It's the day many parents anticipate with nervous energy - the day their teen gets behind the wheel on their own for the first time.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the crash rate per mile driven by 16 to 19 year olds is four times that of older drivers. As a result, every year more than 5,000 teen deaths occur from car crashes.
There are steps parents can take to make their teen a safer driver. A car is not a toy and it's important to reinforce that a vehicle is for transportation, not for social enjoyment. Also, teens should know the dangers of becoming distracted by cell phones, stereos, and passengers.
While your auto insurance rates go up when you add your teen to your policy, there are things that will help keep the costs down. Many insurance companies offer "good student discounts" if the teen driver maintains a certain grade point average and there may be discounts for completing safety programs.
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