Driving age to 18?

[RageD]

Doesn't matter much to me, as I can already drive, but I for some reason do not see the reason in the possibility. Yes, they have been discussing this for how long? The '70's, '80's? Maybe earlier? But I don't even think it is an issue worth discussing.. If your 16 or your 18 when you can drive, the thrill is going to be basically the same when you first can start driving. It is going to be a new experience and all that kind of hype.. What do you guys think?

-RageD

[allabout42]

Doesn't matter much to me, as I can already drive, but I for some reason do not see the reason in the possibility. Yes, they have been discussing this for how long? The '70's, '80's? Maybe earlier? But I don't even think it is an issue worth discussing.. If your 16 or your 18 when you can drive, the thrill is going to be basically the same when you first can start driving. It is going to be a new experience and all that kind of hype.. What do you guys think?

-RageD


It's probably better if they chaged it to 18 for safety reasons, although teenagers will just break the law anyway... It doesn't matter much to me, since I'll be 18 in August :D

[Deacon]

I sort of agree, almost being 16 see and about to get behind the wheel w/ a permit and a parent in the car :( I would like the law to change in a few years, In New Jersey, some of the students are talking about that students born in 1990 and up can't get a license until 18, but so far my driver ed teacher says thats a load of bs. I do hope they change it to 18, just hopefully after I turn 18 :)

[malaysia]

in malaysia the legal age to drive is 17... in between 16 n 18
n heard they wanna raise it to 21 but there is pros n cons i think

[Old Corps Gunny]

Here in Oregon they will take your license if your under 18 and either drop out of school or get suspended from school. Also, no other kids in the car if your driving on a learner's permit, and no more than three in the car if the driver is under 18.
Unless they changed the law in Texas since I left back in 1964, you could drive farm vehicles from one part of the ranch to the other on a public road if you were 12, but that was the only time it was authorized.
Personally, I don't think the age needs to be raised to 18. That does not ensure that there will be safer drivers on the road; I have seen plenty of idiots out there of all ages. At least, when the driver is under 18, the parents can take the keys away.

[Professor]

I don't see it making much of a difference. Most of the accidences stem from lack of experience, no matter what the driving age is those first few years they will be inexperienced.

If you move it up to 18 they will also coincide with going to college. So you will have a bunch of newly licensed college freshman.

[Cobra]

Stupid I wouldn't mind it being 15. Some people have jobs they need to drive to, ect. There is no difference between 16 and 18 really.

[micfranklin]

Bumping the age up to do any specific activity won't help out much IMO. You really think 2 extra years is gonna make that much of a difference in the end?

[Kyi Yo]

I'm not certain how I feel about this.

Having gone through 16 kids, I can say there is a hella lot of difference developmentally between a 16 yo and an 18 yo!

Some of the stray kids who came into my home were never allowed to drive because I couldn't and wouldn't trust them to feed the dog, much less drive. Others I began teaching them how to drive, change a tire, change oil, etc when they were 13 because they were just that much more mature then others.

I think, it should be left up to parents. Most parents know when their kids are ready for the responsibility.

[mammalicious]

NO...don't leave it up to the parent...some will allow it, just to get the kids out of their hair.

I think that getting a license is one of the few 'rites of passage' left. I don't see a problem with the age, and the state is able to impose as many rules and regulations on the privlege (such as curfews, number of passengers, hours of practice time before taking the test)as they feel necessary. I think most parents get the message of responsibility and give a good lecture when they see the increase in the insurance rates. Don't forget, that many kids learn their driving habits from their parents. If they see mom/dad driving while on the cell phone...eating...grooming...yelling at other drivers...chances are they will too. It seems that many parents want to conveniently forget THEIR role/responsibility in their child's behavior.

[heyjude]

I think that parents are the prime force behind 16 year old drivers. They get so tired of having to haul the kids all over. Take them somewhere at 6pm, pick them up at 11 pm. The parent has to go to work the next day, it causes them to lose sleep. And hauling them around is often an every day thing. Day after day.

[AnnEsthesia]

I think everyone who gets a license for the first time should be required to take a rigorous driving course that has a lot of practice in a car by a certified instructor.

[bobbylien]

I remember taking my test, I did a Y turn and went around the block. Ultimately though, I don't think its that kids don't know how to drive as much as they are irresponsible so better driving tests won't help too much.

[micfranklin]

I think everyone who gets a license for the first time should be required to take a rigorous driving course that has a lot of practice in a car by a certified instructor.


Don't they make you go through those already?

[AnnEsthesia]

Nope. You can either take one through school or commercially or do it through your parents as long as they sign off that you have had 20 hours of road time as well as a short one day class.

But that is only for 16-18 year olds. Older folk need not take anything.

[Cobra]

All we had to do was, take a written test, hold a permit for 6 months, then take an actual driving test with an instructor. It was plenty, driving isn't hard and just takes practice to get comfortable doing it. A harder test wouldn't change the way people drive. I don't even drive like the test, with both hand on the wheel at all times, radio off, ect.

[AnnEsthesia]

Then perhaps make it so that if someone under a certain age or who has not had their license a certain period of time gets into an accident or gets a certain type of ticket or worse, etc, they lose their license for a while. Make it a harsh punishment and follow through.