Set Limits to Keep Your Teen Driver Safe Handing the car keys to
your newly licensed son or daughter is a milestone. But while
your teen celebrates new independence, you face new worries.
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for 16-
to 20-year-olds, claiming about 5,500 lives a year. Younger
teens who have been licensed for less than a year face the
highest risk for a road crash. Nonetheless, parents can take
steps to keep teen drivers safe, says the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Strategies for parents
are outlined in The Teen Driver, a NHTSA policy statement.
Driving accidents can happen to any teen, not just risk-takers.
"Oftentimes, the issue is just inexperience," says Phoenix
pediatrician Jeffrey Weiss, M.D., lead author of The Teen
Driver. "There are no magic words to make a teen drive like an
adult. But by setting rules, parents can make a dramatic
difference in preventing crashes." Here's some advice: When in
doubt, say no. Your teen may feel entitled to a d