Raising the driving age to 18 by Melih Oztalay SmartFinds, Inc.

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Raising the driving age to 18
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Submitted Sunday, September 25, 2005
Submitted by: Melih Oztalay ^(7,318) SmartFinds, Inc. Log in to become a member of Melih Oztalay's Fan Club!

This article is designed to raise the concern about teen driving fatalities and what can be done to drastically reduce this alarming statistic. While this article may be sensitive to some readers in certain industries, we would like to raise the question as to what can be done to make our teens better drivers and how to alert others on the road that a new driver is behind the wheel.

Our previous article raised the question of whether the driving age in the country needs to be raised to age 18. With more teen fatalities on the road each year than the amount of deaths reported from 9/11, we must consider changes to our laws governing teen driving. From another perspective one could say that the number of teen deaths on the roads in the U.S. are greater than the number of deaths reported of U.S. soldiers before and after the war in Iraq! Are our roads a war zone?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 3,657 drivers aged 15 to 20 years killed in 2003. In 2002, the number killed in the same age range was 3,827. While one would never make light of 9/11, let us consider the amount of energy, government changes, money, war - to name just a few - put forth after 9/11. If only a fraction of this energy had been given to the teen driving problem, perhaps we could have reduced teen driving related deaths in 2002 and 2003 – a staggering total of 7,484.

Following is a combined statement from
- Gordon Booth, Chief Instructor of Drivetrain, Inc. in California, and
- Eddie Wren of Drive and Stay Alive in New York, regarding our teen driving problem:
“Research in several countries has shown not only that the younger people are when they start to drive the higher the chances of having a serious or fatal crash within the first year of driving, but also that a young person's brain is not fully developed until after the teenage years have passed, and that this, in turn, also reduces a young person's abilities as a safe driver.

Wisdom and any genuine desire to protect young people both undeniably dictate that it is better if teenagers do not start to drive until they are at least 17 or preferably 18 years old.

It is noticeable that if parents can hold back a female for 6 months or more, so they do not start driving until 17 or 18, then one sees them mature at least 12 months. With males a hold back of about a year equals a maturity increase of about 6 months."

Inexperience, risk taking behavior, and immaturity are cited as primary reasons for these accidents. Increasing the driving age to 18 would not necessarily change all three primary reasons. Therefore, we must consider other possible solutions as well, such as the driving education process itself.

Driver Education Comparison

Comparing our driver education process with other countries is an important step in exploring possible solutions. Using Germany as an example, we were able to obtain the following information directly from the German driving school online at http://www.fahrschule.de

First you must be at least 18 years of age.
After you have completed the driver education course and school you are on probation for 2 years. During these 2 years a lesser driving violation would require you to re-take the driver education course. A more serious driving violation would call for your driver’s license to be revoked. In either case when your driver’s license has been granted once again you will be on probation for 4 years.
The driver training course covers almost 28 hours of classroom education followed by 35 hours of driving school on the road to cover varying conditions of day, night and autobahn experience with an instructor.

The above only covers a small portion of the driving laws in Germany. It is evident, however, that the United States does not have these requirements.

How to drive a car?

Teen driver’s aside, it is reasonable to suggest that many adults who have had their driver’s license for years are not knowledgeable enough on how to drive a car. They may be traffic regulation experienced, but what about actually using the vehicle? During the driver education process we should include how to handle a car under different conditions -- road conditions for rain, snow, ice, what to do if you have to slam on the brakes at higher speeds, sudden unexpected responses requiring split second decisions, how to handle the automatic and manual transmissions – to name just a few.

This type of training can be performed in driver simulation courses that are currently available from RoadSafety.Com (http://www.roadsafety.com). Larry Selditz, President of RoadSafety.Com had this to tell us:

“For the past 18 months we have been involved in a research and development project to bring effective vehicle simulation to novice drivers and others. While simulators have been around for years, the operative word here is “effective", science-based simulation. We recently completed the Research and Development phase of this project and are now in the process of helping to develop a cost effective commercially viable simulation product. One of our Vice Presidents, Mr. Fred Craft, is forming a new company utilizing the technology we helped develop. Fred is an industry expert in advanced vehicle simulation and I believe he would be an ideal contact for input for your article. I have forwarded a copy of your email to Fred.

I have always been a strong advocate of training and believe it is a key component to developing safe driving SKILLS. That is exactly what a simulator can help achieve. Our vehicle and driver monitoring system, a “black box", is the key to developing safe driving HABITS. As my friend Ron Thackery, Vice President of Risk and Safety for American Medical Response, once told me “what you monitor you can control – what you don’t, you won’t". That applies to teenagers as well as paramedics. American Medical response operates the largest fleet of ambulances in the world and uses our black box to control and improve driver performance. The same principles that have reduced the number of ambulance crashes by more than 90% are used in the “black box" we developed for teenage drivers."

Economic Implications

The primary industries affected by increasing the driving age to 18 are the automotive manufacturers, auto insurance, gas and driving education companies. This basically covers the largest firms within the auto industry.

The automotive manufacturers would only see a delay in purchases by a factor of three years and only for the first three years that the driving age was raised to 18. Most 18 year olds would receive their driver’s licenses during the summer after graduating from high school.

The auto insurance companies would hopefully gain revenues by not having to pay out insurance claims due to car accidents created by the 15 – 18 old teens. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates approximately 300,000 motor vehicle crashes resulting in injuries for this age group per year, which is above the figures for the fatalities mentioned earlier in this article. Therefore, auto insurance industry would have a gain from raising the age limit and not having to pay out 900,000 claims from car accidents over a three year period from age 15 to 18.

Gasoline companies would see a reduction in their revenues with the reduction of gasoline usage. Whether 15 – 18 year old drivers generate a significant impact upon the revenues of gasoline companies is unsubstantiated as of this writing. However, it would be safe to surmise some level of reduction would be apparent. The reduction of emissions would indeed benefit our planet.

Driving schools would see the most significant impact. Short term they would lose business for the first 3 years. Those three years could be used, however, to help provide them support by both State and Federal governments. The amount of financial effort that has been put forth after 9/11 against terrorist continues to question if only a fraction could be used in this effort to help save our teenagers. During these three years, assisting them to prepare courses should be considered. Long term the driving schools would actually fair better as they would have more hours per student to charge.

Affects upon the Family

For parents with new teen drivers with permit licenses going through a state Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program, there will be no affect in the initial implementation of changing the driving age to 18. Parents with teens that have their operators license and who have allowed their teens to drive on their own will most likely find themselves having to continue to “chauffeur" their 16 – 18 year old teens to their various activities. While precious time would be encumbered, you can get comfort from the fact that your teen is still alive, your car is not damaged from an auto accident and your insurance has not doubled because of a teen driver on the policy.

What if we do not change the driving age?

I have a philosophy that the difference between utopia and reality is a choice. A choice by an individual or a group to make a change or move in a different direction. The statistics about teen driving require a change. If changing the driving age to 18 is too big of a leap today, then we can take smaller steps to help teens have better education and understand how to drive a car instead of blindly using a deadly weapon.

We need to review what the driving schools are asked to teach the students. The requirements need to include not only traffic safety, but car driving training under differing conditions. The number of hours required behind the wheel should equal the number of hours required for the course, which is currently around 30 hours. Parents would spend more money to achieve this, but the additional cost is insignificant compared to the lives of their loved ones.

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) should be a requirement nationwide and include a probationary period for all new drivers to last through age 18. Traffic violations during the probationary period should require re-taking the driver education course -not with adults that are in a defensive driving course, but with other teens. Asking the teen to re-take driver education through the same school they received their initial education would be a consideration. Tracking the teens that re-take driver education and the driving schools they attend would also help understand if there is a driving school that may not be properly educating the teens.

Driving school vehicles are always well marked while students are driving on the main roads. Unfortunately, that requirement does not extend to the family vehicle for new drivers in a GDL program. All family vehicles with a new teen driver should be required to have at least one label on the back of the car while the teen is driving and through age 18.

Bumper stickers are not always practical when a teen is occasionally driving the car and stick-on vinyl to the window does not address night-time driving issues. The technology exists today to use car magnets that are thick, reflective for the night and are durable. These types of car magnets can be found at Auto Safety Magnets. http://www.autosafetymagnets.com Identifying these almost 2 million vehicles on the road should be a requirement on a national level.

In Conclusion

We hope the above information was helpful to address the problems, the need, and identify options if the driving age remained status quo or if it were raised. We hope the information was comprehensive to show the economic implications and the hindrances to raising the driving age. With these alarming statistics why have state and federal governments, as well as, the automotive industry jumped to the rescue? Have financial issues during hard economic times been put ahead of our youth? We have to "cowboy-up" to a resolution about this national problem.

Melih Oztalay, CEO
Auto Safety Magnets
http://www.autosafetymagnets.com

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» left by Tyler from Topeka, Kansas (2 years 215 days ago.)

Ok, but what about parents? Do they really want to drive their children to college everyday, school?, work?Everything else? If the kids learn earlier they will have less of a chance of being car illiterate when they are older...
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» left by Michelle from Greenwood (2 years 210 days ago.)

I think that raising the driving age would take down the fatal car crashes that happen everyone day of our lives. But it is a hassel for parents to drive us everywhere but its there job they should. i think they should raise it to 18.................
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» left by Matthew from Needles, CA (2 years 209 days ago.)

I am a teenager, and i have been through the program. From my point of view I learned most of my experience from my parents in the 6 month permit period. I also believe if i had been 18 i would not have gotten their experience.
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» left by sam from Massachusetts (2 years 205 days ago.)

Ok i am a teenager going to highschool now. If you are young it isn't that bad to get a ride from your parents. However the thought of haveing to get a ride when im older is terrifying. All the freedoms and responsibility would be taken away a mistak
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» left by Peter from Calafornia (2 years 162 days ago.)

It is true parents can't always drive you everywhere you need to go. My parents are always busy at work so I can't depend on them to drive me when I'm in college. However most car crashes are by drivers 16-18that kind of messes up the situation more.
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» left by No from No (2 years 146 days ago.)

Oh sure, just bring up 9/11 and the war in Iraq, how original! I see you're really trying to convince people in a legitamite way that just doesn't make them feel guilty or anything...
Have fun manipulating people into agreeing with you.
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» left by Senior from Kansas (2 years 125 days ago.)

OK, so, you think that teen drivers on the road cause all the wrecks in Kansas. They don't. I myself am a teenager, and I haven't gotten into a wreck yet. Granted, yes, we are
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» left by Marco from Hazel Park, MI (2 years 125 days ago.)
Have you not researched the cost to take drivers education these days. The price is practicaly insane going anywhere from about $300-$600 dollars. Then having to retake the course because of a traffic violation. . . is the goverment going to pay?
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» left by Kiki from Ohio (2 years 105 days ago.)

