Montana Remains One of the Deadliest States for Young Drivers

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, Montana is the 2nd deadliest state in the nation for young drivers (those under age 25). In Big Sky Country, 15.24% of our traffic fatalities involve young drivers. An average of 31.4 young drivers lose their lives each year in Montana, representing 14.12% of all people involved in fatal accidents. 

Read More: How Many Miles of Roads Are in Montana? Pack Your Bags

The data, shared in a report by an accident law firm, Stone Injury Lawyers, reveals that North Dakota is currently the deadliest state for young drivers, who account for 15.67% of its driving deaths, just a fraction of a percent more than Montana.

Unfortunately, Montana has been at or near the top of this list for well over a decade. CBS cited Montana as the 2nd-deadliest state for young drivers back in 2012. Several factors come into play for these sobering statistics.

Long travel distance and rural roads.

Montana has a whopping 73,571 miles of public roads, and many of them are two-lane highways or gravel. School, work, or driving to an activity or event for many young Montana drivers can involve 45 minutes or more on the road, increasing the chances of an accident.Lawyeringinmotnana.com notes that 90% of the accidents in Montana occur on rural roads.

Impaired driving and speeding.

Young drivers are known for risk-taking behaviors, and sadly, this frequently involves speeding or driving under the influence.

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Low seatbelt use among younger drivers.

As a whole, seatbelt use in Montana has climbed over the years and is now up to 92%. However, the Montana Department of Transportation says that younger drivers are among the worst when it comes to wearing a seatbelt.

Lack of driver education and enforcement.

Our friends at KGVO reported in 2024 that Montana ranks last in teen driver training and safety, with limited access to professional driver education programs. The state also ranks poorly in enforcing distracted driving and DUI laws among teens, contributing to higher rates of risky behaviors behind the wheel.

Nighttime and weekend driving risks.

This is not a Montana-specific issue... the CDC says that 40% of teen-driver accidents occurred between 9 PM and 6 AM, and 52% happened on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Now is a great time to remind your young drivers to slow down, buckle up, put down their phones, and drive responsibly. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye.