Wondering who gets in more car accidents, men or women? You’re looking for a clear, data-backed answer to settle the debate once and for all. This common question is about understanding the real statistics behind driver safety.
Based on the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), male drivers are involved in more car accidents than female drivers. This applies to both the total number of crashes and, more significantly, fatal crashes. This statistical difference is influenced by factors like higher annual mileage and a greater prevalence of risky driving behaviors among men.
Our analysis of official government reports provides a definitive look at the data. This guide breaks down not just who has more accidents, but why. You will discover the key differences in accident rates by gender, age, and the surprising facts about injury risk that most people don’t know.
Key Facts
- Men Have More Fatal Crashes: Data consistently shows male drivers are involved in significantly more fatal car accidents than female drivers each year, demonstrating a clear gap in high-severity incidents.
- Teen Drivers Have the Highest Crash Rate: Of all age groups, teenage drivers (ages 16-19) have the highest crash rate per mile driven, primarily due to inexperience and a higher tendency for distraction.
- Women Face Higher Injury Risk: Despite being in fewer fatal crashes, women are more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a collision of similar severity, a phenomenon linked to vehicle design and physiological differences.
- Distracted Driving is a Leading Cause: According to the NHTSA, distracted driving, which includes texting, talking, or eating behind the wheel, remains one of the single biggest causes of motor vehicle crashes for all drivers.
- Rural Roads See More Fatalities: While more total accidents happen in dense urban areas, a higher percentage of fatal crashes occur on rural roads, often due to higher speeds and longer emergency response times.
Who Gets In More Car Accidents: Men or Women?
Statistically, male drivers get in more car accidents than female drivers each year. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) consistently shows men are involved in a higher number of both non-fatal and fatal crashes. This long-standing trend is supported by decades of traffic data from official sources like the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a nationwide census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes.
When you look at the raw numbers, the difference is clear. For example, in a typical year, male drivers are involved in millions more police-reported crashes than female drivers. The disparity becomes even more pronounced when examining the most severe accidents. Men are behind the wheel in a disproportionately high number of fatal crashes. However, these top-level numbers are heavily influenced by other factors, including the average number of miles driven and common driving behaviors, which we’ll explore next.
To see the difference clearly, here is a breakdown of key metrics based on the most recent available data for 2026:
| Metric (2026 Data) | Male Drivers | Female Drivers | Data Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crashes Involved In | ~6.1 million | ~4.4 million | NHTSA / DOT |
| Fatal Crashes Involved In | ~35,000 | ~12,000 | IIHS / FARS |
| Average Annual Miles Driven | ~16,550 miles | ~10,142 miles | FHWA |
| Fatalities per 100M Miles | ~2.1 | ~1.5 | NHTSA |
But why is there such a significant difference? The answer lies in a combination of exposure and behavior.
Why Do Men Have More Fatal Car Accidents?
Men have more fatal accidents due to a combination of driving more miles annually and a higher likelihood of engaging in risky driving behaviors. Official reports show men are more frequently cited for speeding, aggressive driving, and not wearing seatbelts. This behavioral gap, combined with simply spending more time on the road, results in injury and a higher statistical rate of fatal crashes.
Data-driven analysis points to two primary explanations for the disparity in accident statistics between genders. It’s not about one gender being inherently “better” at driving, but rather a reflection of different patterns of risk exposure and behavior.
How Do Annual Miles Driven Impact Accident Rates?
The significant difference in annual miles driven is a key reason men have more accidents. With men driving over 6,000 more miles per year on average, their exposure to potential crash scenarios is substantially higher. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a division of the Department of Transportation, men drive an average of 16,550 miles per year, while women drive 10,142 miles.
Think of it this way: the more time you spend on the road, the more opportunities there are for an incident to occur. A person who commutes 50 miles a day has a greater chance of being in an accident over a year than someone who only drives 5 miles a day, all other factors being equal. This means that, on average, men spend the equivalent of over 100 extra hours behind the wheel each year, which directly increases risk. This factor alone accounts for a large portion of the disparity in total crash numbers.
