There's no doubt -- summertime rocks. School's out and there's more time for friends, family and travel. But that spare time should be handled responsibly. If you're not careful, it can turn into too much time on your hands, which can lead to risky personal behavior -- and endanger your very life.

Poor driving

Not much feels better than a summer road trip -- windows down, tunes cranked, warm breeze through your hair. But along with that enjoyable feeling is the reality that between Memorial Day and Labor Day, there's a spike in traffic accidents, injuries and deaths among young people (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

Coupled with the fact that car crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens (Centers for Disease Control), you owe it to yourself -- and everyone on the road -- to pay attention behind the wheel. Consider the following points when you're driving:

• No texting or tweeting when driving
• No talking on the phone when driving. Just turn it off.
• Never, ever drink or use drugs and drive
• Always keep your eyes on the road

Substance abuse

Summertime should be easy breezy. But having fun shouldn't mean using -- never mind abusing -- dangerous substances. Alcohol and drug use is a leading cause of teen death and injury related to car accidents, violence and drowning. What's more, substance abuse increases the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases because of unprotected sex. However, you always have choices. And you can prevent making bad ones by following these tips:

• RSVP. Skip parties where drugs or alcohol are available.
• You are who you hang with. Try to be friends with those who don't use -- you won't be tempted. And if asked to get high, you can walk away as part of a group.
• Get involved. Club activities like SMART Moves, Power Hour, Goals for Graduation, Club Tech, Money Matters and CareerLaunch are great ways to stay busy and productive.