I think that it should stay the same because my parents can't drive me every where because they are busy with work and everything! I mean maybe on weekend they could but i have other things to do on weekdays when they work like sports etc....
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» left by Jessie from Michigan (2 years 105 days ago.)

Not a bad idea, but keep in mind driving laws are a state issue, unlike the sweepign reforms that came after 9/11. You have to look at laws as well as statistics on a state by state basis. In addition some states do have programs like Germany.
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» left by john smith from overland park (2 years 97 days ago.)

Teens need to drive to get to practices and do other stuff that the parents can't always drive them to. Life will be durastically changed
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» left by favi from california (2 years 90 days ago.)

I think that it should be 17 but only becase i can't agree on eaither side.also this website gives good reasons but i need more information for my debate
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» left by me from somewhere in cali (2 years 89 days ago.)

Ok so since I am 16 I am physically unable to drive a car?I am just as capable of driving as a 30 yr old.. "oh but 15 year olds arent mature enough.. blah blah blah" I think that i have enough COMMON SENSE to make good choices. Thanks alot though.
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» left by mariah from riverside, ca (2 years 88 days ago.)

This article gives a good valid point as to why the driving age should be changed. However, I think that age shuold stay the same because kids are depending too much on their parents.
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» left by Some one from from somewhere in London (2 years 88 days ago.)

i am 14 and i am capable of driving!! i agree with what they are saying here but i think the age should be reduced to 16!!!!!! I ALREADY HAVE GOOD COMMON SENSE!!! I CANNOT WAIT TILL 18!!!!!!
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» left by Anonymous (60 days 22 hours ago.)
yeah sure, but when you get injured your family will be devastated and youl wish you never did it.

» left by Tom again from The Land of The Truth (2 years 79 days ago.)

The solution to this problem would not be raising the driving age, but lowering the permit age. This causes for kids to be more experienced before getting their license: something which YOUR plan would do the opposite of.KidsNeedExperience.NOT AGE
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» left by Jeremy from Topeka Kansas (2 years 78 days ago.)

Your article really convinced me to want to change the leggal driving ge to 18, however i am 15 and i dont want to have to wait another 3 yyears.
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» left by Tom Whelan from Flagstaff AZ (2 years 77 days ago.)

A very good article. I see many valid points which i have mulled over on my spare time. This, however, has changed my views on many issues and I agree with those who say we should lower the permit age but raise the driving age to 18. LATER
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» left by jared from the land of the free (2 years 71 days ago.)

I'm in highschool and i drive. If the driving age was raised it parents would have problems. Not everyone is stupid. so i'm with and agianst this arcticle. i can see it both ways
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» left by sarah from ohio (2 years 69 days ago.)
hey, i'm an exchange student from germany and i totally agree with you, most 16-year-olds are just not mature enough to drive!
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» left by Anonymous (38 days 1 hour ago.)
I don't think it's most teens you shouldn't compare few to everyone else I happen to be tollay resposible.

» left by Tom again from The Land of The Truth (2 years 67 days ago.)

Raising the driving age to 18 has to be one of the most idiotic ideas I have ever heard. So you want kids to have their first independent driving experiences coming home from their first college frat party!?Are you insane!?Permit age should be lower
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» left by Katie from Triway (2 years 64 days ago.)

I do not think the driving age should be raised for many reasons. Many people say that 16 year olds are not experienced enough to drive, but if you were 18 and never drove before, you would have the same experience. Yes, the teens may be more mature,
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» left by Annie from NEVADA (2 years 61 days ago.)

Im a teenager my self and when your parents are in another town 60 miles away its hard getting to sports and extra activities for school when you depend on them for rides. Give all the schools drivers edd if you really want to help.
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» left by greg from upland california (2 years 60 days ago.)

well duh in germany you need to be able to drive well because when you go on the autobahn you drive as fast as you want therefore you need to be more responsible. they should keep the age at 16 my parents dont have the time to take me everywhere
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» left by Mike Zoephel from Eagle River, Wisconsin (2 years 58 days ago.)

Some very good comments oboth ends. However I do agree that the age should be 18. Not because I don't want to drive I mean I enjoy it, however I believe that raising the age would be good for those of us that are not yet mature enough
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» left by Kim from Las Vegas (2 years 56 days ago.)

yes i see the point of view for the adults on this issue but seriously you cant punish us on the fears of the adults because accidents happen everyday but not teenagers are the cause of it all the time and what about the teenagers with jobs? what are
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» left by James P. from Rio Linda, C.A. (2 years 55 days ago.)

I find the idea of making the legal driving age 18 to be absurd. Not all parents will be willing to take their kids everywhere they need to go we need more experience & not wait to older
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» left by Scott F. from Massachusetts (2 years 42 days ago.)

I really dislike this article. Being a teen, I am aware that there can be teens that aren't very responsible behind the wheel but that doesnt mean that we all have to be punished. I really dont think my parents would want to have to drive me around forever. My state has a possibility of changing the driving age to 17-1/2 which leaves me with only a few months before college where i wouldnt have my parents around watching out for me on the road.
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» left by Elena from Virginia (2 years 42 days ago.)

