Though it may seem only yesterday that your son or daughter was taking a first wobbly bike ride, your soon-to-be 16-year-old is now itching to get behind the wheel of the family car. While you can't stop your teens from growing up, you can make sure that once they are driving or riding with friends, they know the risks and responsibilities of the open road.

For many teens, driving represents freedom. No longer are they beholden to mom or dad to get to the mall or visit a friend. Driving and owning a car can also give them status among their peers. And for parents who are scheduled to the hilt, having a teen driver can be a real timesaver.

Yet teens are at greater risk for accidents and fatalities than any other group of drivers due to inexperience and such behaviors as speeding, aggressive driving and tailgating. Becoming a teen driver also carries hefty legal and financial responsibilities. Consider this:

* At age 16, a teen is legally culpable, meaning if stopped for DUI or DWI or involved in a crash that injures or kills someone, he or she will be tried in adult court and could be sent to prison.

* The average fine for speeding just 10 miles over the limit is $60 to $200. That's a lot of hours spent slinging burgers to pay the fine.

* Teens who work to buy and maintain a car have less time to focus on school work or extracurricular activities.

* Adding a 16-year-old driver to your auto insurance policy can increase your annual premium by as much as 50 to 100 percent.

Helping your teens hit the road safely

Helping your teen grow into a safe and responsible driver takes understanding, involvement and firm limits. Here are some suggestions:

* Take an active role in helping your teenager learn to drive. Supplement driver education with practice sessions in a wide variety of situations, such as driving at night, in heavy traffic or on the highway. Supervised practice should be spread over at least six months and continue even after a teen graduates from a learner's permit to a restricted or full license. One family agonized when their teen received her learner permit in the dead of winter. Eventually they came to believe that all the supervised practice of driving on ice and parallel parking next to snow banks put her in better stead over the long run.

* Remember, you are a role model. New drivers learn a lot by example, so practice safe driving.

* Emphasize the importance of safety belts. Though you can't buckle your teenagers in or be sure they'll keep them on once they leave the driveway, you can require seat belt use when you are riding together in the car. Make sure you wear yours, too. Hopefully it will become a habit that sticks.

* Prohibit driving and drinking. While alcohol isn't a factor in most crashes of 16-year-old drivers, even small amounts of alcohol can impair teens. Many families adopt an "anytime, anyplace" policy, which means that regardless of time or distance, a teen who feels he or she shouldn't drive can call home for a ride.

* Limit night driving. The problem isn't just that night driving requires more skill. Outings at night tend to be recreational. In these circumstances, even teens who usually follow the rules can be easily distracted or encouraged to take risks.

* Restrict passengers. Teen passengers in a vehicle can distract a beginning driver and may lead to greater risk-taking. Almost two of every three teen passenger deaths occur in crashes when another teen is driving. The best policy is to restrict teen passengers to no more than one.

* Help your teen choose and maintain a safe vehicle. Small cars do not offer the best crash protection, sporty cars may encourage speeding, and trucks and small SUVs are more prone to roll over. When it comes to cars, teens often focus on appearance-the kickin' sound system, chrome hubs and tinted windows-but neglect to make sure their windshield wipers work or their brakes are safe.

* Start 'em out young. Even before your child is eligible for a learner's permit, you can teach about safe driving every time you ride together. Talk about what traffic signs mean, describe why you are slowing down for a bridge (i.e. bridge surfaces freeze before road surfaces), or explain why you are stopping for a school bus or emergency vehicle. They're a captive audience when you're the driver-take the opportunity to teach.

Web links:

Graduated licensing law-New York State has a new graduated licensing law that begins September 1, 2003 and creates new restrictions for drivers under age 18: http://www.nysdmv.com/press/pr102102-gov.htm

New drivers-How to apply for a license under current laws: http://www.nysdmv.com/license.htm#newdrivers

Learner permits and junior licenses-Restrictions and other information: http://www.nysdmv.com/junlice.htm

Reading:

Sixteen is Too Young To Drive: Taking Control When Your Teen's Behind-the-Wheel by Donna R. and Richard M. Crossman

Driver education:

The New York State Police offers comprehensive defensive driving courses for new drivers. For more information, contact the traffic section of your local state police headquarters.

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