New York has been ranked the best state in the country for teen drivers for the third year running, according to a new traffic safety study.
The study, conducted by WalletHub, evaluated all 50 states based on 23 different criteria – including teen driver fatalities, teen DUIs and the availability of driver education and training.
Metrics were broken down into three categories — safety, economic environment, and driving laws — totaling a combined 100 points.
Teens in the Empire State took the top spot thanks to strong, consistent numbers across the board, finishing second overall in safety, losing only to New Jersey, and second in effective driving laws.
New York also had the fourth-fewest teen driver fatalities, the fourth-lowest percentage of drivers using phones behind the wheel and the third-lowest rate of poor turning in the country.
The state also had more driving schools per resident than any other state and the third-fewest teen DUI arrests by population.
The state finished with a total score of 72.14, followed by Oregon with a 72.00 and New Jersey with a 68.01.
The study marks the third consecutive year New York teens have ranked first in the country, according to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Acting Commissioner Christian Jackstadt, a parent of two young daughters himself, said he hopes the study results “reassure parents that New York is leading the way when it comes to road safety.”
“We’re thrilled to achieve this ranking, and we will continue to educate young people to better prepare them to be safer and more responsible drivers,” Jackstadt said.
The study pulled data from multiple sources, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Governors Highway Safety Association, the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the FBI, according to WalletHub.
Even with the top ranking, motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death for teens ages 16 to 19 nationally, and 2024 state data shows drivers ages 16 to 20 were involved in 7% of New York crashes while making up just 4% of licensed motorists, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
“Most crashes involving teen drivers are the result of inexperience, inattention, impairment and nighttime driving,” Jackstadt said. “The state has adopted a series of programs and rules to target these risky practices.”
Montana ranked dead last with 22.78 — less than a third of New York’s winning score — behind Missouri at 29.16 and Mississippi at 35.88.
The recent WalletHub study comes after a report released in May called the “Gen Z Recklessness Score” found that young drivers were racking up serious crashes across the US.
Citing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, the report found the national average for Gen Z-related accidents sits at 14.81 per 100,000 people.
Nearly 6,000 motorists were killed in speeding-related crashes involving Gen Z drivers in 2023.
New York Zoomers were again ranked as the safest drivers in the US — while Montana finished last in both studies.
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