According the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the AAA, July and August are the deadliest months for 16- and 17-year-old drivers.

Statistics say motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers, with the crash rate five times higher for 16-year-old drivers than for drivers older than 25.

Between 1995 and 2004, 1,033 16- and 17-year-olds died in car crashes. About 33 percent of teens involved in crashes are issued tickets.

Speed is the cause of one-third of accidents in which teen drivers are killed.

To detect signs of aggressive driving, watch for excessive tire wear, stone chips on windshields or hoods and damage to the undercarriage of vehicles.

To help ensure the safety of teen drivers, parents should set rules about who rides in the car, including limits on number of passengers.

They also should find out where their teen is headed and when they plan to return, say no when appropriate, enforce seat-belt use, prohibit cell phone use while driving and avoid purchasing high performance cars for teens.