Teen drivers face crash risks as school year gets underway

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — With the second week of school underway, thousands of teenagers across the Cape Fear region are getting behind the wheel to get to class, pick up friends and enjoy a newfound sense of independence.

But data from the North Carolina Department of Transportation shows the risks that come with inexperienced drivers.

In 2025, 10 fatal crashes involving teenage drivers were reported across New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Columbus and Bladen counties.

Madison Godwin, a student driver and member of the National Board of Directors for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, said getting a license can feel like a major milestone for teenagers.

“When I first got my license, I definitely was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I have so much independence now. I’m going to drive here, I’m going to pick up my friends here,'” Godwin said.

For many new drivers, one of their most common destinations is school. But Godwin said teenagers need to be aware of distractions, particularly cellphones and other passengers.

“Some of the main distractions for back to school would be cellphones and other teens in cars, especially when kids are just getting their licenses and getting prepped for going back to school,” Godwin said.

Godwin cited national data indicating distracted driving is involved in roughly 25% to 30% of fatal crashes, resulting in an estimated 11,500 to 13,800 deaths each year.

Across the five-county Cape Fear region, NCDOT data show at least 50 fatal crashes involving teen drivers occurred between 2017 and 2025 — an average of about six per year.

In 2025, four of the fatal crashes involved pedestrians being struck by teen drivers.

Three other fatal crashes occurred within several miles of a high school, according to the data.

The same map also shows numerous nonfatal crashes near schools, including rear-end collisions and crashes involving improper left turns.

While preventing crashes remains the priority, experts say teenagers and parents should also know what to do if a collision happens.

Chris Conefry, co-founder of a company that helps personal injury victims, said the priority should be making sure everyone is safe.

“You should first of all get everyone safe. Second, start taking pictures of everything,” Conefry said.

That includes photographs of the vehicles, damage, tire tracks and any injuries. Drivers should also collect information from the other driver, witnesses and responding law enforcement officers.

Conefry said drivers should also be careful about making assumptions or speculating about what caused a crash while emotions are high.

He said teenagers and other drivers should stick to the facts of what happened, since inaccurate statements could affect the outcome of an insurance or injury claim.