HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania recorded 79,625 crashes involving teenage drivers over five years, resulting in 486 deaths, prompting state transportation and public safety officials to launch a driver education campaign Monday aimed at reducing preventable crashes and improving safety among inexperienced motorists.
The crashes, recorded from 2021 through 2025, involved at least one driver between the ages of 16 and 19, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Four contributing factors — excessive speed for conditions, improper or careless turning, distraction, and inexperience — were identified in 62% of those crashes.
Driving too fast for conditions was associated with 22,635 crashes, followed by improper or careless turning in 14,477, driver distraction in 10,188, and driver inexperience in 7,064.
The figures underscore the risks facing young drivers as Pennsylvania agencies expand education efforts beyond traditional classroom instruction.
PennDOT joined the departments of Education and Insurance and the Pennsylvania State Police at Red Land High School on Monday to introduce a social media campaign during Teen Driver Safety Week.
The campaign will distribute instructional videos covering vehicle maintenance, roadside situations, and traffic laws. Topics include changing a flat tire, checking tire pressure and vehicle fluids, and responding to a law enforcement traffic stop.
The videos will also address Paul Miller’s Law, Pennsylvania’s distracted driving statute prohibiting the use of handheld devices while driving.
PennDOT and the State Police is releasing content daily during Teen Driver Safety Week through PennDOT’s X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts.
“Parents and teachers can help set a good example by making safe driving choices themselves, and we’re hopeful that these how-to videos will be a helpful resource to teens and their families,” said PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet.
State Police Acting Commissioner Lt. Col. George L. Bivens emphasized that driving habits develop before teenagers begin formal instruction.
“Teen drivers are constantly learning from what they see us do behind the wheel,” Bivens said. “Parents and guardians have an important opportunity to be a positive influence by following the rules of the road, staying focused, and making responsible decisions every time they drive.”
The campaign builds on Pennsylvania’s New Driver Work Zone Safety Program, introduced in 2024 by PennDOT, the Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
That online training program uses instructional videos, testimonials, and driving scenarios to teach new motorists about work zone regulations, traffic signs, and the risks facing roadway workers.
The state is also emphasizing restrictions governing young drivers, including passenger limits and nighttime driving rules.
Under Pennsylvania law, drivers younger than 18 generally may carry no more than one passenger younger than 18 who is not an immediate family member unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
After six months of incident-free driving with a junior license, that limit increases to three nonfamily passengers younger than 18, unless a parent or guardian is present.
Drivers ages 16 and 17 holding junior licenses are also prohibited from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., subject to applicable legal exceptions.
State officials recommend that parents limit nighttime driving while teenagers gain experience, gradually expand permitted driving distances and regularly monitor their children’s driving skills.
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department also linked safer driving practices to the financial costs of insuring young motorists.
Deputy Insurance Commissioner Dave Buono said inexperienced drivers generally face higher premiums because insurers consider them more likely to file claims.
“Auto insurance provides important financial protection for students and their families, and rates for young drivers are usually higher because new, inexperienced drivers have a higher likelihood of filing insurance claims,” Buono said.
The department said driver education courses and good academic performance can qualify teenagers for insurance discounts, while avoiding crashes and traffic violations can help control insurance costs.
Education Executive Deputy Secretary Angela Fitterer said formal instruction remains important because safe driving requires skills developed through extended practice.
The state’s latest initiative combines those training efforts with practical vehicle maintenance instruction and reminders about existing traffic restrictions, targeting the behaviors identified in thousands of crashes involving Pennsylvania’s youngest drivers.
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