How to be a good passenger for a teenage driver

Officials have been hammering drivers of all ages with the message for years. Be sober, rested and pay attention to your driving.

Mobile devices have added to the distractions, with more restrictions put in place to deal with them, especially on younger drivers.

A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association indicates that teen-involved crash fatalities increased by 10 percent in 2015, distracted driving is the top cause of those crashes and passengers are the number one distraction.

While not much as been said about passengers' responsibility, AAA has issued some tips during this, National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 16-22.

In other words, don't distract the driver.

* Avoid unnecessary conversations.

* Avoid unnecessary phone use.

* Don't pull the driver's attention away from the road.

You can help the driver with some of those technological distractions.

* Silence phone notifications and rings. Answer only when necessary.

* Adjust AC/Music/GPS as needed.

* Navigate and stay alert to help the driver avoid danger.

* If you see unsafe behavior, say something.

Of course, parents should get involved as well, by helping teens learn to drive by practicing in varying conditions, enrolling them in a drivers education program and setting a good example behind the wheel.

And, while teenage drivers are especially vulnerable to distraction because of the inexperience, the same tips work for passengers in cars driven by adults.

Learn more at TeenDriving.AAA.com