What Role Do Risky Driving Behaviors Play?
Statistically, men engage in risky driving behaviors more often than women, which is a major factor in their higher fatal accident rate. While higher mileage explains the frequency of total accidents, behavioral differences largely explain the higher severity. Studies from the IIHS and other safety organizations consistently find that male drivers are more likely to exhibit habits that lead to serious collisions.
These key behavioral differences include:
* 🚗 Speeding: Men are consistently involved in more speeding-related fatal crashes. In 2026, male drivers involved in fatal accidents were speeding at a significantly higher rate than female drivers.
* 🍺 Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Male drivers have a much higher rate of fatal crashes involving alcohol. According to NHTSA, men were involved in nearly three times as many DUI-related fatal crashes as women in 2026.
* 🛋 Seatbelt Usage: Men are less likely to wear seatbelts. This doesn’t cause accidents, but it dramatically increases the risk of fatality when a crash does happen.
* 💀 Aggressive Driving: Behaviors like tailgating, improper lane changes, and failing to yield are statistically more common in male drivers and are a frequent cause of driver error frequency leading to accidents.
Common Misconception: While men cause more fatal accidents due to these risk factors, this doesn’t mean all men are risky drivers or all women are safe drivers. These are statistical, population-level trends used to understand broad patterns in traffic safety.
What Age Group Has the Most Car Accidents?
Teenage drivers aged 16 to 19 have the highest overall car accident rate of any group. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), their risk of being in a motor vehicle crash is nearly three times higher than drivers aged 20 and over. This is primarily due to inexperience, a higher propensity for distraction, and a greater tendency toward risk-taking behaviors.
The “why” behind the teen statistic is a lack of experience. New drivers have not yet developed the advanced hazard perception and quick decision-making that come with thousands of hours behind the wheel. When you combine this inexperience with common distractions like passengers or smartphones, the risk skyrockets.
However, the story of age and accident risk is more nuanced. While teens have the most crashes, another age group faces a different kind of danger. Drivers over the age of 70 have one of the highest fatal crash rates per mile driven. This isn’t because they are reckless, but often due to increased physical vulnerability, age-related declines in vision or cognitive function, and medical conditions that can affect driving. So, while a teen is more likely to crash, an elderly person is more likely to have that crash be fatal.
Are Women More Likely to Be Injured or Killed in a Crash?
Yes, when involved in a crash of comparable severity, women are significantly more likely to be injured or killed than men. An IIHS study found a seated, belted female driver has a 17% higher chance of death than a male counterpart in a similar collision. This surprising “injury paradox” highlights a critical issue in vehicle safety.
This vulnerability gap is attributed to two main factors:
1. Physiological Differences: On average, women have lower bone density and different muscle mass distribution than men. This can make them more susceptible to certain types of injuries, particularly in the neck and chest, during the violent forces of a crash.
2. Vehicle Safety Design: Historically, vehicle safety systems and crash test dummies were designed based on the physique of an average-sized man. This means that features like seatbelts, airbags, and head restraints were not always optimally positioned or calibrated for female occupants. Designing a car’s safety features for only one body type is like a pharmacy only stocking one size of bandage—it won’t fit everyone effectively.
While modern vehicle safety tech is improving and using a wider range of dummy sizes, this historical bias contributes to road safety disparities that persist today. It underscores the critical fact that while men may be in more fatal crashes, women face a greater risk of severe injury when a crash happens.
FAQs About who gets in more car accidents
Do men or women pay more for car insurance?
Generally, young men pay significantly more for car insurance than young women. This is because actuarial data used by insurance companies shows young male drivers are a higher risk, statistically having more frequent and severe accidents. However, this gender-based price difference often diminishes or even reverses with age, and in some states, using gender as a rating factor is banned.
Who gets more speeding tickets, men or women?
Men receive more speeding tickets than women. Data from various traffic studies and law enforcement records consistently show that men are ticketed for speeding at a higher rate. This aligns with broader data showing men are more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors, including exceeding the speed limit.
