Teen Crash Risks May Be Increased by Driving Older Vehicles Without ADAS Technology: Study

Vehicles that are 6 to 15 years old have been linked to a nearly 20% higher risk of driver fatalities in crashes, when compared to teens driving newer models.

A new study suggests that teens who drive vehicles less than five years old, which are equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), are substantially less likely to be killed in an auto accident.

In a report published on JAMA Network Open last month, researchers found that teenage drivers are more likely to operate older family vehicles lacking advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), rather than newer models equipped with modern safety features linked to lower fatality rates.

Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, who have the highest crash fatality rate of any age group. Despite ongoing public safety efforts, teens continue to be disproportionately affected by crash-related injuries and deaths.

In this new report, researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital conducted a retrospective cohort study analyzing passenger vehicle fatal crash data from 2016 through 2021, using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

Led by Fangda Zhang, the research team focused on drivers ages 15 to 18 and 31 to 55, analyzing how driver age, vehicle age, and the presence of ADAS technology relate to crash fatality rates.

The study found that driving vehicles between 6 and 15 years old was associated with a 19% higher risk of driver death in crashes, compared to vehicles that were 5 years old or newer, regardless of the driver’s age. Vehicles more than 15 years old were linked to a 31% higher risk.

Additionally, each installed driver assistance technology was associated with a 6% reduction in the risk of driver death in fatal crashes.

The researchers also indicated that teen drivers were more likely than middle-aged drivers to operate vehicles more than 15 years old, which were often equipped with fewer ADAS technologies.

The findings suggest that strategies to enhance vehicle safety for teens should include encouraging the use of newer vehicles equipped with driver assistance technologies, rather than relying on older family cars.

“Our findings, along with those from other studies, call for pediatricians and other health care practitioners to educate parents and teens about the risks of driving older vehicles,” Zhang said. “Parents should be advised to prioritize safety features when choosing the first car for their teens, ensuring it is newer and safer, given the increasing involvement of teen drivers in MVCs and MVC-related fatalities.”

Teen Risky Driving

Numerous prior studies have also linked risky and distracted driving behaviors to vehicle crashes, particularly among teens and young adults.

Teens who text while driving have been shown to engage in other risky behaviors while behind the wheel as well. However, states with laws allowing officers to pull someone over for texting and distracted driving reduced teen fatalities in motor vehicle accidents by nearly 30%.

Implementation of nighttime driving restrictions and passenger limitations for first-year drivers was also found to reduce teen deaths in motor vehicle accidents by nearly 60%.