In 2008, 4,400 teenagers died in car accidents. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for people 16 to 20 years old. The risk of teen-related accidents goes up dramatically when there are passengers in the car, if the teen is speeding, or if they've been drinking or using drugs.
USA Today
Ken Ginsburg, associate professor of pediatrics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, authored a study which shows that parents have a big impact on the safety of teen drivers. Parents need to send a message that they are looking out for their teen's safety, and give them opportunities to earn more privileges as their driving skills progress.
Ginsburg suggests parents should set rules like no passengers in the car for the first six to 12 months of driving, limit driving time during bad weather, and enforce curfews. Parents should also control the keys to their teen's car, he says. Teens who consider themselves the primary driver of a car are twice as likely to crash than a teen who is driving a family car.
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