Millennials Labeled Most Dangerous Drivers, Study Finds

SAN ANGELO, TX - Millennials are the most dangerous drivers on the road, according to a new analysis of 2022 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The study by John Foy & Associates reveals that this age group, defined as those born between 1981 and 1996, accounts for 30.26% of all crashes.

The analysis showed that 27-year-olds are particularly reckless, with 257,943 crashes involving drivers of this age. In total, 3,423,414 millennial drivers were involved in crashes in 2022, with 18,816 of those being fatal. This translates to a rate of 50,291 drivers in crashes per 1 million population, the highest among all age groups.

Generation Z, comprising individuals born between 1997 and 2012, ranks second. They account for 23% of all crashes, with a rate of 38,221 drivers in crashes per 1 million population. In 2022, 2,631,955 Generation Z drivers were involved in crashes, 11,490 of which were fatal. Nineteen-year-olds were the most at-risk within this group, with 299,376 crashes.

Generation X, those born between 1965 and 1980, follows in third place with a rate of 36,799 drivers in crashes per 1 million population, making up 22.15% of all crashes. The total number of crashes involving Generation X drivers was 2,444,515, with 13,953 fatal incidents. The most at-risk age within this group was 41-year-olds, accounting for 189,205 crashes.

Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are fourth, with a rate of 22,509 drivers in crashes per 1 million population. They accounted for 1,704,271 crashes, with 11,207 being fatal. Among Baby Boomers, 59-year-olds were most likely to be involved in a crash, with 137,221 incidents.

The Silent Generation, defined as those born between 1928 and 1945, had the lowest rate of crashes at 13,450 drivers per 1 million population. They were involved in 293,846 crashes, with 2,681 fatal. Seventy-seven-year-olds were the most at-risk within this group, with 41,847 crashes.

The study also noted that despite being under the legal driving age, minors under 14 were involved in 3,552 crashes, 43 of which were fatal. The single highest at-risk age across all generations was 19-year-olds, with 299,376 crashes, and 1,215 fatal incidents. Additionally, 22-year-olds had the highest number of fatal accidents, with 1,382 fatal crashes.

"The findings, unfortunately, show a clear trend, with younger drivers seen to be far more at risk on the roads than older drivers,” John Foy of John Foy & Associates stated. “It's interesting to observe the higher incidence of crashes among Millennials, followed by Generation Z and Generation X, while Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation exhibit relatively lower rates. These findings underscore the importance of understanding generational differences in driving behavior and the need for tailored interventions to address road safety concerns effectively."

For more details, visit John Foy & Associates.

Methodology: 

Data was taken from the NHTSA Motor Vehicle Crash Data Querying and Reporting service, with crashes broken down by age. Ages were then grouped by generation, with population data from the US Census Bureau being used to determine rates per 1 million population.