Parents should be educated about the risks teens face when they get behind the wheel for the first time, the National Safety Council cautions.
In observance of National Teen Driver Safety Week, which occurs from Oct. 15-21, the NSC has released a list of facts about younger drivers.
"As teen traffic fatalities rise, parents are in a unique position to reverse this trend," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, NSC president and CEO in a statement. "Parents have more influence on their teens' driving habits than they think. National Teen Driver Safety Week is the perfect time for parents to educate themselves, teach their teens safe driving habits and save lives."
Cell phone use, underage drinking and other distractions are driving the rise in teen crashes and fatalities. Click through the slideshow to learn more facts and statistics about teen driving.