Because of their lack of experience and risky driving behaviors, young drivers commit more errors and hazardous actions behind the wheel than all other drivers combined. And when they’re behind the wheel of a vehicle that weighs more than a ton traveling at 55 mph or more, the errors teenagers make can prove deadly–for themselves and others.

Of the 19,109 crashes involving teen drivers in 2007, only 5,743 teen drivers did not commit an error or infraction that contributed to the crash. In these incidents, the teens were doing what they were supposed to be doing behind the wheel. But unfortunately, roughly 70 percent of the teen motorists in those crashes that year did make some mistake in action or judgement that lead to the wreck, many of which resulted in death for them or someone else in their car or in another vehicle.

Most of the errors and traffic violations teens commit include careless and reckless driving, disregarding a stop sign or traffic signal, failure to yield, following too close, driving on the wrong side of the road and driving too fast for conditions. In many instances, the teens committed not just one but several errors that contributed to the crash.

In more than 21 percent of the 19,000 traffic crashes in 2007 involving teen drivers, the teen motorist was driving carelessly. In addition, 14 percent of the teen drivers in crashes failed to yield and 11 percent were following too closely.

Mistakes are part of any learning process, including driving. Motorists of all ages commit errors and violate traffic laws, including adults with decades of experience. But teens are at greater risk to do so because of their inexperience and immaturity. Speeding over a hill or passing another motorist on the wrong side of the road may seem exciting and fun to a 16-year-old, but older drivers typically realize that such actions are dangerous and don’t commit them.