Driving is potentially one of the most dangerous activities your teen will ever engage in, yet many parents behind the wheel set poor examples of safe driving. A survey has found that 25 percent of parents engage in unsafe driving habits, such as multitasking behind the wheel, in front of their kids. Moreover, parents don’t talk about the hazards. Although three-quarters of parents discuss the risks of smoking, illegal drug use and peer pressure by the time their kids are 12, barely a quarter broach the topic of safe driving.

Car crashes remain the leading cause of death among teenagers. They account for nearly 5,500 fatalities and 450,000 injuries annually. That’s why safe driving should be the topic of serious, ongoing conversations from the time children are small, says Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Temple University and coauthor of the study, from the Allstate Foundation. “The sooner you bring it up, the better,” he says. “Don’t wait until they get their learner’s permit.” Most of all, be good role models. Put down that cell phone, stop at yellow lights and focus on the road. — K. Emily Bond