For most, spring is associated with flowers and warmer weather, but for many teenagers, this season is all about prom and graduation. The Governors Highway Safety Association indicates there is also an increase in car accidents due to reckless, impaired and distracted driving. The excitement of prom and graduation can lead some teen motorists to cast aside their safe driving practices and make mistakes behind the wheel.

This is why Ford Driving Skills for Life, a program created by Ford Motor Company, is providing teens across the country with free driving instruction and safety programs. Teens are four times more likely to get into car accident than older drivers, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and this risk may only be heightened when you fill a car with excitable teens on their way to prom.

"This is a time of year when many teens request, and parents provide, expanded driving privileges," said Jim Graham, manager of Ford Driving Skills for Life. "Unfortunately, safety can take a backseat to the excitement associated with the many celebrations around prom and graduation."

Ford's teen safety program will also be sending $20,000 grants to Minnesota, New York, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin to aid in funding driving courses and other safety awareness campaigns.

Parents often give their teenagers cars as graduation gifts, and when they do, they should stress the importance of safety behind the wheel. It is also a good idea for them to choose a reliable, safe ride for their kids. New Jersey State Auto Auction has a wide selection of makes and models, so parents are sure to find a safe vehicle for their teen drivers. Every vehicle on NJ Auto's lot is CARFAX certified, so parents know their kids will be getting into a reliable car.