Help Today

At TSR Injury Law, when you call our trusted law firm, we will get an investigator out right away to examine your crash scene and find out what happened. We are proud to have a team of seasoned attorneys, knowledgeable legal staff, and a solid reputation for getting results.

When we represent you, there are no upfront costs or out-of-pocket fees to pay. We only get paid if you do.

Call TSR Injury Law today. We would be honored to help you. (612) TSR-TIME