If you’ve got a teen that will be driving soon, I’ve got some parental driver’s ed...

If you’ve got a young or soon-to-be driver in the family, you’re probably a bit nervous – and with good reason! 

The statistics are scary but it’s really important for parents to know and face the facts BEFORE handing over the keys. Here’s what you need to know:

• Check their seat belt. Besides being the law, seat belts have been proven to save lives, but the message is not getting through to all young drivers. In fatal crashes, recent data found 60 percent of 16 to 20 year olds were not wearing them.

• Make sure they have their cell phone - somewhere they CAN'T reach it. The risk of talking or texting while driving is high, especially for young people. 

• Remind them to slow down. Teens tend to have the need for speed due to their impulsive nature and poor judgment. Thirty-seven percent of male drivers between the ages of 15-20 were speeding right before their fatal crash. 

• Be prepared. Before they hit the road, pack an emergency kit in the trunk. It should include a flashlight, jumper cables, a first aid kit and a light colored blanket.

• Limit night driving. In 2010, 17 percent of teenagers' fatalities occurred between 9 p.m. and midnight, and 24 percent occurred between midnight and 6 a.m. 

• Check the weather. In inclement weather, it is even more dangerous for a young driver to be on the road due to their inexperience handling the car in those situations. 

• Limit passengers. The more passengers in a vehicle the higher the fatal crash risk. With three or more in the car, it's about four times higher than when a beginner drives alone. Studies also show that teens with passengers are more likely to take risks and be distracted, and when things go wrong, the tragedy is multiplied.