What age group has the most fatal crashes? (2024)
You may be surprised what age group has the most fatal crashes. Drivers aged 25 to 34 have the worst crash rate involving fatalities in 32 states, with nearly 1,000 more accident deaths per year than drivers 16 to 24. Below, we'll overview fatal accident rates by age and the percentage of car accidents by age.
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Laura D. Adams
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Laura Adams is one of the nation’s leading finance, insurance, and small business authorities. As an award-winning author, spokesperson, and host of the top-rated Money Girl podcast since 2008, millions of readers and listeners benefit from her practical advice. Her mission is to empower consumers to live healthy and rich lives by planning for the future and making smart money decisions. She rec...
Insurance & Finance Analyst
UPDATED: Jul 5, 2024
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UPDATED: Jul 5, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
It might surprise you what age group has the most fatal crashes. While most may assume the deadliest drivers are teens, drivers between 25 and 34 are involved in the most fatal auto accidents by age group.
Insurance companies study the rate of car accidents by age and often charge younger drivers more. This study examines what age group has the highest fatality rate of all age groups broken down by state.
If you’re a young driver with expensive rates, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool above to find cheap auto insurance from the top providers.
Read More: Auto Insurance for Drivers With Accidents
- Drivers aged 25 to 34 are the deadliest age group in 32 states
- Alaska has the most fatal crashes among drivers aged 16 – 34
- Drivers 65 or older are the least likely to be involved in a fatal car accident
Fatal Car Accident Statistics by Age
So, which age group has the highest rate for car crash fatality? The age group with the most fatal crashes is drivers between the ages of 25 and 34. There are nearly 1,000 more deaths per year among 25- to 34-year-olds than drivers under 25.
Age Group Fatal Accidents
16-24 5,623
25-34 6,548
35-44 5,117
45-54 4,958
55-64 5,347
65-74 3,658
75+ 3,556
In the United States, over 30,000 people die in fatal car accidents yearly.
Car insurance companies know the risks drivers take on the road, so they study the factors that increase the likelihood of a crash to determine rates.Tracey L. Wells Licensed Insurance Agent & Agency Owner
Age is one of the most significant factors that affect auto insurance rates.
So, let’s take a closer look at what age group has the highest fatality rate of all age groups driving.
#1 – Drivers Aged 25 – 34
Which age group experiences the largest number of fatal car crashes? Why do you think so many fatal crashes occur in this age group? Younger millennial drivers are responsible for the most fatal crashes across the country. On average, this age group comprises 18.8% of all fatal accidents.
Likely, these young drivers make up the bulk of traffic fatalities because they’re inexperienced and more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors. Check out the fatal accident driving statistics by age for millennials here:
- Total number of drivers aged 25 – 34: 36,739,000
- Total number of fatal crashes: 6,548
- Worst states for this age group: Washington, D.C., and Rhode Island
Find the best auto insurance for millennials here.
In Washington, D.C., drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 tied with drivers aged 35 – 44 for fatal accidents. Together, they’re responsible for more than half (52.2%) of all fatal accidents in the district. Finding Washington, D.C. auto insurance for a good price is still possible.
#2 – Drivers Aged 16 – 24
What age group has the most car accidents that are fatal? Despite being stereotyped as the most reckless drivers on the road, teen drivers get into fewer fatal crashes than millennial drivers. In fact, when considering the youngest drivers aged 16 – 20, they had fewer fatal accidents than any other age group on this list.
Check out the statistics of car accidents by age for drivers between 16 and 24 here:
- Total number of drivers aged 16 – 24: 25,709,000
- Total number of fatal crashes: 5,623
- Worst states for this age group: Alaska and Montana
In Alaska, teen and young drivers tied with 25- to 34-year-old drivers for the most fatal accidents. Together, they account for 41.6% of traffic fatalities in the state. In Montana, teen and young drivers are responsible for 20.6% of fatal accidents. Auto insurance for teens can get expensive.
#3 – Drivers Aged 55 – 64
Which age group causes the most car accidents that result in death? Drivers in this age range are the deadliest in only four states, accounting for less than 20% of fatal accidents in every state except New Hampshire.
See fatal accident statistics by age for drivers between 55 and 64 here:
- Total number of drivers aged 55 – 64: 22,674,000
- Total number of fatal crashes: 5,347
- Worst states for this age group: New Hampshire and Virginia
Drivers between 55 and 64 are involved in 22.8% of fatal accidents in New Hampshire. However, they tied as the deadliest age group in Virginia with 25- to 34-year-old drivers, with both groups in 16.7% of fatal accidents.
