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The Kitchen Table

Best and Worst states for teen drivers

9 years ago

New York is ranked the best. Maybe that's because in NYC, which is so big, one can't get up much speed between traffic lights and stop signs. I think that's what saved my friends and me during our teens.

Here's the "best and worst" map.

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Comments (8)

Alice_sj
9 years ago
The map isn't what I expected for several states. I didn't see where there is any actual data though.

This post was edited by alice_sj on Mon, Jun 23, 14 at 12:14
rob333 (zone 7b)
9 years ago
It's all about reporting. Maybe some incidents are not reported and so the numbers maybe lower in some places, or conversely maybe they report every single infraction is why it's so high is some places. Also, we don't get always "100 days" of summer here (my county and adjoining county, I KNOW, are only out for 60 or so days). So if only days out of school are counted, still skewed. My point? I'd sure take that graph with the huge grain of salt!
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alisande
Original Author
9 years ago
That might explain the difference between North and South Carolina. But I don't know . . . I think at least some of it has to do with terrain. When I moved to PA from NY, I was stunned by the number of accidents and teen deaths, especially during prom season. We had nothing approaching that where I lived.
adellabedella_usa
9 years ago
There are many differences between state regulations regarding teenage driving. In some states, you can get a learner's permit as early as 14 years old. Here, you have to be at least 15 years old. In some states, you just drive around the block. In others, you show you know how to merge on the interstate, parallel park and other harder maneuvers. Driving conditions obviously differ in various states. I'm not sure what the map really tells us.
workoutlady
9 years ago
It doesn't surprise me much. It seems like the states where there is wide open spaces are in the bottom. With wide open spaces, it is much easier to speed and do things one wouldn't normally do in a more populated area. I live in a less populated area and there are lots of teen accidents here and far too many teen deaths. Also, I wonder if the roads are in need of repair more than in other states. I would think that would have an effect on the accident rates.
rob333 (zone 7b)
9 years ago
scissors, I took your first thought terrain. But the northwest with it's really windy mountain roads, has really good rates (so did Kansas, but not Nebraska, and I would think those are similar terrain). Wealthier states? Can't tell, but MA and MD have good rates, while NH and VT don't. All top 20 states in finances. I think we'd have to drill down deeper and hit it at local terrain and costs? We might get an insight then. Maybe.

;)
cat_ky
9 years ago
I am not so sure I believe that map. It says KY is one of the best states and really doubt that. It is very hilly here, roads are very curvy, and there are accidents in my very small town almost every day and over half of them, are teen aged drivers. My grandson was here working in 2003, and he is from Colorado springs, so used to driving in lots of traffic etc, but, he hated driving in my area.
jkayd_il5
9 years ago
I live in Illinois and we have very strict laws on teen drivers. I'm 110% for them because I have four grandchildren growing up in Illinois. I have two grandchildren in a neighboring state that does not have similar laws and frankly it scares me. I know they are not ready to have a learner permit at aged fourteen.

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