Older cars can be more deadly for drivers, but they are also the ones teens get to drive

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-05-08 01:00

International

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Older vehicles and those with fewer driver assistance technologies have been linked to an increased risk of driver death in fatal crashes, but these are also the cars that are more commonly driven by teens, according to US data. The study looked at over 80,000 drivers involved in fatal crashes and found that a higher proportion of teen drivers were in vehicles older than 15 years compared with middle-aged drivers. Compared to driving cars less than five years old, driving older cars was also linked with higher odds of driver death in fatal crashes. The authors say teens should drive the safest vehicles available, not older family cars.

Media release

From: JAMA

Vehicle Age and Driver Assistance Technologies in Fatal Crashes Involving Teen and Middle-Aged Drivers

JAMA Network Open
Original Investigation

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication.

About The Study: The findings of this study suggest that older vehicles and those with fewer driver assistance technologies are associated with increased risk of driver death in fatal crashes; thus, teens should drive the safest vehicles available, not older family cars. The findings underscore the urgent need to ensure teens drive safer vehicles to protect their lives.

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.8942)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Nationwide Children’s Hospital, USA

Funder: Research reported in this publication was partially supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health (grants R01HD098176 and R01HD100420) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (grant R49CE003074).

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