I have more experience with car wrecks than teens. I was a volunteer firefighter for a years, and collected horror stories at many fatal accidents. There are common causes, and they should be addressed to your teens to help ensure their safety.

And lets not blame just the teens. We don't live in a plastic bubble that holds us immune to the world. Your kids have been watching you drive, and every california stop, red light run and speeding will have been duly noted. Set a good example first.

Never drive drunk, and never drive when drunk on emotions. Quite a few deaths have occured from furious drivers. If the teens have broken up with someone, have them call you and drive them home. If your son's suddenly ex girlfriend can barely see stragiht, offer to drive her home.

Pay attention to the road. Make sure your teens understand you only occasionally glance at them while talking, and make sure they understand not to glare fully at someone while driving. Make sure they understand how fast the road conditions can change, by pointing out the other idiots on the road that will eventually kill somenone.
Ever seen those lead foots that race up in the lane next to yours, and you just know they are going to get over? Teach your kids how quickly another driver can look away and slam into that speed racer by accident. Seen lane changes from one side of the road to the other? Explain how a car a few lanes over might not see that lane changing idiot, and wreck both their lives.

If your kids try that 'people will think that i am a-' line on you, ask him how hard he would laugh when seeing someone do something stupid. Remind them it's not just them on the road, and people are watching those bumper to bumper stops happen. And are laughing at the idiot that didn't see the red light until they were past it. Being late might be embarassing, but being injured and looking foolish is worse, especially if they are used as an example to other teen drivers. It is more important to drive well and look great, then worry about being macho and explainging to the cops why you couldn't make a turn in a twenty mph zone.

Part of 'safely' is not just driving. It includes seatbelts (we all knew that would be mentioned); Not turning to yell at people; Not getting too angry; Making good descions.

Remeber to set a good example, lest your kids being lecturing you some day.

Learn more about this author, Liomas Thomas.
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