Here's the truth:
"For most parents, nothing you will deal with as a parent will be more important, more life-and-death, than how your teenager uses -- and misuses -- a motor vehicle." Dr. Dale Wisely, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist


FACTS:
Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs) are the leading cause of death in people age 16 to 20. MVAs account for about 1/3 of deaths of people in this age group. 
* The Risk of death for 16 year old drivers is: 39% higher with 1 passenger...
* 86% higher with 2 passengers...
* 282% higher for those with 3 or more passengers...

People age 16 to 20 make up only 5% of drivers and drive only 3% of all miles driven by all drivers.  And yet they are involved in 15% of all traffic deaths.  About 5,000 teenagers of driving age die in automobile accidents every year. A teenage driver's chance of a fatal crash doubles with just one passenger in the vehicle. 16 year olds are 20 times more likely to have an MVA than the general population. 17 year olds are 6 times more likely to have an MVA than the general population.