I am doing a research article on the topic, I feel that raising the driving age to 18 would give a teenager more experience, but raising it would also be a tragedy for many young adults who look forward to there driving freedoms...I am for both ways...I just hope nothing changes drastically!
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» left by Shane from Wausau, WI (2 years 40 days ago.)

Ithink that the age should stay at 16 because at age 18 young adults have lots to deal with. Some will move out and start living on their own, so you would be just heaping another responsibility onto their already stressed lives
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» left by Katie from Ohio (2 years 39 days ago.)

I feel parents need to take more time teaching kids to drive. I feel we now assume that it is something we hire out. When I was learning to drive my brothers, aunts, uncles and mom and dad all worked with me to help me learn all I needed to know. It was a work in progress for years. I now talk to my seven and nine year olds as to the rules of the road and how a vechicle works.
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» left by jack black from boston (2 years 35 days ago.)

sooo coooooooooool
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» left by Tom from The Land of The Truth (2 years 29 days ago.)

As you stated in your article, raising the driving age may not change the issues of inexperience, risk taking behavior, and immaturity; therefore, it's a pointless idea. Merely setting a higher limitation as to how long one must have a permit and practice with it for, cracking down on driver's education systems, and increasing the difficulty and measure of license exams would certainly yield better results than raising the age.
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» left by Tom from The Land of The Truth (2 years 29 days ago.)

Another issue is that raising the age is unfair to those of us (teenagers) that are mature and experienced enough to drive, but will not be able to due to our age, depsite the fact that we are far more mature than some 18 year olds with licenses.
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» left by Tom from The Land of The Truth (2 years 29 days ago.)

Though your intentions were good (decreasing automobile fatalities), your solution sucked. As I stated in an earlier comment, your mention of Iraq and 9/11 was an attempt at manipulating readers through guilt, and I have to say I can not respect you as a writer for having to resort to such BS. Other than that, good article.
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» left by Kyle from Western New York (1 year 345 days ago.)

Im going to be able to drive in 3 years. I know may mature drivers that are below 18. Your article was kind of sterio typical to many teen drivers. Sure, some teens are not very mature and your intentions are good, but manipulating people through guilt as Tom said isn't right
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» left by Lil Ball3r from Fullerton, Ca (1 year 316 days ago.)

This article was based on statistics over the past couple of years, but what if there was a test, that you had to take, rather than just the dmv's test, to show that you are mature enough to drive at the age of 16. I have been waiting to drive, to me driving is a necessities, if I didn't drive at the age of 16, I would be riding my back 15 miles everyday. My parents go to work, at the time I go to school, so I can't do anything about it. I have to drive.
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» left by caro from richmond (1 year 169 days ago.)

I dont like these ideas...they suck...
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» left by Anonymous (1 year 168 days ago.)
Your article's okay but I think 17 would probably be a more reasonable driving age than 18 because for one, 18 is too old, and 16 may be too young. Seventeen is most reasonable age for driving.
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» left by Anonymous (1 year 167 days ago.)

I really enjoyed this article and it was very helpful to me. If money wasn't an issue i think it would really work!
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» left by Ali G from Jamaica (1 year 167 days ago.)

This artical isnt abuot teens lack of common sense, its about immaturity, inexperience (6 months of permit...i sucked still at the end of my 6 months..u dont really become fluent until a year and a half) and the ignorance of us teenagers. i know more teenagers that drink and drive than who dont. as a teen we think we are invincible and we cant be stopped, even in a car goin 85 down a 40 MPH road...everyones either seen it or dun it..some dumbass 17 year old kid in his lifted black ranger blazin by you at 85 while you stand in front of your house..maybe its because we've been deprived of driving all these years and thirst the need for speed, maybe its because theres no one on the road and we say what the heck... or maybe becauseu we're immature and dont realize actaul consequences that driving can bring if we dont use are heads.. im wrting this now and ill still go out tomoro and almost hit the car in front of me because i was texting or waving to my friend in the next lane and speeding up so he wont pass me..and yes...we all do it..drunk driving, speeding, poor decisions, negligence, young teens(15, 16, 17) aren't mature enough to be relied on to make good decisions....18years old! respek
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» left by Nichole from Ohio (1 year 166 days ago.)

Your article has not given me enough reason to believe that changing the driving age to 18 would be the way to go. I've been driving since I was 16 years old and I am now 33, and I have NEVER been in an accident ever. There are plenty of drivers over the age of 18 who are not mature enough to drive a car. I'm really tired of people thinking up new ways to keep our children from learning responsibility. It is no wonder we have so many "dependent" people in this society. We take everything away from our kids and make them so dependent upon their parents and the government that they can barely function in society. If you don't know how to show your kids to be responsible then it is the parents job to say, "No, you cannot drive", not the government....This is just ridiculous.
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» left by J'sMom from fl (1 year 163 days ago.)

I know that the age should be raised to 18. My son was killed in a car accident 3 months ago, and he was not driving. He had his car taken away from him, since he was not doing what he was supposed to on the road. So I lost him anyway, since his friend had the car, he was the one driving! He LIVED!! Since that has happend I have at least seen in the paper every week about a teenage drivier being killed in a car crash! You don't really pay any attention to it till it hit's home hard! As far as for parents driving there kids around, well that is too bad, Did all of you have cars at young ages to drive, if not how did you get around, bike, walk, public transporation if you had it.
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» left by Anonymous (1 year 162 days ago.)
The article is well written and credible. I just have one question. If we raise the driving age to 18, we would no longer have new 16 year old drivers on the road, but new 18 year old drivers on the road. What difference is the two years going to make? Once you get your license, you are still considered a new, unexperienced driver. It doesn't matter how old you are.
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» left by Anonymous (1 year 162 days ago.)
IM 18 AND I HAVE A LICESE.
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» left by Anonymous (1 year 160 days ago.)

