Researchers from the University of Iowa have discovered a remarkably effective way of curbing dangerous driving in teenagers, which if adopted on a national scale would result in far fewer accidents and cheaper young driver car insurance.
The secret is the threat of adult supervision.
The study of 25 young drivers found that simply installing a couple of cameras - one watching the road and another watching inside the car - reduced the incidence of risky behaviour at the wheel by a whopping 76 percent.
Stunned boffins watched as the Iowa teens, who would normally be running red lights and mowing down mailboxes all the while yammering into their blackberries, drove like they were taking their tests again.
Mike Page, spokesperson for the cheap car insurance experts at Hoot, said "The test subjects must have felt like they were taking their teachers out for a drive.
"Installing spy cameras could have a really positive effect on the number of road accidents and the price of young driver car insurance."
"I'm waiting for the day when there'll be enough Iowan researchers to keep all our children safe."