So your teenage son or daughter wants to drive. Suddenly, driving has become one of the most important things in your child's life. Scary, isn't it?

Naturally, you may dread the increase in auto insurance premiums, however there is a lot more at stake than higher premiums. As parents, we all share the fear of our children becoming involved in an automobile accident.

Addressing teen driver safety in October is especially important because the number of 16- and 17- year-old driver claims involving injury or collision is expected to spike nearly 20 percent this month, as compared to other months.

According to State Farm's database, October has averaged the highest number of teen vehicle crashes from 2003-2007. For this reason, State Farm has helped designate the third week in October of each year as National Teen Driver Safety Week.

Consider these statistics:

· Car crashes kill about 6,000 teens nationwide each year, with Texas accounting for about 500 of that total.

· Cars driven by teens kill more than 800 people per year in Texas.

· One in three teen drivers has an accident within the first year of getting their license.

· Sixty-two percent of teenage passenger deaths occurred in motor vehicle crashes in which another teenager was driving.

Clearly, the numbers show teens are high-risk drivers. Researchers say the crashes are caused primarily by inexperience combined with one or more of five risk factors, in this order of frequency: driving at night, distractions (cell phones/ texting, other teen passengers, etc.), speeding, low seat belt use, and alcohol.

There's no doubt age has a lot to do with one's chances of being in an accident. That's why insurance companies charge more to insure younger drivers. They know teens have a much greater likelihood of being in an accident.

Auto insurance is designed to protect our financial well-being. Without it, most of us couldn't afford to drive. Replacing a damaged car and paying an injured person's medical bills can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most insurance companies raise rates -- or even cancel your insurance -- if you have too many accidents or traffic violations.

Here are a couple of ways you can pay less for auto insurance.

1. Many insurance companies offer lower rates to young, single drivers who are better-than-average students in high school or college. Statistics show good students have considerably fewer accidents than those whose grades are average or below average.

2. Obey all traffic laws. You can't always avoid an accident, but you can avoid traffic tickets, which can cause insurance premiums to go up.

3. Look into insurance discount programs. Some help young people develop safe driving habits and to understand the responsibilities that go along with the right to drive.

Although premiums are derived from the monetary cost of auto accidents, lives are priceless. No amount of premium can ever bring back a life or reverse disabilities. To ensure parents are equipped with the tips and tools as they become driving instructors to teens, State Farm has created a Web site at statefarm.com/teendriving.