Young drivers encounter substantial dangers on the road, especially when distractions divert their attention. In 2021, a total of 3,522 individuals perished in accidents where distraction was a contributing element. Among them, 225 were adolescents aged 15 to 19, representing 6% of all fatalities linked to distracted driving that year.

Traffic collisions continue to be a primary cause of death among teenagers. In the same year, 2,796 teens within the 15 to 19 age range lost their lives in vehicle-related incidents. Of these, 8%—or 225 teens—were involved in crashes influenced by distraction. The consequences extend beyond the teen drivers themselves; in 2021, 4,212 fatalities occurred in accidents involving an adolescent driver, with 296 of these deaths resulting from distracted teen motorists. This indicates that 7% of all fatalities in crashes involving teen drivers occurred under circumstances where the young driver was inattentive.

Did you know?: Drivers aged 16 to 19 face a fatal crash rate per mile almost three times higher than that of drivers 20 and older.

Emphasizing the hazards of distracted driving among adolescent motorists, 271 teen drivers aged 15 to 19 were implicated in fatal collisions in 2021 due to inattention. These statistics highlight the pressing need for enhanced awareness, stricter regulations, and proactive strategies to mitigate the risks linked to teenage driving and distraction-related accidents.

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Teen Driving: The Risks They Admit To

A recent AAA report reveals that nearly 72% of teenage drivers (ages 16-18) acknowledged engaging in at least one hazardous driving habit within the last month.

What Teens Confess to Doing Behind the Wheel:

- 🚗 Speeding:
  - - 47% exceeded the residential speed limit by 10 mph
    - 40% drove at least 15 mph over the limit on highways
- 📱 Phone Distractions:
  - - 46% talked on a handheld phone
    - 37% checked texts or emails while driving
    - 28% typed out messages manually
- 🚦 Risky Driving Behaviors:
  - - 32% ran red lights
    - 31% drove aggressively
- 😴 Neglecting Safety:
  - - 25% operated a vehicle while fatigued
    - 17% failed to wear a seatbelt
- 🚨 Substance-Related Risks:
  - - 4% admitted to consuming enough alcohol to exceed legal limits before driving
    - 6% drove within an hour of using marijuana
    - 8% were passengers in a vehicle driven by someone under the influence of alcohol

Since these numbers reflect only what teens admit to, the actual prevalence of risky driving could be even higher.

Key Risk Factors for Young Drivers

- Lack of Experience – With limited time behind the wheel, teens are less adept at identifying and assessing hazards on the road. They are also more prone to making judgment mistakes.
- Driving at Night and on Weekends – Statistically, these timeframes pose a higher risk for teenage drivers, contributing to a greater likelihood of serious accidents.
- Not Wearing Seat Belts – Teenagers and young adults are less consistent in using seat belts compared to older drivers, increasing their risk of severe injuries in a crash.
- Distracted Driving – According to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 39% of high school students who drove admitted to texting or emailing while behind the wheel at least once in the past month.
- Alcohol Consumption – The same survey found that 5.4% of high school drivers operated a vehicle after drinking within the previous 30 days. Additionally, 16.9% reported riding with a driver who had consumed alcohol at least once during that time frame.
- Drug Impairment – Data from the 2017 survey indicated that 13% of high school students drove after using marijuana.

Photo by www.testen.no

Oregon Teen Driving Crashes in Numbers.

The most recent complete record, finalized in 2023, provides us with these figures for the state of Oregon in a single year:

Total Crashes

- 14 & younger: 12 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 15 years old: 57 crashes, 56 with injuries, 1 fatal.
- 16 years old: 611 crashes, 601 with injuries, 7 fatal.
- 17 years old: 824 crashes, 816 with injuries, 8 fatal.
- 18 years old: 1,095 crashes, 1,090 with injuries, 5 fatal.
- 19 years old: 1,053 crashes, 1,039 with injuries, 14 fatal.

Rural Crashes

- 14 & younger: 4 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 15 years old: 16 crashes, 15 with injuries, 1 fatal.
- 16 years old: 155 crashes, 150 with injuries, 5 fatal.
- 17 years old: 173 crashes, 168 with injuries, 5 fatal.
- 18 years old: 271 crashes, 268 with injuries, 3 fatal.
- 19 years old: 256 crashes, 249 with injuries, 9 fatal.

Portland

- 14 & younger: 3 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 15 years old: 5 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 16 years old: 40 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 17 years old: 65 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 18 years old: 81 crashes, 80 with injuries, 1 fatal.
- 19 years old: 114 crashes, 112 with injuries, 2 fatal.

