New laws now require more driver’s education and supervised hours
Teen drivers in Florida are involved in car accidents at an alarming rate. That’s why Florida officials recently created tougher laws designed to crack down on collisions caused by young drivers and keep everyone safe on the road.
"I would call it an epidemic right now, and we all collectively need to do something to get it under control,” Brett Robinson, CEO of the American Driver & Traffic Safety Education Association, said in an interview with USA Today.
How common are accidents caused by teen drivers? How bad is the problem in Florida? What are the new laws designed to prevent car crashes caused by teen drivers in Florida? And why do young drivers cause so many collisions? Here are the details you should know.
How common are collisions caused by teen drivers?
According to a study conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), young drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident compared to older drivers.
However, the number of fatal car crashes caused by teen drivers nationwide has decreased dramatically in recent years compared to two decades ago, the GHSA reports. Specifically, the number of fatal car accidents caused by younger drivers decreased by 38 percent between 2002 and 2021.
During that same time period, teen car accident deaths fell by 45 percent as well, the GHSA reports. Specifically, the number of fatalities in car crashes involving a driver under 21 years old decreased from 9,392 deaths in 2002 to 5,650 fatalities in 2021.
Do Florida teens cause more accidents than TeEns In Other states?
Florida has one of the highest teen driver fatality rates of any state in the country. However, the problem is slowly improving.
Between 2002 and 2021, the number of car accident fatalities caused by teen drivers in Florida fell from 7.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2002 to 6.85 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to the recent GHSA report.
However, the 6.85 death rate in 2021 in Florida is still much higher than in most states. Only five states and the District of Columbia had a higher teen driver death rate than Florida in 2021. That might explain why Florida created tougher teen driving laws than went into effect this year.
What are Florida’s new teen driving laws?
Florida officials recently amended several existing laws in an effort to prevent car accidents caused by teen drivers. Specifically, Florida lawmakers revised Florida Statute 322.095 (Traffic law and substance abuse education program for driver’s license applicants) and Florida Statute 322.1615 (Learner’s Driver’s License).
Under the new changes that went into effect July 1, 2025:
- Teen drivers 15 and older must complete six hours of driver’s education classwork before they can obtain a learner's permit. Previously, the requirement was a four-hour-long driver’s ed class.
- Teen drivers must also complete 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours of night driving, in order to obtain a learner’s driver’s license.
Why do teens cause so many crashes?
Studies show that teens represent fewer than 5 percent of Florida’s drivers but account for over 20 percent of crashes and 9 percent of road fatalities. Why is that? More than anything, teen drivers often cause crashes because they lack experience behind the wheel, making it harder for them to accurately assess traffic situations and react appropriately to roadway risks. Specific reasons include:
- Inexperience at intersections: More than one-third of fatal or serious teen driver crashes occur at intersections, where other cars, pedestrians, and traffic signals create complex situations that are hard for beginners to navigate.
- Passengers increase risk: The chance of a crash involving a teen jumps significantly when driving with other teens, especially due to distractions and peer pressure.
- Distracted driving: Teens frequently use their phones for texting, calling, or social media while driving, which sharply increases crash risk.
- Speeding and thrill-seeking: Florida ranks among the top states for teen driver fatal crash risk, partly because teens are more likely to exceed speed limits or engage in risky driving behaviors.
- Immaturity and poor judgment: Teens’ brains are still developing, especially the areas that control impulse and decision-making, which can lead to reckless behavior on the road.
These factors often overlap, especially when teenagers speed and text while driving. Regardless of the reasons why a collision occurs involving a teen driver, they should be held accountable for their actions. Just because they’re young and inexperienced doesn’t mean they should be let off the hook if they cause a serious or fatal car accident.
Our Tampa car accident lawyers fight for the rights of crash victims
Collisions involving teen drivers often escalate into complex legal cases. Sometimes, it’s because the young driver denies any wrongdoing. Other times, it’s insurance companies that are the problem.
Whatever the circumstances of your crash, a Tampa car accident lawyer at Armando Personal Injury Law can help you every step of the way. We know what to do because we’ve been doing this work for decades in Tampa and throughout Florida.
Our case results speak for themselves, including a multi-million-dollar settlement in one car accident case. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash involving an inexperienced driver, get the Tampa law firm that gets results. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
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