(HealthDayNews) -- Young drivers, particularly 16- and 17-year olds, have more crashes than any other group of drivers, according to the University of California, Davis.
Help keep your teens safe by discussing with them the most common contributors to motor vehicle accidents:
- Don't let your teens drive at night until they've had plenty of daytime practice. Death rates rise after 10 p.m.
- Many teenagers don't get enough sleep and risk nodding off at the wheel. Advise your teen drivers to take specific actions if they feel they're getting sleepy, such as opening the window, turning on the radio, or pulling over and taking a walk.
- The more friends your teens pack into their cars, the higher the collision risk, says UC, Davis. Make sure your teen can control unruly behavior in the car. Role play various situations, such as friends encouraging speeding, blasting the volume on the radio, or rough housing in the back seat. Let your child practice being firm and authoritative.
