‘Reckless’ Gen Z drivers: The states where young people are wracking up serious wrecks

Nypost · May 23, 2026 · 499 words · By Jeanne Erickson

Regional Safety Disparities Generational Driving Safety

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What to know about Regional Safety Disparities

‘Reckless’ Gen Z drivers: The states where young people are wracking up serious wrecks See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 17

Techniques found 2

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

‘Reckless’ Gen Z drivers: The states where young people are wracking up serious wrecks See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on GoogleGen Z is getting wrecked.

Common ground

Young drivers are wracking up some serious crashes across the US, according to a new report called “Gen Z Recklessness Score,” but some states stand out far more than others when it comes to bad behavior behind the wheel.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Regional Safety Disparities story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Nearly 6,000 motorists were killed in crashes due to speeding by Gen Z drivers in 2023, reported NHTSA data per Consumer Affairs?
How does this story connect Regional Safety Disparities with Generational Driving Safety over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/23/us-news/gen-z-drivers-are-car-azy-study-compares-u…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 70% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 17 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 8

schedule Pending 7

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info

Claim 1: “Nearly 6,000 motorists were killed in crashes due to speeding by Gen Z drivers in 2023, reported NHTSA data per Consumer Affairs.”

SINGLE SOURCE

ConsumerAffairs explicitly states that nearly 6,000 motorists were killed in crashes due to speeding by Gen Z drivers in 2023. Other sources mention NHTSA data generally but do not confirm this specific Gen Z figure.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Nearly 6,000 motorists were killed in crashes due to speeding by drivers in Gen Z in 2023. That’s 9.02 deaths per 100,000 Gen Zers, more than two and a half times the national rate.
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/worst-drivers-by-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Additionally, nearly 330,000 people were injured in speeding-related crashes. Thirty-five percent of male drivers and 21% of female drivers in the 15- to 20-year-old age group involved in fatal traffi…
https://www.schoolbusfleet.com/news/speed-kills-nhtsa-report…

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web search NEUTRAL — According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, the number of fatalities in the state due to speeding has increased nearly every year since 2013. In 2023, there were 257 car …
https://www.thelongofirm.com/posts/cdot-launches-campaign-to…

help

Claim 2: “Wyoming ranked second with a score of 98.00 and had the highest speeding-related fatality rate in the study at 11.46 per 100,000 people.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this specific claim.

info

Claim 3: “Montana topped the chart with a reckless driving score of 99.74.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim discusses Bobby Saadian, road rage in LA, and general reckless driving definitions. There is no mention of Montana's specific score of 99.74.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Beverly Hills California attorney Bobby Saadian chats about the Mass Tort Nexus, Four Days to Mass Tort Success Course...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ1zbzOwMcQ

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Los Angeles has a Commute Dissatisfaction Score and Inefficiency Score of 88, reflecting challenges in its congested road network. With a Total Road Rage Score of 63.25, it is a hotspot for driver fru…
https://www.reyeslaw.com/road-rage-capitals/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Examples of Reckless Driving in California. Reckless driving can take many forms, including: Excessive Speeding: Driving far above the posted speed limit. Aggressive Lane Changes: Swerving between lan…
https://wilshirelawfirm.com/blog/what-is-considered-reckless…

schedule

Claim 4: “New Mexico and Arkansas rounded out the top five”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 5: “The national average for Gen Z-related accidents sits at 14.81 per 100,000 people”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence includes a Wikipedia page on Millennials, a YouTube video on height, and a Quora landing page. None of these sources mention a national average for Gen Z accidents of 14.81 per 100,000.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, are the demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 1980s as starting birth year…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTdcqh8aDz0

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Quora is a place to gain and share knowledge. It's a platform to ask questions and connect with people who contribute unique insights and quality answers. This empowers people to learn from each other…
https://www.quora.com/

help

Claim 6: “The state recorded 23.79 Gen Z driver accidents per 100,000 people and nearly the same number of fatalities at 23.88.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this specific claim.

info

Claim 7: “Montana’s Gen Z drivers are the most dangerous, followed by Wyoming and South Carolina, according to the report”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists only of dictionary definitions of the word 'according'. No actual data from the report regarding Montana, Wyoming, or South Carolina was found in the search results.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of ACCORD is to grant or give especially as appropriate, due, or earned. How to use accord in a sentence. Did you know? Synonym Discussion of Accord.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/according

