12 Creative Ways to Make Teen Drivers Safer

It's true, teenage boys are still the worst drivers on the road. If you're worried about your teenager's bad driving habits, and you've tried everything else to get him to slow down, hang up the phone, and quit showing off, (and you have the dents in your car and insurance bites in your wallet to prove it), try some of these suggestions:

1. Paint the family minivan a pretty shade of pink. Or, if he insists on his own vehicle, help him buy the Oscar Meyer Weiner truck.

1. Install two car seats in the back seat - not only will it instantly lower your driver's testosterone level, it will make it harder to use the backseat, which makes it less likely he'll do anything to fill those car seats.

1. Put "mommy on board" stickers in the windows or "I believe in angels" stickers on the bumpers. (You are limited only by your imagination on this one.)

1. Install a large, permanent "How's my teenager's driving?"sign (ncluding your home telephone number) in the back window.

1. Install a hidden camera.

1. Lobby your Congressman to raise the driving age to 40.

1. Buy a giant stuffed giraffe to ride shotgun. (A panda bear or lime green hippo will work too.)

1. Install a sensor on the front bumper. Whenever he gets too close to anything, rig it to the CD player so that the theme song from Titanic plays repeatedly. Any alternative stereo equipment options should be disabled.

1. Charge a rental fee - One household chore in exchange for every hour of driving time.

1. Make him pay double his own insurance. For every month of safe driving, lower the payment by 10%.

1. Install a speed governor.

1. When all else fails, take away the keys. Walking is good for contemplating bad driving habits.

Most of these will work for a teenage daughter with a driver's license too. It's really no laughing matter - our kids are dying needlessly in car accidents every day - and the girls, unfortunately, are catching up with the boys. New drivers are dangerous drivers, so removing any and all distractions while they're driving is a great first step to safety. Whether you use these suggestions or come up with your own, do whatever it takes to keep your kids safe behind the wheel.