During the early years of a child’s life, parents do everything they can to provide a safe environment. Unused power points are plugged, pools are fenced, sharp objects put out of harm’s way and hands are held as you cross the road.

Then, suddenly it seems, your child is behind the wheel, in charge of a vehicle that can change their lives - and the lives of others - in the blink of an eye.

This week we have had a number of tragic stories about what can happen. The horror accident at Eden that left one teen dead, two children in hospital and a third without her legs.

Then we heard of Reece Vapore and his family. Reece suffered multiple head injuries in a car accident near Darwin 18 months ago. Just 21, he is now living in an aged care facility. Not only has Reece’s young life been changed beyond recognition, so has the life of his loving family.

Accidents have always happened and always will, but something has to be done to reduce the number of teen drivers ending up as crash statistics.

Simply increasing the number of hours an L-plater has to do before taking to the road alone is not the answer.

Maybe more teens have to be physically confronted by crash victims like 15-year-old Tegan Lloyd, who faces the rest of her life without legs, or Reece, who struggles to even speak.

What else can we do to keep our teenage drivers safe?