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Phrasal verb accord with something (Definition of according from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/accordin…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The term according to can be used to attribute something reported — according to the news, the airports are closed (even though according to your friend, they're still open). It also refers to agreeme…
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/according

schedule

Claim 8: “South Carolina followed in third place, with more than 24 accidents and fatalities per 100,000 people involving Gen Z drivers.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 9: “New York Zoomers are the safest drivers”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence consists of general information about Gen Digital, a guide to generations, and a company website. There is no mention of New York drivers' safety rankings in the provided evidence.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Gen Digital Inc. (formerly Symantec Corporation and NortonLifeLock Inc.) is a multinational software company co- headquartered in both Tempe, Arizona (USA) and Prague, Czech Republic (EU).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gen_Digital

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — We're always looking for smart, fearless and dedicated people to join the global Gen family. Want to help today’s and tomorrow’s generations take control of their digital lives?
https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Dec 30, 2025 · If you're wondering, "What generation am I?" here are generations by year and their names. See which generation you are and find out what comes after Gen Alpha.
https://parade.com/1113130/jessicasager/generation-names-and…

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Claim 10: “Massachusetts and New Hampshire also ranked among the safest states”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 11: “That’s 9.02 deaths per 100,000 Zoomers, more than two and a half times the national rate.”

SINGLE SOURCE

ConsumerAffairs reports the specific figure of 9.02 deaths per 100,000 Zoomers. No other provided source corroborates this specific statistic.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Death rates from road traffic accidents by country, per 100,000 inhabitants, world map (WHO 2019)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-r…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The year’s already over? Let’s look back.Help keep Vox free for everybody: http://www.vox.com/give-now Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications (...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJs_64OUpEs

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Nationwide Summary. Breakdown of Speeding versus Non-Speeding Drivers by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Nationally in 2023. National comparison of speeding versus non-speeding drivers in 2023 with …
https://safetrec.berkeley.edu/2025-safetrec-traffic-safety-f…

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Claim 12: “Gen Z drivers from the Empire State are number one — the safest drivers overall, earning the lowest recklessness score of just 2.48.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 13: “New Jersey drivers riding their bumpers as the fifth safest”

SINGLE SOURCE

The New York Post reports that New Jersey ranked 46th with a low recklessness score of 9.91. While this supports the idea of them being among the safest, only one news source (NY Post) provides this specific ranking data.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 3 hours ago ... New Jersey performed particularly well, ranking 46th with one of the lowest recklessness scores in the country at 9.91. The state reported just ...
https://nypost.com/2026/05/23/us-news/gen-z-drivers-are-car-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mar 29, 2026 ... The report found Gen Z, ages 15 to 29 years old, has the highest total crash fatality rate of all the generations and are involved in crash ...
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/best-worst-ge…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Feb 10, 2026 ... Gen Z is the most reckless generation in 29 states, while baby boomers don't rank worst in any state. Jump to insight. Which generation is ...
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/worst-drivers-by-…

info

Claim 14: “The study, released by Wilshire Law Firm, analyzed the driving records of individuals between the ages of 15 and 29, focusing on the five-year period from 2019 to 2023.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided for this claim only describes the Wilshire Law Firm's general business and legal services. There is no mention of a specific study analyzing driving records of 15-29 year olds from 2019 to 2023.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Wilshire Law Firm is a nationally recognized personal injury, employment, and consumer class action law firm known for its dedicated legal team and commitment to client advocacy.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWgIu3oAUG9qKefgvQhbFYQ

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Wilshire Law Firm® has been distinguished by Best Law Firms® in the United States annually since 2020 in either local Los Angeles rankings as tier 2 for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (2020),…
https://wilshirelawfirm.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — Find out what works well at Wilshire Law Firm from the people who know best. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. Compare pay for popular roles and read abou…
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Wilshire-Law-Firm

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Claim 15: “The state reported just 7.54 accidents involving Gen Z drivers per 100,000 people”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 16: “New Jersey performed particularly well, ranking 46th with one of the lowest recklessness scores in the country at 9.91.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 17: “Mississippi, South Dakota, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas also placed in the top 10.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.