Read our report to find out the worst states for traffic-related fatalities.
#4 – Drivers Aged 35 – 44
What age group causes the most accidents with fatalities? Older millennial drivers aged 35 – 44 are among the least deadly age groups on the road despite having the highest number of licensed drivers in the U.S. population.
As you compare crash statistics by age, see how many fatal crashes drivers aged 35 and 44 get involved in here:
- Total number of drivers aged 35 – 44: 42,153,000
- Total number of fatal crashes: 5,117
- Worst states for this age group: Washington, D.C., and North Dakota
This age group tied with younger millennials as the deadliest drivers in Washington, D.C., accounting for 22% of fatal accidents in North Dakota.
#5 – Drivers Aged 45 – 54
This age group ranks as the most deadly in only one state — South Carolina, where they’re responsible for 17.2% of fatal accidents.
Check out the rate of fatal traffic accidents by age for drivers between 45 and 54 here:
- Total number of drivers aged 45 – 54: 36,021,000
- Total number of fatal crashes: 4,958
- Worst state for this age group: South Carolina
These drivers are among the safest on the road, along with the older generation of drivers aged 65 and older. Find out more about South Carolina auto insurance requirements and options.
As drivers age, the total fatal crashes they are involved in decrease. We did not include statistics from drivers in the 65+ age group because no state-ranked them as the most deadly drivers. Keep reading to learn more about what age causes the most car accidents that are deadly.
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Comparing Fatal Driving Accidents by Age and State
So, what age group is responsible for the most car accidents that turn fatal? Drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 ranked the highest in 32 states and were responsible for more than 20% of all fatal accidents in nine states. Teen and young drivers had the highest fatality rates in 23 states.
State Deadliest Age Group(s) Number of Deaths Fatal Accident Percentage
Alabama 25-34 176 18.9%
Alaska 16-24, 25-34 14 20.8%
Arizona 35-24, 55-64 153 15.6%
Arkansas 16-24 85 16.8%
California 25-34 770 21.3%
Colorado 25-34 113 18.9%
Connecticut 16-24 44 17.7%
Delaware 16-24 23 17.4%
District of Columbia 25-34, 35-44 6 26.1%
Florida 25-34 544 17.1%
Georgia 25-34 281 18.8%
Hawaii 25-34 23 21.3%
Idaho 35-44 34 15.2%
Illinois 25-34 191 19%
Indiana 16-24 140 17.3%
Iowa 16-24 57 17%
Kansas 16-24 71 17.3%
Kentucky 35-44 124 16.9%
Louisiana 35-44 145 19.9%
Maine 25-34 33 21%
Maryland 25-34 97 18.6%
Massachusetts 16-24 58 17.4%
Michigan 25-34 172 17.5%
Minnesota 55-64 56 15.4%
Mississippi 25-34 113 17.6%
Missouri 25-34 157 17.8%
Montana 16-24 38 20.6%
Nebraska 25-34 50 20.1%
Nevada 25-34 53 13.8%
New Hampshire 55-64 23 22.8%
New Jersey 25-34 107 12.4%
New Mexico 25-34 85 20%
New York 25-34 180 19.3%
North Carolina 25-34 266 19.4%
North Dakota 35-44 22 22%
Ohio 25-34 200 17.3%
Oklahoma 25-34 109 17%
Oregon 25-34 84 17.2%
Pennsylvania 25-34 188 17.7%
Rhode Island 25-34 14 24.6%
South Carolina 45-54 172 17.2%
South Dakota 16-24 20 19.6%
Tennessee 25-34 198 17.4%
Texas 25-34 729 20.2%
Utah 16-24 44 17.7%
Vermont 25-34 9 19.1%
Virginia 25-34, 55-64 139 16.7%
Washington 25-34 93 17.9%
West Virginia 25-34 46 17.7%
Wisconsin 16-24 95 16.8%
Wyoming 25-34 28 19%
Young drivers between 16 and 24 and millennial drivers aged 25 – 34 tied for the country’s highest percentage of fatal accidents (26.1%). Although 25- to 34-year-old drivers are behind more fatal crashes, teen drivers still ranked second-highest, which is why auto insurance costs more for young drivers.
Now, we’ll look at what age group has the most car crashes with fatalities by gender.
Fatal Car Accident Statistics by Age and Gender
So, what age group causes the most car accidents that are fatal when looking at gender?
