Ask any parent about his or her most anxiety provoking moments, and handing over his or her keys to the new driver in the family will almost certainly be near the top of the list. And it's no wonder; teenagers are more at risk behind the wheel than any other group. But, there are some things parents can do to reduce the risks.

First and foremost, be very vocal about your opposition to drinking and driving. My father told me I would not drive again until I became a legal adult if I was ever caught driving after drinking, and I believed him. Thus, although my friends and I did consume alcohol before we were adults, neither I or any of them drove after drinking.

Of course, you must take your own advice. If your teen driver observes you drinking after driving, he or she is far less likely to observe your mandate.

Be sure that your teenager understands that staying at least two seconds behind the car in front of him/her provides insurance against sudden stop accidents, one of the most common causes of highway injuries.

Statistics show that the more teenagers there are in an automobile, the greater the chance of an accident. During the first six months your teenager is driving, you might want to limit him or her to two passengers.

No matter how well your teenager appears to do in a driver education program, evaluate his or her skills yourself, supplement the driver education instruction with your own if necessary, and do not let him or her drive without adult supervision until you feel he or she has mastered basic driving skills.

While there are no reliable statistics, there are lots of stories about cell phones and accidents. As tough a sell as it might be, try to get the young drivers in your family to promise to pull off the road if their cell phones ring or they feel the need to make a call.

Let your teen know that one of the best ways he or she can demonstrate the responsibility and maturity necessary to drive is to protect everyone in the car he or she is driving by being certain that everyone wears a seat belt.

Remember that learning comes through repetition. Don't stop preaching about the need to drive defensively and the potentially life changing results of even a second of carelessness or inattention while driving. With vigilance and persistence, you can make your teen a better driver.

About the Author

Daniel Z. Kane is a university dean and a parent. He has created websites on online colleges and online degrees.