Eyes on the Road: National Teen Driver Safety Week

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teen drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash than older drivers. Perhaps even more startling - four of every 10 deaths occur while teens are driving at night.

On the heels of a tragic crash that killed four teens Monday when the car veered off the Southern State Parkway and split in half before coming to rest in the woods. The 2012 Subaru Impreza was approaching exit 17N near 4 a.m. when the driver, Joseph Beer, 17, of Queens, reportedly failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of the car. According to police, Beer was driving with a learner's permit. The car left the parkway and struck several trees. The driver and four occupants - all age 18 from Queens - were ejected from the vehicle, police stated.

Automobile Club of America (AAA) offers the following tips for parents in their October 2012 newsletter to encourage safe driving:

• Be a positive and responsible role model behind the wheel - remember, your teen learns from your behavior and actions behind the wheel.

• Talk to your teens about being a safe, responsible passenger - always wear a safety belt, refrain from distracting the driver and speak up if the driver is being unsafe.

• Talk to other parents so they know the rules for your teen and will help enforce them.

• Establish a parent-teen driving agreement - having rules and restrictions written down in advance establishes driving as a privilege. Click here to download the AAA parent-teen agreement.

Visit AAA's teen website for a full range of tools to help you and your teen throughout the entire learning-to-drive process.