Age Group Male Fatalities Female Fatalities
16-24 3,303 1,540
25-34 3,355 1,472
35-44 3,055 1,072
45-54 1,826 914
55-64 1,936 902
As you can see, males are more likely to get into a fatal accident than female drivers, with the 25 – 34 age group having slightly more deadly crashes than younger drivers.
Read More: Do men pay more for auto insurance?
Overall, the rate of traffic-related deaths is nearly double for males than females across all age groups.
However, the youngest drivers still have the highest fatality rates, leading insurance companies to increase rates for teen drivers who lack experience behind the wheel. Young male drivers also pay more for car insurance than any other driver.
Now that you know what age group has the most accidents with fatalities by gender, we’ll show you how younger drivers can save on car insurance.
How Young Drivers Can Save on Auto Insurance
Should you add your teen to your policy? If you’re a young driver or considering adding your teen to your policy, there are many ways to save money on car insurance with good driver and good student auto insurance discounts.
So, what age group gets in the most car accidents that are fatal? They aren’t the most dangerous drivers on the road, but auto insurance companies still charge higher rates for young drivers under 25. For example, a young driver’s average car insurance rates are $215 monthly, $60 more than the national average auto insurance cost per month.
Unfortunately, auto insurance rates for a 16-year-old will go as high as $800 per month for full coverage. You can reduce these rates by adding a teen driver to an existing policy. Still, your rates will be higher than average due to the age and assumed inexperience of the young driver.
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Auto insurance rates begin to decrease after a driver turns 25, but you may still see increased rates due to the high fatality rates among this age group. Fortunately, most auto insurance companies offer a driver’s ed discount to young drivers, as well as discounts for having good grades and paying your annual car insurance in full.
This table lists the auto insurance discounts available to drivers under 25:
Discount Name Allstate American Family Farmers Geico Liberty Mutual Nationwide Progressive State Farm Travelers USAA
Adaptive Cruise Control ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Adaptive Headlights ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Anti-lock Brakes 10% ✓ ✓ 5% 5% 5% ✓ 5%
Anti-Theft 10% ✓ 23% 20% 25% ✓ 15%
Claim Free 35% ✓ ✓ 26% ✓ 10% ✓ 15% 23% 12%
Continuous Coverage ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 15% ✓
Daytime Running Lights 2% ✓ 3% 5% 5% ✓ ✓
Defensive Driver 10% 10% ✓ ✓ 10% 5% 10% 5% 10% 3%
Distant Student 35% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 10% ✓ 7%
Driver's Ed 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ 10% ✓ 10% 15% 8% 3%
Driving Device/App 20% 40% ✓ ✓ 30% 40% 20% 50% 30% 5%
Early Signing 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8% ✓ ✓ 10% 12%
Electronic Stability Control 2% ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Emergency Deployment ✓ ✓ ✓ 25% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Engaged Couple ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Family Legacy ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 10%
Family Plan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 25% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Farm Vehicle 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Fast 5 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Federal Employee ✓ ✓ 12% 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Forward Collision Warning ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Full Payment 10% ✓ ✓ $50 ✓ ✓ ✓ 8% ✓
Further Education ✓ ✓ 10% 15% ✓ ✓
Garaging/Storing ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 90%
Good Credit ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Good Student 20% ✓ 15% 23% 10% ✓ 25% 8% 3%
Green Vehicle 10% ✓ 5% ✓ 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ 10% ✓
Homeowner ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ 3% 5% ✓
Lane Departure Warning ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Life Insurance ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Low Mileage ✓ ✓ ✓ 30%
Loyalty ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓
Married ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Membership/Group ✓ ✓ ✓ 10% 7% ✓ ✓
Military ✓ ✓ 15% 4% ✓ ✓
Military Garaging ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 15%
Multiple Drivers ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Multiple Policies 10% 29% ✓ 10% 20% 10% 12% 17% 13%
Multiple Vehicles ✓ ✓ 25% 10% 20% 10% 20% 8%
New Address ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
New Customer/New Plan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
New Graduate ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
New Vehicle 30% ✓ ✓ 15% ✓ 40% 10% 12%
Newly Licensed ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Newlyweds ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Occasional Operator ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Occupation ✓ 10% 15% ✓ ✓ ✓
On-Time Payments 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 15% ✓
Online Shopper ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7% ✓ ✓ ✓
Paperless Documents 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% $50 ✓ ✓ ✓
Paperless/Auto Billing 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ $30 ✓ $20 3% 3%
Passive Restraint 30% 30% 40% 20% ✓ 40%
Recent Retirees ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Renter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Roadside Assistance ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Safe Driver 45% ✓ 15% ✓ 35% 31% 15% 23% 12%
Seat Belt Use ✓ ✓ ✓ 15% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Senior Driver 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Stable Residence ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Students & Alumni ✓ ✓ ✓ 10% 7% ✓ ✓ ✓
Switching Provider ✓ ✓ 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Utility Vehicle 15% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Vehicle Recovery 10% ✓ ✓ 15% 35% 25% ✓ 5%
VIN Etching ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓
Volunteer ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Young Driver ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ $75
Does your insurance company offer the discounts you need to lower your rates? If not, start shopping around with multiple local companies. Learn how to get multiple auto insurance quotes. Then get quotes from three different insurers in your area to find one with the right discounts and a suitable price for every driver on your policy.
