When the first installment of the “Fast and the Furious” franchise hit theaters, I was in high school and, like most of my friends at that time, I thought it was the greatest film ever made. This was only natural, of course, because any movie that features cool cars, high-speed chases and attractive women is inevitably going to appeal to teenage boys.

My friends and I were so affected by the movie that when we left the theater that night, several of us jumped into our cars and tried to replicate the stunts from the movie. Of course this was a bad idea and, as I recall, at least two of my friends received speeding tickets that evening.

Looking back on this and other ill-advised driving decisions I made as a teen, I’ve come to realize that I’m extremely fortunate that I was never seriously injured in a car accident. Unfortunately, many teens aren’t this lucky. Claiming over 6,000 teen lives a year, auto accidents are the No. 1 cause of teen deaths in America, and drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 are involved in twice as many fatal crashes as drivers older than 35.

Some of these accidents are caused by substance abuse, but others are related to distracting behaviors like text messaging, eating and listening to loud music while behind the wheel. Other factors — like driving at night, in bad weather or while drowsy — can also contribute to teens getting into accidents.

To combat these dangers, several groups have developed solutions for parents who want to keep an eye on their teen even when they are alone on the road. Ford has developed a high-tech way for parents to control their teen’s driving with the MyKey system that will be featured on vehicles beginning in 2010. This key-based system will let parents limit their car’s top driving speed to 80 mph, cut off the stereo’s volume at just 44 percent of its max output, and sets a chime to go off if the seatbelts aren’t being used (the stereo also gets muted until everyone buckles up).

Another technological advancement for parents to look into is the use of GPS systems that can be installed in vehicles to track the speed and whereabouts of your teen. These systems are being offered by several major insurance providers and can also be purchased online. For parents worried about their teen texting while driving, a new cell-phone service called Vlingo enables users to send text messages by voice without typing.

Another way parents are tracking their teen driver is through the use of decals like the ones seen on the back of semi trucks. If a young driver with a “How’s my teen driving?” sticker cuts you off on the highway, you simply call the 800 number on the sticker and report the incident and the identification number of the car. The parent of that driver will then be sent an e-mail alerting them of the incident.

While these ways of supervising your teen’s driving may be useful in keeping them accountable and safe, the best place to supervise them may be from the passenger seat. The more time parents spend practicing driving with their teen, the better. During this time, parents can expose teens to different driving conditions and give tips while observing their habits. Also, when your teen is riding with you, it is important to set a good example.

By focusing on preparing teens to make good driving decisions, setting an example of responsible driving and possibly making use of new ways to track teen drivers, parents can help ensure their teen’s safety behind the wheel.

Mat Anderson is the staff writer and research specialist at The Bridge in Joplin. For more information visit futureparadigm.org.