Myths and Truths Parents have no influence on the driving behavior of their teenagers. Teenagers whose parents have three or more vehicle crashes on their records are 22 percent more likely to crash at least once, compared with teenagers whose parents have had no crashes. Illegal drugs are the biggest killer of teenagers.
Crashes involving young drivers typically are multiple-vehicle crashes.
In this type of crash, the vehicle usually leaves the road and overturns or hits a roadside object such as a tree or a pole. Teenagers need less sleep than adults do. Teenagers need more sleep than younger children and adults. Many teenagers need at least 9 hours of sleep each night. But most of them get less than 6.5 hours of sleep each night.