Gen Z’s Troubling Driving Habits Unveiled
A recent report, dubbed the Gen Z Recklessness Score, highlights a worrisome trend: young drivers are increasingly involved in serious accidents across the United States. Interestingly, the rate of reckless driving varies significantly from state to state.
The findings show that Montana is home to the riskiest Gen Z drivers, followed closely by Wyoming and South Carolina, based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Conversely, young drivers in New York appear to be the most responsible, with New Jersey’s drivers coming in fifth place for safety.
This analysis, released by Wilshire Law Firm, examines the driving patterns of individuals aged 15 to 29 over a five-year period, from 2019 to 2023.
Nationally, Gen Z-related traffic incidents average about 14.81 per 100,000 people. However, many of the states ranked higher exhibit significantly greater numbers.
In fact, around 6,000 lives are expected to be lost in speeding incidents involving Gen Z drivers in 2023, translating to a grim statistic of 9.02 fatalities per 100,000 people—more than two and a half times the overall national death rate.
The ranking was derived from various criteria, including crashes involving Gen Z drivers, fatalities, speeding incidents, and alcohol-involved accidents, all measured per 100,000 people.
Montana topped the list with a staggering reckless driving score of 99.74, recording 23.79 accidents involving Gen Z drivers per 100,000 people, which closely matches its fatality rate of 23.88.
The state also reported the highest occurrences of speeding and alcohol-related crashes among this demographic.
Wyoming came in second with a score of 98.00 and noted the highest speeding death rate at 11.46 per 100,000. South Carolina follows in third, with over 24 accidents and fatalities tied to Gen Z drivers per 100,000 individuals.
New Mexico and Arkansas rounded out the top five, both showing elevated rates of fatal and speeding-related crashes. Other states that made the top ten include Mississippi, South Dakota, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas.
It’s evident that rural regions face greater risks. Many top-ranking states feature expansive highways, elevated speed limits, and limited public transport options, possibly fueling risky driving among younger drivers.
In contrast, when Gen Z drivers from New York take to the streets, safety is prioritized. New York’s young drivers boast the lowest recklessness score of just 2.48, making them the safest overall.
Massachusetts and New Hampshire also stand out as safe states, with notably lower rates of crashes, speeding, and alcohol-related incidents.
New Jersey performed admirably, landing at 46th place with a recklessness score of 9.91, indicating one of the lowest rates nationwide. In fact, the state only reported 7.54 accidents involving Gen Z drivers per 100,000 people, which is about half the national average.
