A new study from Consumer Affairs finds that Generation Z drivers have the worst road safety record of any generation, with Millennials coming in a close second.

The Consumer Affairs Research Team analyzed the most recently available fatal crash data — from 2023 — compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System to compare driving safety across generations.

The study found that Gen Z, defined as those ages 15 to 29, has the highest total crash fatality rate of all generations and is involved in fatal crashes at twice the national rate. Gen Zers represent about one-fifth of the U.S. population but account for 45% of all fatal crashes linked to dangerous driving behaviors.

The leading risk factor for the youngest generation is speeding. Nearly 6,000 motorists were killed in crashes caused by speeding Gen Z drivers in 2023 — a rate more than two and a half times the national average.

Millennials, ages 30 to 44, rank as the second-worst generation and nearly tie with Gen Z in fatal crash rates tied to dangerous driving and crashes involving drivers with positive blood alcohol content. Unlike Gen Z, speeding is less of a factor for Millennials, who instead show elevated rates of impaired driving.

Gen X falls in the middle of the pack, with crash metrics above the national average but below those of the two younger generations.

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