JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Getting a driver’s license is considered a rite of passage in American culture. But this exciting coming-of-age can also become a death sentence for thousands of teens each year. Motor-vehicle accidents are the second leading cause of death among the population aged 16 to 19, which also happens to be the age group with the highest risk of crashes.
The financial implications are staggering, too. Motor vehicle crashes involving 15- to 19-year-olds result in around $4.8 billion per year in costs from medical expenses and work loss. That’s not counting the costs of auto maintenance, insurance premiums, possible traffic citations and other vehicular incidents—expenses that can pile up over time.
To help parents ensure their teens’ safety while also safeguarding their finances, WalletHub analyzed the teen-driving environment in each of the 50 states using a collection of 23 key metrics. Their data set ranges from the number of teen driver fatalities to the average cost of car repairs to the presence of impaired-driving laws.
Wyoming again ranked near the bottom in the rankings. Only Montana is considered a more dangerous state to drive in.
