We've written several posts about the dangers of distracted driving and the unsafe things teenage drivers do on the road. Talking on cellphones, sending text messages and speeding are all common behaviors among teens in Philadelphia.

However, a recent study pointed to one activity that is significantly more dangerous that the other activities. For teens, having another teenager in the car is one of the most distracting and dangerous things they can do in the car. And when teenagers caused car accidents, they usually do so when they have other teens in the car.

According to a recent study, teenagers who drive with multiple passengers in the car all shared several characteristics. The teens considered themselves thrill-seekers; their parents did not set strict rules or monitor their behavior; and they were largely unaware of the dangers associated with driving.

Although that group of teens represents a minority or teenage drivers, the dangers they create on the road are still dangerous. The majority of teens reported that they had a strong understanding of the dangers of distracted driving; they rarely drove with multiple passengers; and their parents monitored their behavior and set rules regarding their whereabouts.

Researchers also uncovered a large difference in the behavior of male and female teens who had passengers in the car. Regardless of what the passenger was doing, males were six times more likely to perform illegal maneuvers and more than twice as likely to drive aggressively when they had passengers. Females, on the other hand, reported that they rarely drove aggressively, regardless of whether they had passengers.

People often make jokes about teenagers on the road and the inability (even of good parents) to control their kids. The reality is, however, that parents and the rules they set have a large impact on the way teens drive, and parents can help reduce the number of car accidents caused by distracted teens, regardless of whether they are in the car.

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Risky business: Teens driving with other teens," Joel Provano, Jan. 24, 2012