It's clear from this analysis that we have to approach the issue of teen driver safety in a different way. We need to focus on the effects teen driver crashes have on others in addition to the teen drivers themselves.

Parents often look to state laws for guidance in traffic safety issues. Since the launch of our child passenger safety initiative in 2002, AAA has led the effort to pass booster seat laws in 33 states and D.C., however; only sixteen of those states include an educational component in their law.

The primary seat belt bill has something for everyone. If you are a humanitarian, you can feel good about saving upwards of 40 lives and preventing more than 400 injuries on an annual basis. If you are a fiscal conservative, you can feel good knowing this bill does not spend one single dime out of the state's general fund. If you are libertarian in nature, you can feel good about the fact that fewer deaths and injuries means less infringement on the health care system supported by tax payers.

The demand is not declining, either nationally or internationally. People are driving as much as they used to. The economy is doing pretty well, which is increasing demand. I don't expect significant price declines. (And) I don't know that it won't rise more.

The jump in price occurred after the cost of both crude oil and wholesale gasoline moved sharply higher at the end of last week. Crude oil briefly traded above $63 per barrel and whole sale gasoline was up as much as 15 cents per gallon.

Regardless of what Minnesota law says, parents should not allow their teen to ride with other teen drivers, nor should they be allowed to transport other teens in the first year of driving. It's tempting to be lured by the convenience of having other options for getting kids to and from school and practices, but the risks are just too great.