Kentucky lawmakers hear concerns about teen driver crashes as state ranks 4th nationwide

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB+WAVE) — Kentucky lawmakers heard new concerns about teen driving safety Monday as researchers shared findings on crashes involving young drivers across the state.

Representatives from the Kentucky Transportation Center presented updates on their research during a meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation in Frankfort.

According to data shared as part of Kentucky’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, the state ranks fourth in the nation for crash rates among young drivers.

Researchers said car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teenagers, with impaired and distracted driving among the biggest concerns.

In 2024, young drivers made up 5.2% of licensed drivers nationwide but accounted for 9% of drivers involved in fatal crashes, according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

Researchers also pointed to changes in teen driving behavior since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our children that grew up during the pandemic, their experience in terms of developmental maturity is very different,” said Caitlin Northcutt, researcher and assistant professor at the University of Kentucky’s School of Public Health.

The research is part of a broader effort to identify factors contributing to serious crashes and find ways to make Kentucky roads safer.

Researchers said improvements are needed in how young drivers are screened before getting their licenses, along with greater access to driver education programs.

One concern is the growing number of areas with limited access to driver education, sometimes called “driver education deserts.”

“We’re really interested in looking at how different counties, their vulnerability in terms of the resources that they provide and the access that they have,” Northcutt said. “Because we know that, with teen driver education and training, it’s quality and quantity that matters the most.”

Kentucky’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan includes a goal of reducing traffic deaths statewide to fewer than 500 by 2029.