According to a new research study, 18-year-old adults in the United States are delaying many of the classic milestones for adulthood. It turns out that teens are taking a much longer time to grow up than they were two decades ago.

The study was published in Child Development and looked at survey responses from more than 8 million teenagers, captured between 1996 and 2016. It turns out that the 18-year-olds of today are acting much like the 15-year-olds of the 1990s, with smartphone apps and social media popularity, encouraging them to stay at home and avoid alcohol and drugs.

Fewer teens have driving licenses than in the past, according to the study, since 85% had a driver’s license in 1994 and only 73% had driver’s licenses today. More teens than ever are comfortable staying at home than being at a party or in a car, meaning that teens today are actually safer than teens have ever been. Compared with their counterparts in past generations, teens today are less likely to get involved into a car accident.

However, teens can be significantly injured in vehicle accidents because of their reduced level of comfort with driving. Since many teens are foregoing the option of having a license, they may be less experienced when they do finally end up on the road. If you or someone you know has already been involved in a vehicle accident with a teenager and has questions about your rights, scheduling a consultation with a San Diego personal injury lawyer is the next step.