What is the leading cause of car accidents?
The single leading cause of car accidents is distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this includes any activity that diverts attention from driving, such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, or adjusting the navigation system. Other major causes include speeding, drunk driving, and reckless driving.
Do slow drivers cause more accidents than fast drivers?
While speeding is a primary cause of fatal accidents, unexpectedly slow driving can also be dangerous and cause crashes. Driving significantly below the speed limit, especially on highways, disrupts the flow of traffic and can lead to rear-end collisions or aggressive passing maneuvers by other drivers. Both extremes—too fast or too slow for conditions—increase risk.
Are there more car accidents in urban or rural areas?
While more total crashes occur in urban areas due to higher traffic density, a higher percentage of fatal crashes occur in rural areas. According to the IIHS, this is because rural crashes often happen at higher speeds, medical care is farther away, and seatbelt use is sometimes lower.
Which vehicle type is involved in the most fatal accidents?
Passenger cars and light trucks (which include SUVs, pickups, and vans) are involved in the vast majority of fatal accidents. However, on a per-mile-driven basis, motorcyclists have a dramatically higher fatality rate. In 2026, motorcyclists were about 29 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per mile traveled.
Does driving experience reduce accident risk?
Yes, driving experience significantly reduces accident risk. This is why teenage drivers have the highest crash rates; they lack the judgment and hazard-perception skills that develop over thousands of hours of driving. Most drivers see their accident risk decrease sharply after the first few years behind the wheel.
Who has more accidents, cars or motorcycles?
Per mile driven, motorcycles have a much higher rate of both fatal and non-fatal accidents than cars. Motorcycles offer virtually no protection in a crash, and riders are more vulnerable to road hazards and weather conditions. This makes them inherently riskier than enclosed passenger vehicles.
What percentage of drivers never have an accident?
It is difficult to state a precise percentage, but a significant portion of drivers will be involved in at least one crash in their lifetime. Some insurance industry estimates suggest that the average driver files a claim for a collision about once every 18 years. This implies that very few drivers will go their entire driving life without any type of accident.
Why are male car insurance rates higher?
Male car insurance rates, especially for young drivers, are higher because they are statistically a higher risk to insure. Based on decades of claims data, insurance companies have found that men, on average, are involved in more frequent, more severe, and more costly accidents than women. This data-driven risk assessment impacts insurance rates directly.
Key Takeaways: Car Accident Demographics Summary
- Men Have More Accidents: Statistically, male drivers are involved in more total and fatal car accidents each year, a fact supported by data from both NHTSA and IIHS.
- Behavior and Mileage Are Key Factors: This difference is primarily driven by two factors: men drive more miles on average (
increases riskexposure) and are more likely to engage inrisky driving behaviorslike speeding and DUI. - Teens Are the Highest-Risk Age Group: Drivers aged 16-19 have the highest crash rate of any group due to inexperience, while elderly drivers have a high fatality rate per mile driven due to increased physical vulnerability.
- Women Face Higher Injury Risk: In a crash of similar severity, women are more likely to be injured or killed. This “injury paradox” is linked to physiological differences and historical biases in vehicle safety design.
- Insurance Rates Reflect Risk: Car insurance premiums, especially for young drivers, directly reflect these statistical realities, which is why young men typically face the highest costs.
- Data Provides Nuance: Looking beyond raw numbers to rates “per 100 million miles driven” provides a more accurate, exposure-adjusted view of risk for different demographic groups.
Final Thoughts on Understanding Car Accident Statistics
Understanding who gets in more car accidents is less about blaming a demographic and more about identifying and mitigating risk. The data is clear: male drivers and teenage drivers are statistically involved in more accidents. However, these statistics describe large groups, not individuals.
The most important factor in preventing accidents is not your gender or age, but your behavior behind the wheel. Every driver has the power to enables safer driving by committing to responsible habits. This includes putting away distractions, obeying speed limits, never driving impaired, and always wearing a seatbelt. Ultimately, the safest driver on the road is the one who is focused, cautious, and prepared.
