03:53 PM EST on Thursday, October 30, 2003

By 6NEWS Staff

Car accidents are the leading cause of death in 15 to 20 year olds.

Handing over the car keys to their teen is a right of passage for most parents, but it makes some nervous for a have good reason. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for 15 to 20-year-olds.

Now, for the first time in more the three decades, the National Transportation Safety Board is overhauling drivers education and is even examining a minimum national standard for instructors.

"We believe that it was time to review the status of drivers' education and see what improvements can be made," said Joseph Osterman, National Transportation Safety Board.

It was an accident in Montana earlier this year that caught the feds' attention. Three teens and a teacher were killed after their car collided with a truck. They were in the middle of a drivers' ed class.

"We are very interested in determining the qualifications of that driver/ trainer, the program in Montana," Osterman said.

They also want to look at both private and school-based driver education programs in the Carolinas and the rest of the country.

The NTSB says no state is doing everything right and is considering minimum national standards for instructors.

"We're concerned with not only their certification at the state level, but what requirements precede a certification, what educational requirements, what kind of background checks," Osterman said.

Keith Russell, the executive director of the Driving School Association of the Americas, also wants mandatory refresher courses so instructors learn about new technologies.

"It starts at the grass roots level teaching these students, or making them aware that these products or technologies are available, but also showing them how to use it," he said.

But it's not all about teacher training. Experts insist parent prep is also key.

"Right now, most parents drive around without any form or structure,” said Richard Harkness, Teensmart.

So the government is looking into the success of family-oriented programs like Teensmart where parents learn how to be motoring mentors.

“Teensmart is a home-study product that uses computer-based training, driver simulation that the parent and teen engage each other in safe driving practices and in-car activities,” Harkness said.

"I believe that any program that helps parents be as responsible as possible and impart on their children the best information that they can have,” Osterman said. “It can't do anything but help."

And when it comes to the safety of their children, parents will take any help they can get.

"We've taken care of them all their lives and we're surely not going to throw them to the wolves right now,” said parent Chris Lee.