How Many Teen Passengers is Too Many?

• August 6, 2019
• Driver Safety, Teen Drivers

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of teen crashes; cell phone use another major contributor. However, a third distracted driving behavior leading to teen car accidents is the passenger interaction among teen passengers. Studies show that a teen’s chances of getting into an accident increase with each additional teenage passenger in the car.

---

Passenger Distractions: The Statistics

Peer passengers are a major distraction for teen drivers. Attention tends to be focused on the riders, not the road. In addition, teen drivers just don’t have the experience to anticipate problems while driving and they lack the driving skills that may be needed to avoid an accident.

• Teen drivers with peer passengers are more likely to be distracted just before a serious crash than teens driving alone.
• In 2020, 56 percent of teen passenger deaths occurred with a teen behind the wheel. Among passenger fatalities of all ages, 15 percent occurred when a teen was driving.
• Research shows that a single teen passenger increases a teen driver’s crash risk by 44%.  Two or more peer passengers more than triples the risk of a fatal crash with a teen behind the wheel

Has your teen driver been involved in a car accident? Contact us at (877) 284-6600.

---

Graduated Driving Licensing

To help manage teen passenger risks, Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) provisions include passenger limits for newly licensed teens.

Missouri’s Graduated Driver License law requires that all first-time drivers between 15 and 18 years old complete a period of driving with a licensed driver (instruction permit), and restricted driving (intermediate license), before getting a full driver license.

Although most states now have restrictions limiting the number of passengers newly licensed teens may drive as part of Graduated Driver Licensing programs, most allow them to carry family members.

---

How Parents can Help Teen Drivers

• Supervise your teen’s driving. Coach them on becoming responsible and safe drivers. Practice in low-risk situations gradually increasing the complexity of the situations.
• Follow the GDL rules for your state especially as it relates to passengers. You can choose to limit the number of non-family passengers after the first six months of driving to less than the three allowed.
• Have rules for your teen driver as well as any passengers. Always wear a seat belt. Do not pressure the driver to speed. Do not act wild. Respect the driver.
• Set the default “do not disturb” setting on your teen’s phone if it has one. Instruct your teen not to use a cell phone in any capacity while driving, especially with passengers in the vehicle.
• Model safe driving behaviors for your teen. Do not use a cell phone, be it hands-free or hand-held, for any purpose (calling, emailing, texting) while behind the wheel. Either pull off the road or wait until you arrive before using the device.

Questions? Our knowledgeable staff is available at (877) 284-6600.

Resources for You

• Distracted Driving Dangers & Statistics – NHTSA
• Distracted Driving Laws by State – Governors Highway Safety Association
• Is Texting and Driving Illegal? – Policygenius
• Blog articles related to Teen Drivers and Automobile Accidents
• Distracted Driving Car Accidents

---

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

DO YOU NEED LEGAL ASSISTANCE? CALL NASH & FRANCISKATO FOR A FREE, NO-OBLIGATION CASE REVIEW

If your teen driver has been seriously injured in an accident. contact the Kansas City-based law firm of Nash & Franciskato at (877) 284-6600.. One of our experienced staff will speak with you personally and provide you with a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

START YOUR FREE CASE EVALUATION TODAY

JUST WANT TO STAY UP-TO-DATE?
SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER

If you would like to receive news and blog updates on a regular basis, sign up to receive our email newsletter. Your email address will only be used to send you our newsletter and respond to inquiries.

SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER

---

Past results afford no guarantee of future results and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published August 6, 2019. It was reviewed on October 4, 2022 and updated for content and accuracy.