I am almost 32. I have have been driving since I was 15. I am quite sure I was not ready to drive at 15 (two accidents in 5 months) but I am also quite sure that age had very little to do with it. It was my lack of experience. My husband was driving at age 11 on their 2200 acre farm. By the time he was old enough to get out on the roads with a license he had the driving experience necessary to make wise decisions. Although age and maturity do play a role in this topic, experience is more important. Ideal driver training would be with a training instructor for many many hours in and out of the car, similar to flight training. If we are going to put our children behind the wheel of a potentially deadly weapon we should prepare them for it.
Also, it shouldn't be left up to the teens to decide when they are ready, as many of them have sounded off about it already here, but the more experienced parents who are laying aside their selfish desires to be "free" of their children. Who cares if you don't feel like driving your kid to school or to work or sports. They are still your kids and you are still their parents. Take responsibility!
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» left by Anonymous (1 year 158 days ago.)

It should be raised to 18 because during this last year a lot of accidents have happened in my area involving teen drivers. there should be more parental involvment in the training too. Teens under 18 DONT DRIVE BE ALIVE!
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» left by Anonymous (1 year 158 days ago.)
driving under 18 should be banned
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» left by Zaakia from ca (1 year 157 days ago.)

you guyes are idiots and i mean it
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» left by dghjs from sdryjy (1 year 132 days ago.)

this idea is the worst ever taking away our freedom that isnt fair

» left by Bret schulte from breese ill (1 year 121 days ago.)

i dont think the driving age should be changed. thousands of kids have already recieved their license at the age of 16, why stop it now, accidents arn't gonna stop happening.

» left by no from no (1 year 114 days ago.)

I hate your article put ummmmm wow i think this is shallow and padantic

» left by Anonymous (1 year 106 days ago.)

VERY NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

» left by Susan from UK (1 year 105 days ago.)
i dont think it should be changed because i really want to drive i always think about driving i even no what car to get so changing the age would be stupid becuase i am 16 now and if they change it now i willl have to wait another year and thats not FAIR

» left by Tony from Fruita Colorado (1 year 103 days ago.)

i think the article was right but is it fair to the teens to wait when they waited 15years? this article has ALOT of pros and cons but maybe the time you need to have your permit should be raised to 1 and a half years? the other responses have a good point but than agian im 16 so naturlly i would take the teens side. we just want to drive. maybe the divers ed companys should give new drivers the keys to a rental car or something that says on all surfaces "new driver". i am for both so tell us all soon

» left by Renee from Cleveland, Ohio (1 year 103 days ago.)
My parents dont want to drive me everywhere? And it's not the fact teens don't know how to drive it's the fact they don't care. So why would raise the when you could make the driving course test harder and then that would make it easier to see who wants to drive or not or who is careless or not.

» left by jesse from IL (1 year 86 days ago.)

in some cases students are irresponsible but what about the ones that need it to transport themselves to work and to school the ones that would take good care of it and not take advantage of this priviledge that they have

» left by kara from lake odessa MI (1 year 83 days ago.)

i think they should actually lower the driving age just think if they do more kids could get jobs and pay for their own things such as gas or lunch or anything or maybe have some left over

» left by Amy Vance from school (1 year 80 days ago.)

Yes this article was.I totaly agree,I mean i do agree with the driving age now,but i think it would be better if the age was to 18 because teens now abuse there right to drive young.If the were older they might have more experience and be more mature about it.

» left by Aaron Mccutchen from California (1 year 79 days ago.)

from whole heart christian school,I am 15 right now and though this article does show some valid poins I still believe that the driving age should stay at 16 there are millions of Jr highers and highschoolers that live in America and after these kids have been working for there parents and society to gain respect and maturity they should not be prolonged of getting there drivers liscences just before it is there turn to get 1 for over 60 to 70 years people have been getting there drivers liscences in the early days the driving age was even less so I think that the age should not be raised to 18 cause it is cruel to all the kids that are so excited to driving I think that us as teens that is an act of some of us showing that we are responsible enough to know what is right and wrong.I am going to be doing a debate this week and me and my friend are going against to other kids,me and my friend are going to be the ones saying that the age should not be raised and my friends Mariam and my best friend paul are going to be going against us saying that the age should be raised.

P.S I also agree with Tom from the land of truth they should not push the war on Iraq and 9/11 just to get the reader to get us to view it there way and what does that have to do with the driving age any way lol.

» left by Aaron from McCutchen (1 year 79 days ago.)

Amy Vance may be right about the maturity part but she is defintely inncorrect about the experience part because even if they just start at 18 they are still inexperienced.

» left by Anonymous (1 year 77 days ago.)

Even though I have am yet to receive my license I still think that the age should be raised to 18.Most teenagers are not yet ready to driver at the ages of 15-16.I hope this law is passed because of many, many fatal accidents over the years.

» left by 2muchcommonsence4myage (1 year 76 days ago.)

