Whether they're graduating from high school or college, many newgraduates will be on the roads this summer to celebrate their hardwork.

From parties to weekend getaways to road trips, young driverswill be on the road often this summer and need to keep some safetytips in mind.

From buckling up to avoiding distracted driving, there aresimple safety precautions teens and young adults can take toprevent accidents. According to the National Safety Council, carcrashes are the No. 1 killer of teens, with more than half of theteens killed in car crashes found not to have been wearing aseatbelt.

Here are some safe driving tips for new graduates from theChicago-based Property Casualty InsurersAssociation of America:

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1. Beware of crash taxes

It's been banned or limited in several states, but many states,cities, counties, and fire districts will charge the at-faultdriver for emergency response costs in an auto accident. Accordingto PCI, fees can range from $100 to over $2,000 for responseservices, with the average cost being $200. A typical Autoinsurance policy does not cover the cost of a fire truck respondingto an accident.

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2. Buckle up!

Seatbelts are so important for safety on any car ride, whetherit's a summer getaway or simply running errands around town.

Encourage young drivers to buckle up and be prepared for otherdrivers on the road who may not wear their own.

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3. Plan extra travel time

More people are on the roads during the summer months, oftendriving in unfamiliar areas.

Not surprisingly, this increases the potential for trafficcrashes. Encourage young drivers to plan routes in advance whentraveling to new destinations, be patient, and allow for extratravel time.

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4. Follow the speed limit!

Driving fast may be fun and risqué to young drivers, but makesure they understand the consequences.

Encourage teen and younger clients to stay focused on the roadand be aware of changing traffic patterns caused byconstruction.

Stress the importance of being cautious of the constructionworkers themselves, who are often in close proximity to thehighway — and at great risk.

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5. Don't drive distracted!

Between cellphones and coffee drinks topped with whipped cream,young drivers are prone to drive distracted.

When a group of people are traveling in one vehicle, the chanceof distraction is multiplied. Remind young drivers to put the phonedown and never text while driving, as well as to be careful wheneating on the run, as lunch can be just as distracting as a cellphone.

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6. Have a plan for roadside assistance

If a young driver is involved in an auto accident, make surethey have a roadside assistance plan.

Have the phone number for the driver's insurer or a roadsideassistance program on hand for young drivers so they know who tocall and can avoid dealing with unscrupulous towing companies.

Some companies can take advantage of drivers after an accidentand can charge excessive fees or give complications when a driverrecovers their car from the tow yard.

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7. Update proof of insurance

Before hitting the road, make sure young drivers have replacedany expired insurance identification cards in the event they needto prove you have insurance during a traffic stop.

Related: Summer can be the riskiest time ofyear