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25-34-year-olds top the dangerous driving list, with alcohol, speeding, and distractions as the main reasons for accidents
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data confirms that in the U.S. in 2023, there were 6,138,359 police-reported motor vehicle crashes. 2.44 million people suffered injuries due to the accidents, while 40,901 people were killed.
The three main causes of motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. are:
- drunk driving;
- speeding; and
- distracted driving.
This study will examine data that confirms which age groups are the biggest offenders in each behavioral category, how each factor plays into wider crash statistics, gender disparities, and some of the measures that can lessen the problem.
The Age Groups Driving Most Dangerously
According to 2023 NHTSA crash data, drivers in the 25-34-year-old age group are the most dangerous, causing 7,583 fatalities. The next most dangerous age range was the 35-44-year-olds, who were responsible for 6,416 road fatalities.
Third-ranking was the 55-64 age group with 5,641 crash fatalities, followed by 45-54-year-olds with 5,247 crash deaths, and 65-74-year-olds, who caused 4,268 crash deaths.
Drivers in the 16-20 (3,390 crash deaths) and 21-24 (3,311 crash deaths) age ranges also show significant crash fatality numbers, as do 75+ senior drivers (3,623 crash deaths).
Of the total fatality numbers, 29,487 were men and 11,199 were women. The main factor when it comes to car crash fatalities is alcohol.
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The Main Reasons For Car Accidents
Drunk Driving Fatalities
According to study data, 25-34-year-old drivers are the biggest drunk-driving menace and lead the 2023 drunk-driving crash statistics with 2,970 fatalities.
These numbers align with other linked behavioral trends, with this age bracket on the roads in huge numbers during peak social hours. Additional data from the Institute of Alcohol Studies tells us that they’re also more likely than all other age ranges to binge drink and take subsequent driving risks.
35-44 year olds are second on the list, responsible for 2,265 road crash deaths. 45-55-year-old drivers ranked third for fatal drunk driving crashes, causing 1,666 deaths. 55-64-year-old drivers were responsible for 1,445 fatalities – a significant statistic that confirms dangerous drunk driving is far from just a ‘younger driver’ problem.
The inexperienced and risk-taking 21-24 and 16-20-year-old age range respectively caused 1,370 and 1,085 fatalities – a combined 2,455 drunk driving deaths. While senior drivers (75+) killed 491 people through drunk driving – numbers that reflect significantly fewer driving hours.
The Worst States for Drunk-Driving Fatalities
Study data suggests that the South features the most dangerous drunk driving hotspots, with the top five states for drunk driving deaths all from that part of the country.
- 1. Texas → 1,699
- 2. California → 1,355
- 3. Florida → 839
- 4. Ohio → 455
- 5. Georgia → 433
- 6. Arizona → 429
- 7. North Carolina → 415
- 8. South Carolina → 413
- 9. Illinois → 399
- 10. Tennessee → 371
Speeding Fatalities
Study data also emphasizes the consistent risk-taking danger that the 25-34-year-old age bracket represents on US roads: those drivers were responsible for 2,475 fatalities in 2023.
35-44-year-old drivers caused 1,792 deaths by speeding, while 16-20-year-olds (1,464) and 21-24-year-olds (1,308) were also responsible for high numbers of road fatalities – indicative of inexperienced, overconfident, high-risk driving.
With less than half of the 25-34-year-old numbers, the 45-54 (1,201) and 55-64 (1,042) year-old age ranges, while still responsible for many speeding-related deaths, are more cautious, less risky drivers. This declining numbers trend continues with the over-65s (703 speeding deaths) and over-75s (463).
The Worst States for Speeding Fatalities
The South once again features heavily, with two of the top three states from that US region, and Texas featuring almost as many speeding fatalities as the combined numbers from places three, four, and five on the list.
- Texas → 1,484
- California → 1,303
- North Carolina → 632
- Pennsylvania → 491
- Illinois → 436
Distracted Driving Fatalities
Confirming trends already shown by drunk driving and speeding fatality numbers, 25-34-year-olds represent the biggest distracted driving danger on U.S. roads, and caused 378 fatalities on U.S. roads in 2023.
Study data puts this top-ranking number down to an addiction to phones and other devices, and subsequent dangerous multitasking. 55-64-year-old drivers (350 distracted driving deaths) are the next-biggest distracted driving killers, disproving the suggestion that only young, tech-savvy drivers are on their phones – with added slower response times not helping.
35-44-year-olds (313 deaths) are also heavily distracted by phones, while cognitive decline and an alarming tendency to be easily distracted by GPS, phones, and other visual stimuli mean senior drivers (65-74-year-olds: 299 deaths; over-75s: 305 deaths) show extremely high distracted driving fatality numbers.
Conversely, 16-20-year-olds (165 deaths) and 21-24-year-olds (152 deaths) counter stereotypes somewhat with comparatively lower numbers. Study data attributes this factor to a combination of fewer driving miles logged than 25-64-year-old drivers (partly down to the severity of punishment for drunk driving and speeding), and their being specifically targeted by safety campaigns.