I believe the driving age should remain at sixteen. Teens everywhere are looking forward to driving a car. They see it not only as a mode of transportation, but also a chance to show they are ready to move on to adulthood. The idea that the privilege of driving must be taken away from them because of numerous irresponsible drivers, who were most likely under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is simply outrageous. ''Raising the age is the wrong thing. I see kids at 16 years old . . . most of them, they can drive fine," said David Leung, owner of D&D Auto School. Some argue that the age should be raised, why is this? They may argue that sixteen is still very young and they still do not possess the level of maturity required to handle driving a car. My response is if children are expected to be responsible socially and financially, driving a car is an excellent way to hone these skills. At sixteen, the short time you have with a quickly growing teen is essential. This is because in just two short years, they will be leaving for college and these skills are essential. They need a car to go to and from school, work, and social events. If the age is raised to eighteen, most teens will most likely not have an adequate amount of time to master all of the nuances of driving.

now, tell me. im thirteen. do you think that if i took the time to write this, as well as many other young teens and teens, that we (majority) dont possess the descision-making capabilities needed to be on the road? a thirty year old can still be a horrible descion maker but because of age it makes it ok for them to drive. age is just a number sometimes.

» left by guess who (1 year 73 days ago.)

i think that u should raise the driving age to 18 and give a fllow up driving test every 2 years

» left by Rachel Lundgren from Philadelphia, PA (1 year 73 days ago.)

before reading this article i felt that 16 year olds should be the driving age.. but after reading this i feel that the driving age should be moved to 18. 16 year olds are not allowed to vote, not allowed to fight for their country.. but are allowed to risk the lives of many by driving.

» left by helen from hillsdale (1 year 72 days ago.)

yes, some teenagers aren't responsable, but some are. take into consideration that many adults are also irresponsible. you state in your article that the amount of teenage drivers killed each year is sky high, but you fail to mention how many of those accidents were the fault of the teenager, and how many were the fault of an adult driver. don't leave out important details like that, tell the whole truth and not just parts of the truth and half the facts to win people over.

» left by no from no (1 year 72 days ago.)

i think raising the driving age to 18 is a bad idea because people will have to depend on their parents for soo much longer and they wont learn responsibility, therefore they will think they dont have to be mature or they wont be ready to live on their own. they will sitll be depending on their parents

» left by this from is (1 year 72 days ago.)
i think this is the stupidest thing ive ever herd

» left by Emah from str8 from panama (1 year 69 days ago.)

well i think raisin the driving age is a bloody stupid idea.. im 15 and i cxan already drive... my parents already trust me to take them to work and drive them around when they're lazy... soo i think the legal age to drive is 15... that is a suitable age.. and it will make teens become reliable and independant earlier.

» left by ali from canada (1 year 68 days ago.)

this article's been pretty helpful to me but I think the driving age shoould remain 16.

» left by nina from glendale (1 year 66 days ago.)

i understand why it is an issue to raise the driving age ... but then again its like punishing all teens for some morons mistakes and for rotening our privleges. School records should be taken into consideration... if one is responsible in school on willbe responsible on the streets.... PS some of us work ... and HAVE LIVES!!!!

» left by hey from merriam,ca (1 year 66 days ago.)

i dont think they should raise the age limit. it wouldnt be fair and i dont think every teenagers parents wants to drive there kids to softball pratice or dace lessons. i think they should just leave the age limit alone. and not all acedents are teenagers.

» left by Abby from KS (1 year 64 days ago.)

NICE :P

» left by chelsea from washington (1 year 58 days ago.)

why should the limit to drive be raised? there's no point....it's not like people aren't going to still drive. Besides not all teenagers are irresponsible, for instance my mother started driving when she was 13. she was my grandmother's cheoufer because my grandmother was disabled. the whole time she never once got in an accident and she's been driving ever since. And like other teens have stated on this site....not all of the people who have gotten into accidents were teens...also we are just as capable of learning the proper techniques of driving as a 20 or 30 year old is. To be honest raising the driving limit to 18 would be unfair...we thought 16 was bad...18 would kill us!!!!!!!

» left by Rachel Wheeldon from Birmingham (1 year 57 days ago.)

why should the limit to drive be raised? there's no point....it's not like people aren't going to still drive. Besides not all teenagers are irresponsible, for instance my mother started driving when she was 13. she was my grandmother's cheoufer because my grandmother was disabled. the whole time she never once got in an accident and she's been driving ever since. And like other teens have stated on this site....not all of the people who have gotten into accidents were teens...also we are just as capable of learning the proper techniques of driving as a 20 or 30 year old is. To be honest raising the driving limit to 18 would be unfair...we thought 16 was bad...18 would kill us!!!!!!! You are being RIDICULOUS!!!!!

» left by Anonymous (1 year 56 days ago.)

I thought that this article was very convincing. I am doing a debate, arguing pro to raise the driving age to 18. It is saddening that more teens die from driving year than form 9/11. AND FROM A PREVENTABLE CAUSE! Why don't we do something I don't know. Nobody knows what is going though he peoples head at capital hill.

» left by Dj from Elkins, West Virginia (1 year 55 days ago.)

I thought that the article was very honest and truthful. There have been a lot of car crashes for the past couple of years and i am currently 15 years old. I got my learner's permit last month and i am enjoying it a lot. I now see why my mom and dad drive how they drive. I would always ask them, why don't you go ahead and go. you can beat that car. I just recently pulled out of the Wal-Mart entersection and the car turning from the other side of the road side swiped me and put me into a ditch. Minor bumps and bruses, but my car was totaled. That is how quick something can happen. I most definatly think that the driving age should be raised to 18 because the young kids are not ready to be driving.

