Kansas third in the U.S. for rate of fatal crashes involving teen drivers

Kansas has the third-highest rate of fatal crashes involving teen drivers in the U.S. since 2010, according to a new analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 567 fatal crashes involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 in Kansas from 2010 to 2019 accounted for 15.7% of all fatal crashes in the state. That’s third behind Nebraska (16.3%) and Utah (16.0%).

The analysis by ValuePenguin, an online financial resource, also found that Kansas had the second highest proportion of fatal crashes where a 15-20-year-old died — 12%.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Kansans between the age of 15 and 18.

Nationwide, 41,187 teen drivers were involved in fatal crashes over the last decade, accounting for roughly 13% of all such crashes.

In total, 29,227 teens lost their lives in deadly crashes between 2010 and 2019. Of those, 62% were behind the wheel and 38% were passengers.

The annual number of fatal accidents involving teen drivers has gradually decreased from 4,440 in 2010 to 3,833 in 2019, the most recent year with available data.