One of the greatest moments of independence or freedom for teenagers is the moment they can get behind the steering wheel.
In the state of Washington, teens as young as 16 years old can obtain an intermediate driver’s license as long as they have completed a driver training course and have had their Washington learner permit for at least six months, according to the Department of Licensing. Certain rules change for drivers after they turn 18, according to DOL.
A new study conducted by Wallethub found that Washington is ranked among the top five best states for teen drivers. The study compared and ranked all 50 states using 23 metrics including the number of teen driver fatalities, the average cost of car repairs and the presence of impaired-driving laws.
So where did Washington state rank in this study?
How does Washington rank for teen drivers?
Wallethub used three key metrics to determine which states are the best for teen drivers. These dimensions were safety, economic environment and driving laws. The metrics were graded on a 100-point scale, with a total of 50 points for safety, 30 points for driving laws and 20 points for economic environment.
Based on these metrics, Wallethub was ranked Washington the fourth-best state for teen drivers in the U.S.
Chip Lupo is an analyst for Wallethub. In an email sent by a company spokesperson, Lupo said Washington ranked well because it scored high in several categories that measure how supportive of an environment a state creates for teen drivers.
“The state excels in driving laws, as evidenced by its top-ranking for its enforcement of red-light and speeding-camera laws, in addition to occupant-protection and impaired-driving regulations,” Lupo stated. “This stringent legal framework promotes safer driving practices and enhances road safety for teens.”
Lupo added that Washington ranked No. 8 for low rate of teen driver fatalities and also ranked high in the category regarding the availability of driving schools per capita.
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s 2023 crash report, there were over 14,000 crashes that involved teen drivers, 69 of which were fatal while 10,364 resulted in no injuries. So far in 2024, there have been a little over 6,000 reported crashes that involved teen drivers, 36 were fatal and over 4,000 resulted in no injuries, according to the crash report.
Lupo noted that Washington’s higher than average gas prices, moderate car repair costs and poor road quality pose some challenges, but “the state’s strong record of implementing strict legal requirements and stellar performance in safety metrics contributes significantly to its high ranking.”
“Washington’s commitment to enforcing driving regulations and promoting safety is evident in its position as one of the top states for teen drivers,” Lupo said.
These are the five states with the best teen drivers, according to Wallethub:
- New York
- Oregon
- New Jersey
- Washington
- Massachusetts
