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FLORIDA - Florida is among the top 10 states with the highest fatal crash rates involving teen drivers, according to a new study analyzing national traffic data.
The study, conducted by personal injury law firm Anidjar & Levine, used data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System covering the years 2019 through 2023.
It measured the number of fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers aged 15 to 20 in each state.
Florida ranked sixth nationally, with 59 fatal crashes per 100,000 young licensed drivers.
This is 48 percent higher than the national average, which stands at 40 per 100,000.
According to the study, Florida has 679,238 licensed drivers in the 15 to 20 age group.
Over the five-year period, the state recorded an average of 403 fatal crashes per year involving teen drivers.
A spokesperson for Anidjar & Levine stated that the findings were based solely on government-reported traffic fatality data.
The study did not offer analysis on contributing causes of the crashes or compare enforcement practices or licensing systems between states.
The report concluded with recommendations including stricter traffic law enforcement, expanded driver education programs, and public awareness campaigns.
However, it did not reference any existing legislation or programs currently in place in Florida related to teen driver safety.
The data positions Florida behind only five other states in fatal crash rates among teen drivers for the period studied.
The findings reflect rates rather than raw numbers, accounting for the number of licensed teen drivers in each state.