According to two studies done at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, teenage drivers who have their own cars have a higher chance of being in a car accident than those kids who share a vehicle with parents or other siblings.

RedOrbit.com reports that traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for American teenagers – killing more than 5,000 kids every year.

Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia say that parents can help keep their teens safe by using some positive reinforcement tactics when talking to their kids about driving, drinking and cell phones. Parenting style can have a great impact on the way teenagers view driving – and it can help curb rebellious behavior, according to RedOrbit.com

Teens whose parents were involved in their lives and set reasonable ground rules for driving without being overbearing were reported to be 71 percent less likely to drive while drunk and 30 percent less likely to use a cell phone while driving.

Dr. Niranjan Karnik, an adolescent mental health specialist from the University of Chicago says this new data that was all released on Friday emphasizes the importance of parenting styles when dealing with teens.