NEW YORK- New York has been ranked the nation’s top state for teen drivers for the third consecutive year, according to a new analysis by WalletHub.

The 2026 study compared all 50 states using 23 measures related to teen driver safety, accidents, and injuries, and state laws.  New York ranked second nationally for both safety and the effectiveness of its driving laws.

Among the factors helping New York earn the top overall ranking were its fourth-lowest rate of teen driver fatalities per capita, fourth-lowest percentage of drivers using phones while driving and third-lowest rate of poor turning, which includes turning while accelerating excessively.

The state also had the most driving schools per capita and the third-lowest rate of teen DUI arrests per capita, according to the study.  WalletHub also found that New York has nearly all of the optimal driving laws recommended by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

“Because most crashes involving teen drivers are the result of inexperience, inattention, impairment and nighttime driving, the state has adopted a series of programs and rules to target these risky practices,” New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Acting Commissioner Christian Jackstadt said.

Despite the ranking, teen drivers remain a significant safety concern.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among people ages 16 to 19.  In New York in 2024, drivers ages 16 to 20 accounted for 7 percent of drivers involved in crashes while representing about 4 percent of all licensed drivers.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles and Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee sponsor several programs aimed at young drivers, including the annual “No Empty Chair” campaign, school presentations featuring people affected by crashes and the “Protect Your Melon” seat-belt safety initiative, which includes NASCAR driver Ross Chastain.

New York also enforces its Graduated Driver Licensing law, which requires drivers under 18 to gain driving experience before receiving expanded driving privileges.

WalletHub based its analysis on data from organizations including the U.S. Census Bureau, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, FBI, CDC, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and AAA.