Teen Deaths On The Roads Getting Alarming

It's always tragic when a life is lost on the roads but nothing beats the loss when a teen dies during a road crash.

This year so far, teenage road fatalities in Highlands County have gone up compared to last year.

These grim statistics should put us all on red alert and ensure the statistic does not repeat itself next year.

From Jan. 1 through the end of September, there were three teen fatalities in the county, including that of an 18-year-old, according the Florida Highway Patrol's Arcadia office.

There was one teen who died in 2006 in Highlands County, of the 21 fatalities from road crashes, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' statistics.

It's a well-known fact that traffic crashes are the main reasons behind teen deaths.

The causes are well documented. Cell phones. Music. Talking to passengers. No seat belts. Alcohol. Drugs.

It's the same reasons why adults get in trouble but young drivers are especially vulnerable because they don't have the reflexes yet.

Cracking down on teen violations has been an important part in curbing bad teen driving, but educating them about the right behavior, and reinforcing the message, is the best deterrent.

That's where parents come in. Parents have to continue to take an active role in teaching teens to drive even after their children appear relatively comfortable behind the wheel.

Some experts have recommended that parents sign a driving "contract" with their children that includes that they not drive with a passenger to minimize distraction.

By the same token, parents should not eat, drink or apply make up while driving, not to mention driving around without buckling up.

We know it is not always easy for kids to understand caution, especially if it hampers their "coolness" or social standing among peers.

But parents have to keep trying and clamp down if need be. Dangerous driving practices cannot be tolerated. it. Lives depend on it.