Adolescent drivers have the highest rate of crashes of any age group and are most likely to be involved in crashes involving fatalities. One piece of good news: Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) programs in most states reduced fatal crashes involving teens by 23 percent between 1993 and 2003. Nevertheless, here are seven things you can do to safety-proof yourself as a teen driver:

1. Be informed about your state’s GDL.
As of 2003, 47 states had implemented some kind of graduated licensing. Do you know the requirements of your state’s system? All require a period of supervised driving before full licensure, provisional licensing and restrictions on night driving. Go to your state’s Web site for details. Daimler-Chrysler’s Road Ready Teens program also offers a helpful guide.

2. Practice, practice, practice!
Research shows that teens who are learning to drive are most influenced not by what they hear in class, but by experiences on the road. Also, not all schools offer driver’s education classes today, and the remaining classes often provide minimal driving experience.

Many GDL programs require parents to certify a certain number of hours of supervised driving practice. Even if your state does not, supervised driving is the best way to learn safety behind the wheel. Drive everywhere under a parent's direction, working up to riskier locations (such as high-speed highways) and circumstances (such as stormy weather).

3. Talk! Talk! Talk!
Research shows that adolescents have different expectations than their parents about access to a car and other driving restrictions, once licensed. So discuss your car plans and what your family rules are during the permit stages. Also talk about your driver’s education with your parents and friends who have their licenses. Talk about the dangers of speeding (teens’ most common risky driving behavior) and distractions such as cell phones, radios and passengers in the car.

We found it useful to give our teen a running narrative when he was a passenger. “All right, I’m keeping a longer distance between me and the car in front because it’s raining. If I have to stop suddenly, I’m likely to slide.”

After a practice session, ask your parents what they think you did well while driving and what you need to improve. Give your feedback, too.

4. Choose your vehicle wisely.
Graduated Drivers Licensing programs cannot address all teen driving issues, making it crucial for teens and their parents to reach an informed decision about the specific vehicle a teen drives.

Parents tend to choose older, smaller vehicles for their adolescents out of concern for cost and gas mileage. But your family may want to pay closer attention to safety issues. Think about size and weight; heavier cars offer more protection in a crash. Look for side airbags. Check out crash-test scores at Edmunds.com and rollover risk at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration web site.

5. Monitor your driving.
Be especially vigilant the first few months you drive, because that is the riskiest period. Before you hit the road, tell your parents where you are going, with whom you'll be and when you anticipate to be home.

6. Beware of impaired driving.
While you're likely vigilant to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving is also impaired by fatigue or mood. Teenagers’ sleep habits are not conducive to their being alert and rested, and recent statistics show that driving while fatigued may be as dangerous as driving drunk. If late-night studying leads to unusual fatigue, park your car until you are more alert.

Anger or depression can also impair driving. Don’t leave the house in your car if you are too angry or distracted to pay attention to your driving.

7. Follow a good role model.
Teens exposed to dangerous driving habits by people they value are less likely to consider dangerous driving as risky. Remember, you are not just following obvious behaviors such as adhering to the speed limit and stopping at red lights. Also emulate courtesy. Wave another driver on. Always wear your seat belt. Never talk on your cell phone while you drive.

Although driving is part of growing up, it can make parents, and yourself, extremely apprehensive. If you take it as seriously as you do the other aspects of your life, both you and your parents can believe in your ability to drive safely into the future.

Terri Combs-Orme, Ph.D., is a professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, a researcher in the area of children and families and the mother of an 18-year-old son who has driven successfully without a crash for two years.