Safety tips for clients with teen drivers

For parents, handing over the keys to a teen driver is both a proud milestone and a source of anxiety. That concern isn’t misplaced. Teens are statistically more likely to engage in risky behaviors while driving.  

Nationwide’s Driving Behaviors 2025 Survey found that only four in 10 parents rate their teen’s driving as “very good” or “excellent.”  What’s more, many parents indicated that their teens take unsafe actions on the road, like eating or drinking (47%), using social media (24%), getting themself ready (24%), texting (23%), or watching videos (18%). 

In today’s driving environment — where aggression, speeding and distraction are rising across all age groups — helping teens build safe habits is more important than ever. As a trusted advisor, you play a key role in helping clients protect what matters most. This article explores why teen drivers face elevated risks, shares eye-opening statistics, and offers practical safety tips and tools to help you have meaningful conversations with families and provide added peace of mind.  

Why are teens more at risk while driving?

Teen drivers are still developing the skills, judgment, and experience needed to navigate complex driving environments. Combined with the newfound independence of earning a license, teens are especially vulnerable behind the wheel.  

Consider this common scenario: A 17-year-old rushes to school after staying up late studying, speeds up to make it on time, checks their phone at a red light and forgets to buckle up. None of these choices alone may seem catastrophic, but together they represent the kinds of overlooked habits that put teen drivers at greater risk.  

Understanding these risk factors is key to helping families take proactive steps. Here are five key reasons why teen drivers are more vulnerable on the road:  

1. Speeding 

More than one-third of parents cited speeding as a top concern in Nationwide’s Driving Behaviors 2025 Survey. Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and to allow shorter distances between vehicles.¹ They’re also less likely to recognize how dangerous speeding can be. Inexperience, peer pressure, and thrill-seeking can all contribute to poor judgment when it comes to obeying speed limits.  

2. Distracted driving 

Distracted driving, like talking on the phone, eating or applying makeup, is a bigger struggle for today’s digital-native teens than it is for previous generations. Such distractions take a teen’s eyes, hands and mind off driving, making it one of the most preventable causes of teen crashes.  

3. Drugs and alcohol 

Over 20% of young drivers (ages 15-20) involved in fatal crashes each year have alcohol in their system.² This is despite zero-tolerance laws that prohibit any measurable amount of alcohol for drivers under 21. Alcohol and drugs impair judgment, slow reaction time and increase the likelihood of reckless decisions that could result in an accident.  

4. Lack of seat belt use 

Seat belts are one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce injury or death in a crash — but teens don’t always buckle up. In fact, seat belt use is lowest among teen drivers and their passengers, especially when riding with other teens.² It’s important for parents to lead by example and have serious conversations with their teen about the importance of wearing a seat belt, not only to prevent serious injury or death but also to comply with the law. 

5. Drowsy driving 

Drowsy driving, which affects a driver’s alertness, reaction time, judgment and decision-making, is an often-overlooked danger. But some studies suggest drowsiness may be involved in 10-20% of fatal or injury crashes.² Between early school start times, academic workloads, sports, extracurriculars, jobs and family responsibilities, many teens simply aren’t getting enough rest, putting them at a higher risk for drowsy driving. 

Teen driving statistics

Understanding the data behind teen driving behavior can help you better guide clients and underscore the importance of proactive safety measures. The numbers tell a clear story:  

• Vehicle crashes involving young drivers (ages 15-20) claimed over 5,580 lives in 2023, up 4.2% from the previous year.³ 

• Seventeen percent of young drivers in fatal crashes involving alcohol had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 g/dL or higher, the legal threshold for intoxication for adult drivers in most U.S. states.² 

• While only 1% of teen driving trips occur between midnight and 6 a.m., that period accounts for 13% of teen fatal crashes.³  

Share these teen driving safety tips with your personal lines clients

Helping families stay safe on the road starts with strong habits at home. Encourage your clients to approach teen driving as a partnership — one where both parent and teen take an active role in setting expectations, reinforcing safe behaviors and staying accountable. Just like any great coach, parents can lead by example, provide structure, and create space for open communication.  

Hear more from my perspective not only as President of P&C Personal Lines, but as a parent to teen drivers about the safety tools available for parents and teens. 

• Be a role model and set a good example as a safe driver. Teens often mimic what they see. If a parent regularly texts at stoplights, speeds through yellow lights or drives distracted, their teen is more likely to do the same. Encourage parents to model the behaviors they want their teen to follow. 

• Establish expectations for teen drivers. Clear expectations and boundaries help teens understand the seriousness of driving. Encourage parents to create a written family driving agreement or “parent–teen driving pact” that outlines ground rules such as always wearing your seat belt, never using a device while driving, no driving under the influence or speeding and more. 

• Ensure teens participate in a driver’s education program. Formal driver’s ed programs provide structured, professional instruction on road rules, hazard recognition and decision-making skills. These programs are especially effective when paired with parent-supervised practice. Remind clients that laws and requirements vary by state.  

• Purchase a vehicle with built-in safety features. The right vehicle can make a big difference in crash prevention and protection. Advise parents to consider a car with features like electronic stability control, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warnings, backup cameras and lane departure alerts. 

• Monitor teen driving. Parents can’t always be in the car, but telematics tools like Nationwide’s SmartRide® and programs like Focused Driving Rewards, open to all drivers – not just Nationwide members, can help bridge that gap. These tools offer visibility into behaviors like hard braking, phone use, speeding and more. They also open the door for ongoing conversations about safety and give teens the opportunity to earn rewards for focused, responsible driving over time.  

Parents want to feel confident that their teens are making smart choices behind the wheel and these tools help make that possible—not just by monitoring behavior, but by encouraging better habits through positive reinforcement.

Additional resources to help clients with teen drivers

You play a key role in providing peace of mind to your clients with teens on the road — not just through coverage, but through insight and practical tools.  

Here are some helpful additional resources to support your relationship with these clients:  

• Nationwide Teen Driver Education Hub 

• Agency Forward: Risk Prevention for Personal Lines Clients 

• Teen Driver Research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety  

• Governors Highway Safety Association 

• Nationwide’s Teen–Parent Driving Agreement template 

Help your personal lines clients and their teen drivers stay safe on the road

Teen drivers face serious risks — but with the right tools and trusted guidance, families can take proactive steps to reduce those risks and build a strong foundation of safety. Share the information and resources above with your clients to keep them and their families safer on the road.