The rules of the road vary depending on the state in which you are driving. No matter the state, it’s crucial to obey traffic laws and other driving laws to help prevent motor vehicle crash-related deaths and injuries.
Key topics we address in this section of Teen Driver Source are speeding, seat belt use, and impaired driving, including the new driving laws regarding legal marijuana use, both recreational and medicinal. If every motor vehicle occupant used a seat belt on every trip, every driver followed speed limits, and no person got behind the wheel while impaired, thousands of lives could be saved each year. Obeying traffic laws and other driving laws helps keep everyone safe on the road.
For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. In 2020, speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities.
More Obey Traffic Laws Statistics
- In 2020, 1,885 young drivers (ages 15-20) died in traffic crashes, a 17% increase from 1,616 in 2019; More than half (52%) were not wearing a seat belt.
- Fatalities among passengers of young drivers (ages 15-20) increased by 22% from 2019 to 2020.
- In 2020, 29% of young drivers (ages 15-20) involved in fatal crashes had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .01 g/dL or higher; 82% of them had BACs of .08 g/dL or higher.
- In 2020, 6,516 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes, a 3.9% increase from 2019.
- In 2020, 16% of children age 14 and younger killed in car crashes were pedestrians.