Introduction
In New York State, younger drivers are defined as all licensed drivers ages 16-24. “Drivers ages 16-20 were over-represented in crashes; 7% of the drivers involved in crashes were ages 16-20, compared to 4% of all licensed drivers.” ITSMR, December 2025.
Younger driver safety remains a top priority in New York State. Younger drivers present many different challenges due to the number of contributing factors in these crashes. GTSC continues to work with law enforcement and other traffic safety partners to decrease the number of fatal and personal-injury crashes among this demographic. This will be achieved through comprehensive outreach and education geared toward younger drivers.
New York State was recognized by WalletHub in 2025 as “The Best State for Teen Drivers” because of the low fatality rate among teen drivers, New York’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws, and wide access to driver training schools.
Graduated Driver Licensing
The Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program is designed to provide time for young people to gain critical experience in various traffic scenarios in a safe and controlled manner. In addition to the learner permit restrictions that apply to everyone, the Graduated License Law places restrictions on drivers under 18 years of age who have a junior learner permit or junior driver license. The restrictions depend on whether you have a junior learner permit or a junior driver license, and where and when you will be driving in New York State.
See more about Younger Driver Resources.
No Empty Chair Campaign
The “No Empty Chair” teen driving safety education and enforcement campaign raises awareness of highway dangers in the hope there will be no empty chairs during prom and graduation season.
The 2025 statewide campaign was from Monday, April 21 to Friday, April 25. To help educate teens about safe driving, state and local law enforcement agencies that have School Resource Officers (SROs) or a presence at high schools are encouraged to conduct outreach during this campaign and throughout the prom and graduation season.
In addition to educating students about safe driving, state and local law enforcement increase patrols near local high schools throughout the state, and officers are vigilant in enforcing violations of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law. The GDL is intended to provide time for young drivers to gain critical experience in various traffic scenarios in a safe and controlled manner.
The enforcement component of the campaign targets specific infractions statewide during the week, as well as other vehicle and traffic law violations.
The target dates for 2027 are TBA
Survivor Advocate Speakers Bureau
Through a grant, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee may provide New York State schools a presenter who will share their personal experience with a crash.
The speakers include:
Jacy Good - Speaking about her parent's deaths in a distracted driving crash
Marianne Angelillo - Speaking about her son's death in a high-speed crash
Karen Torres - Speaking about her father's death when he was struck and killed by a distracted driver while working along the highway
Hon. Shannon Filbert - Speaking about the importance of seat belt use and safe teen driving. The ripple effect on her life as an unbelted 18 year-old teen passenger involved in a serious injury crash.