Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search


Español  Other Languages


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
 Search

		Submit


Transportation Safety


Section Navigation
			
			CDC Home








Publications						Print
																Related Pages
										Featured Articles**Transportation Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019**
risk behaviors infographic
Motor vehicle crash injuries are a leading cause of death and nonfatal injury among adolescents. In 2019, 43.1% of U.S. high school students did not always wear a seat belt as a passenger, and 16.7% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol during the past 30 days. Of the approximately 60% of students who drove a car during the past 30 days, 5.4% drove after drinking alcohol, and 39.0% texted or e-mailed while driving at least once during the past 30 days. Also, students engaging in one transportation risk behavior were more likely to engage in other transportation risk behaviors. Reducing risky transportation behaviors among adolescents by using proven strategies (e.g., primary enforcement seat belt laws, publicized sobriety checkpoints, and parent-teen driving agreements) can help prevent crashes, reduce injuries, and save lives.
**Does geographic location matter for transportation risk behaviors among U.S. public high school students?**
Teen crash fatality rates differ by geographic location. Data from 2015 and 2017 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were combined and analyzed to explore the role of census region and metropolitan status for driving prevalence and four transportation risk behaviors among U.S. public high school students. This study found:
41% of students did not always wear a seat belt. Students in the Northeast were 40% *more likely*than students in the Midwest to not always wear a seat belt.
Among the 75% of students (ages ≥16) who drove, 47% texted/e-mailed while driving during the 30 days before the survey. Students in the Northeast were 20% *less likely*than students in the Midwest to text/e-mail while driving. Students attending suburban or town schools were 20%–30% *more likely* to text/e-mail while driving than students attending urban schools.
19% of students rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol during the 30 days before the survey, and 7% of students (ages ≥16) who drove did so when they had been drinking alcohol, with no differences by location for either behavior.There were few differences in teen transportation risk behaviors by geographic location. Factors such as age at licensure, time since licensure, driving experience, and the policy and physical driving environment might contribute more to variation in teen crash fatality rates by geographic location than differences in teen transportation risk behaviors.Journal ArticlesShults RA, Shaw KM, Yellman MA, Jones SE. Does geographic location matter for transportation risk behaviors among U.S. public high school students?. *J Transp Health*. 2021;22:10.1016/j.jth.2021.101134. doi:10.1016/j.jth.2021.101134
Shults RA, Jones JM, Komatsu KK, Sauber-Schatz EK. Alcohol and marijuana use among young injured drivers in Arizona, 2008–2014. *Traffic Inj Prev*. 2019;20(1):9–14. doi:10.1080/15389588.2018.1527032
Li L, Shults RA, Andridge RR, Yellman MA, Xiang H, Zhu M. Texting/Emailing While Driving Among High School Students in 35 States, United States, 2015. *J Adolesc Health*. 2018;63(6):701–708. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.06.010
Shults RA, Bergen G, Smith TJ, Cook L, Kindelberger J, West B. Characteristics of Single Vehicle Crashes with a Teen Driver in South Carolina, 2005–2008. *Accid Anal Prev*. 2019;122:325–331. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2017.08.002
Shults RA, Williams AF. Trends in teen driver licensure, driving patterns and crash involvement in the United States, 2006–2015. *J Safety Res*. 2017;62:181–184. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2017.06.013
Jewett A, Shults RA, Bhat G. Parental Perceptions of Teen Driving: Restrictions, Worry and Influence. *J Safety Res*. 2016;59:119–123. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2016.09.003
Shults RA, Haegerich TM, Bhat G, Zhang X. Teens and seat belt use: What makes them click?. *J Safety Res*. 2016;57:19–25. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2016.03.003
Haegerich TM, Shults RA, Oman RF, Vesely SK. The Predictive Influence of Youth Assets on Drinking and Driving Behaviors in Adolescence and Young Adulthood. *J Prim Prev*. 2016;37(3):231–245. doi:10.1007/s10935-016-0418-7
Shults RA, Banerjee T, Perry T. Who’s not driving among U.S. high school seniors: A closer look at race/ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, and driving status. *Traffic Inj Prev*. 2016;17(8):803–809. doi:10.1080/15389588.2016.1161761
Dellinger AM, West BA. Health Care providers and Teen Driving Safety: Topics Discussed and Educational Resources Used in Practice. *Am J Lifestyle Med*. 2015;9(6):451–456. doi:10.1177/1559827614554903
Shults RA, West BA. ATV riding and helmet use among youth aged 12–17 years, USA, 2011: results from the YouthStyles survey. *Inj Prev*. 2015;21(1):10–14. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2013-041138
Shults RA, Williams AF. Trends in driver licensing status and driving among high school seniors in the United States, 1996–2010. *J Safety Res*. 2013;46:167–170. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2013.04.003
Olsen EO, Shults RA, Eaton DK. Texting While Driving and Other Risky Motor Vehicle Behaviors Among US High School Students. *Pediatrics*. 2013;131(6):e1708–e1715. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-3462
Gill SK, Shults RA, Cope JR, Cunningham TJ, Freelon B. Teen driving in rural North Dakota: a qualitative look at parental perceptions. *Accid Anal Prev*. 2013;54:114–121. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2013.02.010
Williams AF, West BA, Shults RA. Fatal Crashes of 16- to 17-Year-Old Drivers Involving Alcohol, Nighttime Driving, and Passengers. *Traffic Inj Prev*. 2012;13(1):1–6. doi:10.1080/15389588.2011.633235
Olsen EO, Hertz MF, Shults RA, Hamburger ME, Lowry R. Healthy People 2010 objectives for unintentional injury and violence among adolescents. Trends from the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 1999-2009. *Am J Prev Med*. 2011;41(6):551–558. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2011.08.011
Williams AF, Ali B, Shults RA. The Contribution of Fatal Crashes Involving Teens Transporting Teens. *Traffic Inj Prev*. 2010;11(6):567–572. doi:10.1080/15389588.2010.501834
Williams AF, Shults RA. Graduated Driver Licensing Research, 2007–Present: A Review and Commentary. *J Safety Res*. 2010;41(2):77–84. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2010.03.002
Shults RA. Foreword to “Graduated Driver Licensing Research, 2007–Present: A Review and Commentary”. *J Safety Res*. 2010;41(2):75. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2010.04.001
Jones SE, Shults RA. Trends and Subgroup Differences in Transportation-Related Injury Risk and Safety Behaviors Among US High School Students, 1991-2007. *J Sch Health*. 2009;79(4):169–176. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2008.00386.x
Hedlund J, Shults RA, Compton R. Graduated driver licensing and teenage driver research in 2006. *J Safety Res.*2006;37(2):107–121. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2006.02.001
Hedlund J, Shults RA, Compton R. What we know, what we don’t know, and what we need to know about graduated driver licensing. *J Safety Res*. 2003;34(1):107-115. doi:10.1016/s0022-4375(00)0865
Everett SA, Shults RA, Barrios LC, Sacks JJ, Lowry R, Oeltmann J. Trends and subgroup differences in transportation-related injury risk and safety behaviors among high school students, 1991–1997. *J Adolesc Health*. 2001;28(3):228–234. doi:10.1016/s1054-139x(00)00177-4Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)Yellman MA, Bryan L, Sauber-Schatz EK, Brener N. Transportation Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019. *MMWR Suppl*. 2020;69(1):77–83. doi:10.15585/mmwr.su6901a9
Shults RA, Williams AF. Graduated Driver Licensing Night Driving Restrictions and Drivers Aged 16 or 17 Years Involved in Fatal Night Crashes — United States, 2009–2014. *MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep*. 2016;65(29):725–730. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6529a1
Shults RA, Olsen E, Williams AF. Driving Among High School Students — United States, 2013. *MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep*. 2015;64(12):313–317.
Shults RA, Olsen EO. Vital Signs: Drinking and Driving Among High School Students Aged ≥16 Years — United States, 1991–2011. *MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep*. 2012;61(39):796–800.
Additional ResourcesOne of the most important safety features for your teen driver is you.
**Parents Are the Key to Safe Teen Driving**
Parents Are the Key materials can help parents, pediatricians, and communities keep teen drivers safe on the road.


