Does your teen-ager drive a safe car?

Thousands of teens a year look forward to getting their driver's license--while thousands of parents worry about their children's safety behind the wheel.
By selecting the right vehicle as your teens' first car, some of your concern could be erased. Many parents, however, don't consider safety a priority when selecting their child's first car.
According to a survey released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Insurance Information Institute, teens are at a high risk of being involved in a traffic accident and have made the highest driver death rates of any age group. In 1997, more than 5,700 teen-agers died in motor vehicle crashes, and many more were left severely injured.
Sports cars and other vehicles with performance features,such as turbochargers, are likely to encourage your teen to speed. Choose a vehicle with a more sedate image, and it will likely reduce your teen's chances of being involved in a speed-related crash.
Sport utility vehicles, especially the smaller ones, are less stable than cars, because of their higher centers of gravity. Sharp turns can cause SUVs to roll over.
Be sure to look for safety features, such as air bags, anti-lock breaks and daytime running lights. Also keep in mind that mid- and full-size cars offer more crash protection.