» left by Anonymous (1 year 53 days ago.)
Some one up there argued that parents wont want to drive their 17 year old, (and other children) around. But do you really believe that Mom and Dad not having to drive as much is worth the lives of thousands of teens?
Also I think that instead of raising the driving age, we should lower the permit age, and make driving tests harder. Age is not the issue, it is experience. 70% of sixteen year olds don't get in car accidents just because they are sixteen. Most of the accidents are because of inexperience. If we raise the age, than eighteen year olds would be inexperienced. Raising the age is not the best solution to this problem. I also think that kids (before they get their permit) should be allowed to practice driving with a parent in places other than city streets. These places could be empty parking lots behind supermarkets, dirt roads in the middle of nowhere... etc. Don't raise the driving age, because America will still have thousands of teens dieing... they will just be older.

» left by cynthia underwood from columbia mo, (1 year 49 days ago.)

yes this was ahelpful article but it needs a litle more info and i want the driving age to be 16 not 18.

» left by cynthia underwood from columbia mo, (1 year 49 days ago.)

this was cool and awsome article and i am reserching on the driving ages and i am going to write an article.

» left by cynthia underwood from columbia mo, (1 year 49 days ago.)

yes this was a helpful article but it needs a little more info and I want the driving age to be 16 not 18.

» left by Anonymous (1 year 48 days ago.)
iTHIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR
UR TRYING TO RUIN THE HIGHSCHOOL EXPIERIENCE FOR OUR GENERATION

» left by Melanie from Maryland (1 year 47 days ago.)

get over it. everyone is picking their social lives and convenience over safety and the saving of lives.
sorry that you might have to work at the gas station or the grocery store for two years instead of abercrombie and fitch. and sorry that mommy and daddy may have to take you the movies and the mall.
i seriously doubt that not being able to drive by yourself in high school will ruin your life, it might actually save you. the fact that people will read this and not even consider the given facts because OMG MY HIGH SCHOOL LIFE WILL BE RUINED, just shows how much entitlement and stupidity there is..when the blind facts stare us in the face every day that teenagers are getting their licenses too soon, and killing themselves because of it.
i am a teenager, and i've known way too many people around my age who have died in car accidents. something should be done, we are proving ourselves wrong when all of us are saying that we are ready and the driving age should stay the same.

» left by Jesie from ohio (1 year 44 days ago.)

i am a teen myself, and i disagree on the whole topic. like everyone said our parents would not be able to take us everywhere especailly when you get older and when you are learning to drive...in college? wanting to go everywhere when your older and having no car doesnt mix together. would you really want to call your parents just go out to buy a cop of coffee down the street? making the driving age at 18 is insane.

» left by heather daley from BP (1 year 43 days ago.)

kids should be able to have freedom !!!!!
so this is a stupid idea
16 year olds have a social life too!

» left by Trenchcoat (1 year 43 days ago.)

See but that's just it - "wanting" to go everywhere when you're older - not "needing"...that's the whole point. Kids should be able to have freedom? 16 year olds have a social life too? You are the kind of kids that would be prime suspects for causing the kinds of accidents that everyone is trying to prevent with this bill. You'll prove them all right. If you think that buying a cup of coffee down the street is worth crashing and dying for, you're made of different stuff than I am. Just shows how immature you still are. Besides, if it's "just down the street," why don't you walk?

» left by Trenchcoat from California (1 year 43 days ago.)
And I'm a teenager too. I know that it's possible to have a social life and not have a car. Maybe a tad inconvenient, but it's worth it. If you die....you have no social life...you have no LIFE...sorry, but I'm playing it safe. I'd rather have a slightly inconvenient social life than have no life at all. If you think it's impossible to get anything done without having a car of your own, consider that you might be a little spoiled.

» left by LET ME DRIVE!! (1 year 41 days ago.)

I really think that that allowing people to drive at 18 would be bad because 18 year-olds think that they are so good, that the drive aggressively. And it's not an issue of how mature you are, it's how much experience you have when you get your licence. If anything, make them spend more time learning and put tighter requirements for the tests.

» left by Trenchcoat from Oklahoma (1 year 37 days ago.)
Firstly, now you're steryotyping. I know plenty of people around the age of 18 that do not "think they're so good." Is there some button that's pushed whenever you reach the age of 18 that suddenly fills you with adrenaline and makes you think you're all that? I don't think so. Secondly, If 18 year olds think they're "so good" and drive aggressively because of that, imagine what a 15 16 or 17 year old might think? When they have a car in front of all their highschool friends, what makes you think that teenagers that are even younger than 18 year olds are going to be all responsible and suddenly have all the wisdom and drive carefully. And I disagree, it is about maturity. Because if someone were really mature they wouldn't be thinking about how to impress someone by running a red light - they would be thinking about how that's a bad idea because red lights are there for a reason and running one can get someone killed. It's ALL about maturity.

» left by chris from CALI (1 year 36 days ago.)

well experiance behind the wheel is a must i mean say u raise the age to 18 thats only 3 years they get before legally being allowed to go to bars at least at 15 1/2 or 16 kids have 2 more years to learn how to drive

» left by Trenchcoat from Washington D.C. (1 year 36 days ago.)