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Methodology: How We Compiled Car Accident Deaths Per Year by Age
We used the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System to find the rate of fatal car accidents by age and state. We combined the 16 to 20 and 21 to 24 age groups, so each group encompasses 10 years.
We also used teenage motor vehicle trends from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety to examine the differences between male and female teen drivers. Finally, the U.S. Department of Transportation provided details regarding the number of licensed drivers in the country.
Enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool below to find cheap car insurance rates for young drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age group is involved in the most car accidents with fatalities?
Which age group experiences the largest number of fatal car crashes? The average age of car accidents that turn fatal is between 24 and 35.
This demographic tends to have a higher risk-taking behavior, lack of driving experience, and may be more prone to distractions while driving.
Learn More: 6 Reasons Auto Insurance Costs More for Young Drivers
What age of drivers had the highest total crash rates?
So, what age group of drivers cause the most accidents? According to a study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers aged 16-17 have the highest rate of auto accidents.
However, which age group represents the most traffic fatalities? While drivers between 16 and 17 get in more crashes, drivers between 24 and 35 have the highest fatal car crash statistics by age.
What age group has a higher fatality rate than 16-17 year olds?
Compared to 16- and 17-year-old drivers, which drivers are most likely to be in a deadly crash? As far as age groups go, the worst crash rate involving fatalities is the age group of drivers between 24 and 35, according to our car accident age statistics.
Are older drivers more prone to fatal crashes?
What age has the most car accidents that cause a death: older or younger drivers? While older drivers generally have a higher risk of being involved in fatal crashes compared to middle-aged drivers, the age group with the highest number of fatal crashes remains the millennial driver category (24-35).
Factors such as declining vision, slower reflexes, and health conditions may contribute to the increased risk among older drivers.
Read More: Best Auto Insurance for Seniors
What are the pros of insuring young drivers?
- Young drivers may qualify for discounts based on their academic performance or completion of driver education courses.
- Insuring young drivers can help them establish a driving record and build a positive insurance history for future discounts.
- Some insurance companies offer telematics or usage-based insurance programs that allow young drivers to prove their safe driving habits and potentially lower their premiums.
What are the cons of insuring young drivers?
- Young drivers often face higher insurance premiums due to their higher risk profile.
- Lack of driving experience can make young drivers more susceptible to accidents, leading to potential claims that can increase premiums further.
- If a young driver has prior traffic violations or accidents, it may result in even higher insurance costs.
Are there any specific insurance options for older drivers?
Yes, insurance companies often offer specific options tailored to older drivers, taking into account their unique needs and circumstances. These options may include:
- Mature driver discounts based on age and driving experience.
- Specialized coverage for medical expenses resulting from accidents.
- Extended coverages such as roadside assistance or rental reimbursement to address the potential challenges faced by older drivers.
What age group has the highest rate of car accidents with fatalities in North Carolina?
North Carolina drivers may wonder, “What age group has the highest fatality rate of all age groups in NC?” In North Carolina, the worst crash rate involving fatalities is in the age group of drivers between 25 – 34, according to our fatal car accident rates by age.
Read More: North Carolina Auto Insurance
What age group of drivers is at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal collision in Florida?
In Florida, what age group of road users has the highest fatality rate? Our fatal accident statistics by age show that drivers in FL between 25 and 34 are involved in the most deadly crashes.
Read More: Florida Auto Insurance
Who are safer drivers: male or females?
Females are safer drivers than males, as men are more likely to be involved in fatal car accidents than women.
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Laura D. Adams
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Laura Adams is one of the nation’s leading finance, insurance, and small business authorities. As an award-winning author, spokesperson, and host of the top-rated Money Girl podcast since 2008, millions of readers and listeners benefit from her practical advice. Her mission is to empower consumers to live healthy and rich lives by planning for the future and making smart money decisions. She rec...
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.