The most treacherous season for teen drivers is approaching.
More than 30% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, according to Automobile Association of American (AAA) research on crashes from 2019 through 2023. That means that on average, eight people die every day during those “100 deadly days” in a crash involving a teen driver, compared to seven a day throughout the rest of the year.
It’s no secret that young drivers as a group are among the most dangerous on the road, and states, including Colorado, continue to strengthen licensing requirements such as mandating driver education programs.
That’s been driven in part by the uptick in fatal and serious injury crashes involving teens and young adults.
In 2023, 5,588 people were killed in crashes involving a driver aged 15-20, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration data on young drivers. That’s an increase of 4.2% over the 5,361 deaths in 2022.
And while young drivers make up just over 5% of all licensed drivers, they accounted for 8.9% of all fatal crashes in 2023, NHTSA data shows.
Teens of course have less experience and so some factors, including night-time driving and distractions, are more dangerous for young drivers to navigate. Also, having one or more other teens in the vehicle – with no older driver present – is a significant factor in crashes involving young drivers.
Speed and alcohol also are factors in teen crashes, although the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that young drivers are less likely than adults to drive after drinking. When teens do drink and drive, their risk of a crash is greater because of their overall inexperience.
Nearly every informational site on teen driving emphasizes that parents should set a good example from early on – children learn from a young age how their parents behave on the road. For example, if you regularly exceed the speed limit, don’t wear a seat belt and use a cell phone while driving, your teen driver is more likely to pick up those dangerous habits.
That’s why AAA Colorado led a push to update the state’s antiquated laws regarding driver education for new drivers, Skyler McKinley, regional AAA public affairs director, said in an email.
Here are the Colorado requirements that go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027:
- All 15-, 16- and 17-year-old applicants for a learner’s permit must complete a 30-hour driver education course approved by the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles. It can be online or in-person.
- Those 18 years of age to under 21, must complete a four-hour driver awareness program approved by the state, such as the Alive at 25[4] program. They also can choose to take a full 30-hour driver education course.
Previously, those 16 years of age and up were not required to have any formal driver education program to get a permit.
Various state studies have shown that teens who take driver education courses have less risk of being involved in collisions, including those that result in injury or death. They also are less likely to be ticketed for driving violations during their first two years of driving, according to a Nebraska study.
For those worried about the cost, which is less than $100 for most online courses, consider the cost of a crash, a ticket and insurance. Fender benders start at about $2,000, a serious crash can cost more than $750,000 if there is a single fatality, according to a AAA fact sheet.
And in Colorado, which has the second highest car insurance premiums in the country, it costs about $5,600 a year to insure a teen driver.
The cost of driver education is minuscule in comparison – especially when compared to the potential in lives saved and grief avoided.
Even with the new education requirements, much of the burden of helping a young driver gain the experience needed to become a safe driver falls to parents and guardians.
For example, is it best to enroll the teen in an online or in-person driver education course? There are pros and cons to both choices.
Online classes tend to be less expensive and offer more flexibility for teens that might already have jam-packed schedules but require the student to be attentive to meeting the requirements on their own. In-person classes offer more opportunities for discussion and for teens to get answers to questions and are led by instructors who keep them on task.
Parents who are anxious about overseeing their child’s practice driving can get help, too. There are plenty of online guides and AAA offers a StartSmart Online Parent Session for $25 that offers tips to maximize that learning time behind the wheel.
Parents also are encouraged to set boundaries for their teen drivers – and to stick to them.Longer Days, Higher Risks: Safe Driving Tips for Teens AAA offers these basic suggestions:
- Talk with teens early and often about abstaining from dangerous behavior behind the wheel, such as speeding, impairment and distracted driving.
- Teach by example and minimize risky behavior when driving.
- Make a parent-teen driving agreement that puts family rules for teen drivers in writing.