Car Accident Statistics: A Focus on College Students

Motor vehicle crashes remain a significant public health concern, particularly for young adults. College students, navigating new freedoms and responsibilities, face unique risks that contribute to their over-involvement in car accidents. Understanding the statistics and contributing factors is crucial for implementing effective prevention strategies.

The Scope of the Problem

Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of unintentional death in 2020 for the 15- to 24-year-old age group in the United States. In 2021, approximately 2,116 drivers aged 15 to 20 were killed, and an estimated 203,256 sustained injuries in motor vehicle crashes. Young drivers are substantially over-involved in crashes compared to adult drivers. In 2021, drivers 20 and under accounted for 5.1% of licensed drivers in the United States, yet they represented 8.5% of total drivers in all fatal crashes and 12.6% of drivers in all crashes. The number of young driver fatalities generally increases with age before declining. Except for drivers 80 years and older, young drivers are more involved in fatal crashes per mile driven than older drivers. This trend has largely remained consistent over the years.

From April 2016 to March 2017, drivers aged 16 to 19 had the highest crash rate per 100 million travel miles compared to all other age groups, except those 80 years and older. Specifically, drivers aged 16 to 19 were involved in 4.8 fatal crashes per 100 million travel miles, compared to 3.3 for drivers aged 20 to 24, 2.3 for drivers aged 25 to 29, 1.4 for drivers aged 30 to 59, 1.3 for drivers aged 60 to 69, 1.8 for drivers aged 70 to 79, and 5.4 for drivers 80+. In 2021, 62% of the passenger vehicle occupants aged 16 to 19 killed were drivers. Furthermore, thirteen percent of all passenger vehicle fatalities were passengers of teen drivers aged 13 to 19. From 2012 to 2021, there was an 18% increase in the number of young drivers (15 to 20) involved in fatal crashes, compared to a 33% increase in all drivers involved in fatal crashes during the same period. The number of young drivers involved in police-reported crashes decreased 2% from 2018 to 2019.

College Life and Increased Risk

For many college students, it is their first time living away from home. Others opt for commuting to classes. In either scenario, there is the potential for a lot of traffic in and around the campus. In Maryland, there are 55 accredited colleges and universities with a total number of 170,831 students (according to the University of System of Maryland). With that kind of population concentration, there is an increased risk of car accidents.

Factors Contributing to Car Accidents Among College Students

Several factors contribute to the increased risk of car accidents among college students. These include:

Lack of Driving Experience

A motorist needs to manage approximately 1,500 skills to drive a car, including observation, perception, interpretation, reaction, and anticipation. These skills must be deployed in unison and in microseconds. College-age students typically have limited driving experience, which can lead to misjudgments and slower reaction times. According to information from the Maryland Highway Safety Office, there have been 23 fatalities involving drivers between the ages of 16-20, with 83% of those drivers being male. In young driver-involved crashes, female passengers were injured at a higher rate.

Drinking and Driving

Despite the legal drinking age of 21, underage drinking is prevalent on college campuses. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) reports that 29% of young drivers killed in crashes in 2020 had a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher. Alcohol-impaired driving is a major public health problem. National studies indicate that about 25% of college students have driven while intoxicated in the past month and an even greater percentage drive after drinking any alcohol and/or ride with an intoxicated driver. A cohort of 1,253 first-time first-year students attending a large, mid-Atlantic university were interviewed annually for four years. At age 19, 17% of students drove while intoxicated, 42% drove after drinking any alcohol, and 38% rode with an intoxicated driver. For all three driving behaviors, prevalence and frequency increased significantly at age 21. Males were more likely to engage in these behaviors than females. Alcohol-related traffic risk behaviors are quite common among college students, and take a significant upturn when students reach the age of 21.

Distracted Driving

Distractions, such as cell phone use, eating, drinking, smoking, putting on makeup, changing the radio, looking for loose items, and dealing with passengers, can significantly impair driving ability. College students often carpool, which increases the likelihood of driver distraction. Distractions while driving can take your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel. One of the most common forms of distracted driving is using cell phones. This is one of the reasons the Maryland legislature enacted a hands-free driving law in 2010. The general rule reads: “When a vehicle is in motion, an adult driver may NOT use his/her hands to use a handheld telephone, other than to start or end a call, or to turn the telephone on or off.” For drivers under the age of 18, they might not use a wireless communication device of any kind.

Speeding

Time management challenges can lead college students to rush around campus, increasing the likelihood of speeding. The Maryland Highway Safety Office reports that one-third of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the collision.

Sharing the Road

College campuses often have a mix of vehicle traffic, pedestrians, and micro-mobility operators (bikes, e-scooters, e-bikes). This requires drivers to be extra vigilant and aware of their surroundings. College student drivers will also encounter many pedestrians who don’t always stay within the boundaries of a crosswalk. This increases the driver’s responsibility to pay attention to their surroundings.

Longitudinal Study Findings

A longitudinal study examined the prevalence of three alcohol-related traffic risk behaviors among college students: driving while intoxicated (DWI), driving after drinking any alcohol (DAD), and riding with a driver who was under the influence of alcohol (RWID). The study found that all three behaviors increased significantly over time for both males and females. Significant increases in RWID occurred at age 20 and again at 21, regardless of sex. DAD prevalence increased significantly for males at age 21 only, and at ages 20 and 21 for females. DWI prevalence increased significantly at age 21 only, regardless of sex, with prevalence peaking at 29% for males and 21% for females. The study also found that a significant proportion of students engaged in these behaviors in multiple years, suggesting a pattern of repeated risky behavior. Drinking frequency increased significantly every year from age 19 to 22, regardless of sex.

College and University Responses

Many colleges and universities have responded to reports of student deaths related to binge drinking with increased regulations, enforcement, and penalties. To address the problem of drunk driving fatalities, colleges and universities have proactively developed alcohol abuse prevention programs that aim to identify and treat students that abuse alcohol. These programs screen students and provide treatment programs accordingly.

Safety Tips for College Students

To mitigate the risk of car accidents, college students should:

Gain Experience: Practice driving in various conditions to improve skills and confidence.
Avoid Drinking and Driving: Never drive under the influence of alcohol. Use designated drivers, ridesharing services, or stay overnight when alcohol is involved.
Eliminate Distractions: Focus solely on driving by avoiding cell phone use, eating, and other distractions.
Obey Speed Limits: Adhere to speed limits and drive cautiously, especially in and around campus.
Be Aware of Surroundings: Pay attention to pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles, especially in high-traffic areas.
Plan to eat a meal before consuming alcohol: Food helps the body absorb alcohol slowly, thus limiting its effects.
Drinking water and staying hydrated during the drinking period will also help limit the effects of alcohol.
Call ridesharing services: Services like Uber and Lyft are helpful during a night out.
Plan to stay overnight: If you are at a party or hotel where an alcohol-related function is happening, plan to stay overnight ahead of time.
Allow ample time to stop drinking alcoholic beverages before you plan to drive home: Waiting at least 90 minutes after consuming an alcoholic beverage is recommended. However, the best option is to not drink and drive.

Seeking Compensation After an Accident

If a college student is involved in a car accident that causes damage or injury, they may be entitled to compensation. A personal injury attorney can help navigate the legal process and ensure that all options for seeking compensation are explored. Compensation may be available for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Read also: Insurance for Student Accidents

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