A new report claims Delaware is the most dangerous state for young drivers. Here's why

A new report claims Delaware is the most dangerous state in the nation for youth drivers.  

Here is a look at the data and a comparison to other states.  

Most dangerous states for youth drivers 

Davidoff Law Personal Injury Lawyers conducted research to determine the most dangerous states in the nation for young drivers, focusing on states with the highest percentage of fatal accidents with drivers between ages 15 and 20.

The metrics gathered for each state were population; number of registered cars; number of fatal incidents; number of fatal incidents involving young drivers (aged 15 to 20); accidents per 1,000 registered cars; the percentage of total fatal incidents involving youth drivers; number of crashes involving unlicensed drivers; driving with speeding violations; and maximum speed limit.  

The final ranking for each state is determined only by the percentage of fatal incidents involving young drivers out of the total fatal incidents. 

Delaware ranks No. 1 as the most dangerous state for youth drivers. The First State is reported to have 28 fatal incidents involving young drivers out of 143 fatal incidents, equal to 19.6%. Delaware has 202 crashes involving unlicensed drivers and 9.65% of drivers with speeding violations out of 914,700 registered cars.  

The report adds that Delaware’s high rate of fatalities “suggests other factors at play, such as inexperience and risk-taking behaviors.” 

Nebraska comes in at No. 2 with 41 fatal incidents involving young drivers out of 214 fatal incidents, equal to 19.2%.  The state has 277 crashes involving unlicensed drivers and 10.68% of drivers with speeding violations out of 1.97 million registered cars.  

North Dakota rounds out the top three with 16 fatal incidents involving young drivers out of 96 fatal incidents, equal to 16.7%. The state has 101 crashes involving unlicensed drivers and 14.41% of drivers with speeding violations out of 797,400 registered cars.  

The rest of the top 10 most dangerous states for youth drivers are: 

• Utah at No. 4, with 16.6% of fatal incidents involving young drivers.  

• South Dakota at No. 5, with 15.7% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

• Connecticut at No. 6, with 15.1% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

• Alaska at No. 7, with 14.7% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

• Oklahoma at No. 8, with 14.5% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

• Colorado at No. 9, with 14.4% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

• Illinois at No. 10, with 14.2% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

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Safest states for youth drivers 

The safest states for youth drivers, according to Davidoff Law Personal Injury Lawyers, are: 

• New Hampshire at No. 1, with 6.6% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

• Hawaii at No. 2, with 7.2% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

• West Virginia at No. 3, with 7.3% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

• Rhode Island at No. 4, with 7.8% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

• Oregon at No.5, with 8.7% of fatal incidents involving young drivers.  

• Maryland at No. 6, with 9% of fatal incidents involving young drivers.  

• New Jersey at No. 7, with 9.3% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

• Vermont at No. 8, with 9.6% of fatal incidents involving young drivers.  

• New York at No. 9, with 10% of fatal incidents involving young drivers.  

• Nevada at No. 10, with 10.2% of fatal incidents involving young drivers. 

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