Studies: Young drivers in more fatalities

National studies show that inexperience is the most common factor in crashes involving young drivers. Those in the 16-to-20 age group are involved in disproportionately high numbers of fatal accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The most recent NHTSA studies that address the issue found that in 2006 drivers between 16 and 20 had 59.5 fatal crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers. For 16-year-olds, the rate was 63.98 fatalities per 100,000, a number that fell to 53.52 for 20-year-olds.

In New York in 2004, 119 drivers between 15 and 20 years old were involved in accidents that claimed 272 lives, the NHTSA found.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles' Parents' Guide to Teen Driving advises parents to take their teens out for driving practice often and under all kinds of road and weather conditions to help them gain confidence and experience.

"Parents should not assume that on their child's birthday of eligibility that they are ready," said Dennis Durbin, a pediatric emergency physician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which offers research and advice at teendriversource.org. "Parents need to make sure they work with their teen to decide when it's the right time to start the learning process."

Larry Germano, owner of Mid-Island Driving School Inc. in Ronkonkoma, said the most common error young drivers make is failing to observe the road and the hazards around them. He said when parents accompany teen drivers, they should keep several factors in mind:

Observe the environment

Practice without distractions, such as the radio

Use seat belts

Adjust mirrors properly

Make sure your teen looks over his or her shoulder when changing lanes

Drive on roads that are "off the beaten path"

Practice during the day and at night, in wet and dry weather

Make sure teens drive with secure shoes, not flip-flops or sandals

Don't drive for more than an hour at a time