One Shocking Stat About Teen Drivers in Texas You Missed

Summer is when many teens across Texas get their driver’s licenses and hit the roads with excitement and freedom. But there’s also a sobering truth: driving is one of the most dangerous milestones for young people. According to WalletHub’s 2025 report on the Best & Worst States for Teen Drivers, Texas landed right in the middle overall—24th place out of 50.

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That may sound average, but a closer look shows Texas topped the list when it comes to laws against distracted driving and impaired driving. Unfortunately, where our teens’ safety really counts—like crash and fatality rates—we still have a lot of work to do.

The Alarming Reality for Texas Teens

WalletHub compared all 50 states using 23 key factors, from road conditions to fatal crash rates. In Texas, teen drivers face higher risks than most:

• 28th – Teen driver fatalities per 100,000 teens
• 19th – Teen DUIs per 100,000 teens
• 37th – Average cost of car repairs
• 46th – Insurance premium increase after adding a teen driver

These numbers show that while Texas families and lawmakers have rules on the books, our young drivers still pay the price in safety and cost.

Where Texas Ranked the Highest

Not all the news is bad. Texas ranked #1 in two key safety categories:

• Distracted-Driving Laws – Texas leads the nation in banning texting while driving and cracking down on distractions.
• Impaired-Driving Laws – We also rank first for laws aimed at keeping drunk and drug-impaired drivers off the road.

In addition, Texas scored well in:

• 7th – Presence of occupant-protection laws (seatbelts, car seat requirements)
• 15th – Strength of our graduated licensing program for new drivers

The Message for Parents and Teens

The data sends one clear message: laws alone aren’t enough. Teens must learn safe habits early, and parents must model them consistently. That means:

• No distractions – Phones down, eyes up.
• No drinking and driving – EVER!
• Seatbelts always – No exceptions.

Talk about risks. Conversations about peer pressure, late-night driving, and impaired friends can save lives.

Texas in Perspective

Overall, Texas ranked 24th, neither the safest nor the riskiest state for teen drivers. That “middle of the pack” rating is a reminder that we can do better. Every day, eight teens nationwide lose their lives in car crashes. In Texas, too many of those tragedies are preventable.

Read More: How The Branch Davidian Site Conveys A Powerful History

If there’s one takeaway for Big Country families, it’s this: teaching teens how not to drive distracted or impaired is just as important as teaching them how to parallel park.

Source and for the full study, go to:  WalletHub – Best & Worst States for Teen Drivers 2025