The Worst States for Distracted Driving
Study data – which placed Texas top of the speeding fatalities list, and second on the drunk driving fatalities list – confirms the state as a hotbed for dangerous driving with its top ranking for distracted driving fatalities.
And, again, the South is heavily placed across the worst offenders list, filling four of the top five places. In Florida, 110 of its recorded distracted driving fatalities were caused by the 55+ driving age group – the one state in which this age group was most responsible for distracted driving deaths.
This is largely due to a disproportionately older population, with the highest percentage of its population over 65 in the US – 22.5%.
- Texas → 404 fatalities
- Florida → 277 fatalities
- Louisiana → 254 fatalities
- New Jersey → 172 fatalities
- New Mexico → 162 fatalities
What The Study Findings Show
The 25–34 age group is consistently the most dangerous driving age range. This study emphasizes the fact across the three covered categories: driving while drunk; driving while over the speed limit, and driving while distracted.
This age bracket leads in fatalities across all three categories, with 2,970 deaths due to alcohol impairment, 2,475 from speeding, and 378 linked to distracted driving. These drivers are highly active, and, as study data confirms, drive at night more than other age ranges (often due to socializing), adding a layer of risk.
They also juggle demanding lifestyles and take unnecessary risks while at the wheel. So, this age range of drivers – and not teen or early-twenties drivers, as stereotypes often suggest – represents the biggest road fatality risk.
Taken as a broad cross-section, 25-54-year-olds are by far the most dangerous drivers in America. The reasons for this are clear: they’re the largest group of drivers and daily commuters, and live at a fast and frenetic pace with time always at a premium. This means they’re the drivers who, collectively, take the most unnecessary risks behind the wheel.
That said, distracted driving fatality numbers are the category most evenly shared across age groups, with surprisingly high numbers among older adults.
Drivers aged 55+ account for a substantial proportion of distracted driving deaths, a fact that’s at least partially due to declining reaction times, eyesight, and brain function. And such numbers belie the myth that only the young represent distracted and dangerous motorists.
So, risky driving behavior is an issue that affects all generations and age ranges. As such, prevention campaigns should refocus to take in most age ranges for drunk driving and speeding, and cover all age groups regarding distracted driving.
The most dangerous drivers aren’t necessarily inexperienced—they may instead be busy and distracted multitaskers, often unaware that what they consider to be everyday driving habits are potentially fatal.
It’s also worth mentioning a couple of significant factors.
- Irrespective of age group differentials, men are much more dangerous drivers than women and cause nearly three times as many road deaths. They are also more likely to indulge in risky behavior while behind the wheel, like not wearing a seatbelt, speeding and even driving while drunk. Analysis of study data suggests that sociocultural stereotypes and expectations around masculinity prompt or even condition men to take more risks, which in turn perpetuate unwarranted confidence in their driving skills, causing a disproportionate number of accidents. Simply put: driving fast and furious is what real men do…until a road death is the result.
- Thanks to Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws, most 16–20-year-olds are subject to key restrictions like curfews, passenger limits, and supervised driving time. These phased approaches have been shown to dramatically reduce fatal crash rates in young drivers. Teens today often drive newer, safer vehicles, often inherited from a family member, and usually equipped with crash prevention tech such as lane assist and emergency braking. These features significantly impact crash statistics.
Generational Disparities
Ultimately our analysis of 2023 motor vehicle fatality data confirms that Millennials (ages 27–42) are the most dangerous drivers on the road. Their high involvement in road fatality accidents reflects frequent driving, multitasking habits, and increased exposure to road risks.
Generation Z (ages 16–26) drivers are also heavily represented across all categories. Despite being the beneficiaries of more driving tech and safety campaigns than older generations, Gen Z drivers are still far too prone to risky driving behavior.
Studies show they’re more likely to use their phones while driving, and underestimate road hazards – often due to overconfident driving. And while they’re less likely to drink and drive than older generations, their addiction to distraction makes them a major safety concern. Gen Z’s familiarity with car tech doesn’t translate into safer driving habits.
Gen X (ages 43–58) drivers are heavily represented across all categories and may warrant closer attention when it comes to safer driving campaigns.
Boomers (ages 59–77) show comparatively low involvement when it comes to speeding and drunk driving but are significantly represented regarding distracted driving deaths – they, too, may demand closer scrutiny and attention when it comes to targeting demographics in need of safety warnings.
The crash risk for senior drivers spikes around age 70 due to waning vision, and deteriorating bodily and brain abilities and the ability to reason and remember. Senior drivers should ideally plan their route well in advance so they don’t need to worry about GPS or device distractions regarding their trip, and be vigilant about wearing a seatbelt.
In summary, the data shows that mid-life drivers, as opposed to teens, are the riskiest on the road, so road safety campaigns should reflect that generational reality.
Additionally, stricter driving laws like periodic re-testing, vision checks, and harsher penalties for repeated offenses might be a good way of preventing avoidable road tragedies. Irrespective of generation, reckless driving can kill: an acceptance that drivers of varied ages can cause needless death is the first step to saving lives.
At Farmer & Morris Law, we’re experts when it comes to dealing with car accidents and personal injuries. Get in touch with us today if you need help.