CDC GDL Planning Guide cover
**Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) System Planning Guide**
The GDL Planning Guide can assist states to assess, develop, and implement actionable plans to strengthen graduated driver licensing practices.





Thumbnail image of the report cover
**Reducing Risks for Teen Drivers**
Safe Kids Worldwide report “Reducing Risks for Teen Drivers” explores how families are managing the risks new drivers face and suggests strategies that families can put into place to help keep teen drivers safe.
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  January 4, 2023						Source: 	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
					Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate homeTransportation Safety
Data and Resources for States and Tribesplus icon
LINCS Guide
State Data Linkage Systems
Cost Data and Prevention Policiesplus icon
Motor Vehicle Prioritizing Interventions and Cost Calculator for States (MV PICCS)plus icon
Intervention Fact Sheets
Intervention Glossary
Costs of Crash Deaths
Child Passenger Safetyplus icon
Get the Facts
What Works: Strategies to Increase Car Seat and Booster Seat Use
Publications
Resources
Booster Seat Planning Guide
Seat Beltsplus icon
Get the Facts
State Fact Sheets
What Works: Strategies to Increase Restraint Use
Publications
Policy Impact
Teen Driversplus icon
Get the Facts
Parents Are the Key
GDL Planning Guide
Publications
Older Adult Driversplus icon
MyMobility Planplus icon
Resources
Spanish Resources
Related Pages
Medicines Risk Fact Sheet
Impaired Drivingplus icon
Get the Facts
State Fact Sheets
What Works: Strategies to Reduce or Prevent Alcohol-Impaired Driving
Increasing Alcohol Ignition Interlock Use
Publications
Distracted Driving
Pedestrian Safetyplus icon
Publications
Tribal Road Safetyplus icon
Get the Facts
Roadway to Safer Tribal Communities Fact Sheets
Best Practices Guide
Program Evaluation Guide
Publications
Motorcycle Safety
Bicycle Safetyplus icon
Publications
Global Road Safetyplus icon
Publications & Resources To receive email updates about this topic, enter your email address: Email Address			What's this?				Submit


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue