Sixteen; the age every young pre-teen dreams about; but armed with the facts from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that reports that car crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, which makes sixteen an age parents dread. A nationwide driver test survey that shows one in five licensed drivers don't know enough about the rules of the road to pass a written driver's test. Many teenagers study for the driver’s test and yet within a year they’ve forgotten many of the basic rules of the road.

There are some ways you can help your teenager begin driving safely.

• Know your teen and determine whether you think they’re ready for the responsibility of driving. Only you know whether your teen can handle peer pressure, follow the rules of the road and participates in harmful behavior. Just because they turn sixteen doesn’t automatically mean they have to get their permit. Driving is a privaledge and if the teenager isn’t ready for the responsibility then they may need to wait until they’re matured. 

• Talk to your teen about car safety. Be sure they understand why it’s important to wear a seatbelt and why it’s unsafe to use a cellphone or text and drive. Parents should make sure their teenager understands that there can be far worse consequences than financial ones. Most teenagers feel that they are invincible and nothing Poor decisions can lead to consequences that will follow your teenager the rest of their life. 

• Create your own set of rules in addition to the posted road rules. Mothers Against Drunk Driving warns parents that the chances of a fatal car crash increase with more passengers in the car. Set limits for passengers, curfews and make sure you know where your teen will be in case of an accident.