Motorcycle

- 14 & younger: 1 crash, 100% with injuries.
- 15 years old: 1 crash, 100% with injuries.
- 16 years old: 8 crashes, 7 with injuries, 1 fatal.
- 17 years old: 12 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 18 years old: 20 crashes, 19 with injuries, 1 fatal.
- 19 years old: 18 crashes, 17 with injuries, 1 fatal.

Motorhomes

- 17 years old: 2 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 19 years old: 2 crashes, 1 with injuries, 1 fatal.

Pedalcycle (Bicycle)

- 16 years old: 7 crashes, 6 with injuries, 1 fatal.
- 17 years old: 5 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 18 years old: 6 crashes, 5 with injuries, 1 fatal.
- 19 years old: 9 crashes, 7 with injuries, 1 fatal.

Pedestrian

- 14 & younger: 1 crash, 100% with injuries.
- 15 years old: 1 crash, 100% with injuries.
- 16 years old: 5 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 17 years old: 8 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 18 years old: 8 crashes, 6 with injuries, 1 fatal.
- 19 years old: 19 crashes, 16 with injuries, 3 fatal.

State Highways

- 14 & younger: 2 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 15 years old: 20 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 16 years old: 238 crashes, 235 with injuries, 3 fatal.
- 17 years old: 308 crashes, 304 with injuries, 4 fatal.
- 18 years old: 517 crashes, 516 with injuries, 1 fatal.
- 19 years old: 491 crashes, 483 with injuries, 9 fatal.

Trucks

- 14 & younger: 1 crash, 100% with injuries.
- 16 years old: 13 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 17 years old: 11 crashes, 10 with injuries, 1 fatal.
- 18 years old: 19 crashes, 100% with injuries.
- 19 years old: 25 crashes, 100% with injuries.

Here are the Oregon cities with the highest teen driving accidents and fatalities:

- Portland: 308 accidents (3 fatalities)
- Salem: 274 accidents
- Eugene: 120 accidents (1 fatality)
- Hillsboro: 105 accidents
- Medford: 87 accidents (1 fatality)
- Gresham: 87 accidents (1 fatality)
- Bend: 72 accidents (1 fatality)

➡️ Oregon isn’t the only state facing these challenges. See how teen driving risks compare in Washington.

The following cases, drawn from December 2023, provide a snapshot of end-of-year teen driving incidents. They highlight several common patterns in teen accidents: substance use, speeding, and occurrences predominantly during nighttime and weekends. These incidents underscore the unique challenges and risks associated with teen driving, particularly as they navigate the pressures and distractions of the road.

17-Year-Old Alcohol Violation Incident in Portland

At approximately 12:50 a.m. on Saturday, while two Portland police officers were en route to a call, their cruiser was struck by another vehicle. The other car, attempting to pass on the right in an area designated for parked cars, collided with the police vehicle on Northeast Glisan Street just past 108th Avenue. Notably, the 17-year-old driver involved had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15%—a clear violation of Oregon’s zero-tolerance law for anyone under 21 (for drivers 21 and older, a BAC of 0.08% or above constitutes DUI).

Fatal Eugene Crash Impacting Teen Lives

In Eugene, a tragic car crash on December 7 left several teens grappling with the aftermath. Among the five teen occupants of a Toyota Corolla struck by a Chevy Suburban at the intersection of River Road and Beacon Drive was a 16-year-old girl who hopes her injuries won’t end her promising running career. Also involved was Ryan Thomas, a track star and math whiz, while the accident claimed the life of 13-year-old Easton Bounds.

Teen DUI Crash Leads to 20-Year Prison Sentence

In July 2023, Julius Whitehurst was driving an SUV carrying four other teenage passengers when he collided with another car, causing the SUV to flip and resulting in the deaths of two of the teens. Charged with manslaughter and other offenses stemming from the DUI incident, Whitehurst received a multi-faceted sentence: 10 years for each manslaughter charge, five years and 10 months for assault, one year for DUI, and five years for the unlawful use of a weapon. Certain sentences—the assault, DUI, and half of one manslaughter term—are to be served concurrently, culminating in a total prison term of 20 years.

Standing Strong for Oregon Families

Behind every statistic is a real story — a teen with a future, a family whose world can change in an instant. In Oregon, distracted and reckless driving continues to claim lives, leaving families to pick up the pieces.

At The Advocates, we know that the aftermath of a crash can feel overwhelming. Hospital bills, lost time from school or work, and the emotional weight of recovery can be too much to handle alone. That’s why our attorneys are committed to guiding Oregon families through every step of the process — from answering tough questions to fighting for the justice and compensation you deserve.

If your teen has been injured in a crash, you don’t have to face it by yourself. Call The Advocates today for a free consultation. Together, we’ll work toward healing and holding reckless drivers accountable.

👉 Learn more on our Oregon car accident page or connect directly with an Advocate today.

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Teen Driving in Oregon: Night accidents, DUI and more