The group is

trying to increase awareness of the dangers associated with young, inexperienced

drivers behind the wheel.

"No matter

how well they've prepared them, parents have always had mixed feelings

about handing over the car keys to their newly-licensed teens," said

Cathy Anton, director of the NSC's Orlando, Fla., chapter. "On the

positive side, the teens' independence is a pleasure to see. And the new

licenses usually give parents more independence too, relieving them of

a good deal of chauffeuring responsibilities. But that's when the worrying

starts."

Statistically,

teens make up less than 7 percent of the nation's licensed drivers, but

they are involved in 14 percent of all fatal crashes, according to the

NSC. Also, 65 percent of all teen passenger deaths occur when another

teenager is behind the wheel.

The risk increases

once darkness sets in, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., as 41 percent of all

fatal crashes involving teens occur during that time frame.

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