Very true. I think you're right about that. Experience is a key player in how well someone drives. I'm not denying that, I just think that it shouldn't be possible for people as young as 15 to get full blown licenses with which they can drive unsupervised. In my opinion, they should just raise the amount of time between your learner's permit and the possibility of getting your license to at least one mandatory year. That way, every child will have at least one year of experience in driving before being unsupervised. It may be real inconvenient, but it's got to be safer for everyone.

» left by Anonymous (1 year 34 days ago.)

i think its the most stupidest idea ever to raise the age up to 18. at the end of the day you will always be a new "inexperienced" driver wether your 17 or 56...its NEW thing. two years dosent make any difference and i feel its unfair to strip teenagers of there freedom. for young people in that year they wont be able to drive until they have left college, its both inconvient and inconsiderate for them as this would be the time for getting jobs etc you parents complain about us being safe in our cars but your hardly the ones to offer us lifts late at night the majoirty of you are hypocrits we are trapped! its not an issue of how mature you are with age its how much experience you have!!! and to "melanie" no we are not chosing convience over saftey and no we dont think that our highschool lives will be ruined if we cant drive but are you gunna be the one making it easy for us...whenever we call are you gunna get out of bed to pick us up without giving us an ear ful...no?didnt think so.you have competley misunderstood the topic...AGE IS NOT THE INFULENCING FACTOR! to assume that teenagers are unaware and incapable of driving at such a young age i belive is incredibly partonising, you would be suprised. your focusing on teenagers being irresponsible but take into considerate the amount of adults that are also...thats nothing to do with age!

» left by Cindy from Walker (1 year 31 days ago.)

i think that the drivein age should stay the same (16) because the age of driving has nothing to with bad accidents it has to do with alcohol, and drugs, and cell phones and, etc....,

» left by Trenchcoat from Houston (1 year 31 days ago.)

Though age is not the influencing factor in deciding whether or not a teenager is a good driver, it would be wrong to say that it has "nothing to do with" it. Anyone who has taken any kinds of child psychology courses should understand that early on in life certain parts of the human brain are not fully developed. Look it up. The part of the brain that allows most mature adults to consistently "think before they act" is not completely constructed until usually the age of 18. That's why many teenagers may sometimes make catastrophic actions, and when they are later asked to explain why they made this action, are speechless. They don't know why they did it. Believe me, I'm not trying to say that all teenagers "don't have a choice" in their actions, I'm just saying that scientifically speaking, most do not yet have quite the same capability for foresight that adults do. This being said, age has many consequential ties with the actions that human beings sometimes make, ESPECIALLY for teenagers. A teenager can be the most mature thinking person in the world, the most responsible person in the world, and yet chances are that his or her physiological structure will not always allow crystal clear thinking in the same way that an 18 year old's would. So to all the gung-ho people out there that have completely discounted age as a part of the equation, you'd better rethink your facts a bit and do your research instead of letting your emotions talk.

» left by someone from aguada ,puerto rico (1 year 26 days ago.)
i am 16 and where a live (puerto rico ,part of th us) 16 is a ligal age to drive and no one is complaining. I my self drive my self to school every day and still haven got a ticket or in an accident so we are capable enough to drive

» left by anonymous from California, U.S. (1 year 25 days ago.)
I am a 14 yr old and I think that it is not ok for for teens under the age of 18 to drive beacause of the three reason that the author of this article has mentioned: Inexperience, risk taking behavior, and immaturity. I myself can't wait to drive but I can wait if it could possibly save my life. Isn't a teen's life more important than a parent's job or the fact that the teen wants to drive...

» left by Me from my house (1 year 24 days ago.)

Raising the driving age is an idiotic idea. But for a school project I had to write a report on why it should, and this was helpful. Keep it at 16 though. 3 stars.

» left by emma from home (1 year 24 days ago.)

i am 16 now and i think if people want to change the driving limit they are obviously not thinking about the ones missing out who might need to drive to get to college if it is too far away...they didnt have to wait why should we?

» left by lyndsey from vernon (1 year 12 days ago.)

i think rasing the age is dumb. i'm terified to get into an accident, yes. thats understanding that maybe your not reaponcible enough, but dont you think maybe getting your drivers licence at a younger age will make you more recponcible. i think the age should stay the same. i'm 14 years old turning 15 in 2 months, and i'll be a sophmore. if the age goes up i wont be driving till a couple months after college. my mom works, she can't be held respoincible of driving me to college everyday, that's rediculous. my mom has enough on her table. when i'm 18 she shouldnt have to bo worrying about me getting to college. i should be help responicible. i'm not a child anymore when i'm 18!!!!!

» left by Liz (1 year 7 days ago.)

The age should TOTALLY be raised. yea yea im seeing all these comments, about teens complaining about how their parents have to drive them everywhere, or they wouldnt be able to if the age was raised. hey heres a thought...... TAKE THE BUS!

» left by hi from hi (347 days 23 hours ago.)

I believe this is good idea

» left by carles from d blok (344 days 19 hours ago.)

no they should not change it because we need to drive when were 14 not 18 or 16 because thats how we do it yea yea?/? who would want to wait to ghet there lisned when 18 ghange it to 14?

» left by JR (298 days 20 hours ago.)

im 15 going to be 16 in a couple of weeks and i think the driving age should stay at 15 not only because i want to get my licsence but because im going to have a job soon and my parents cant take me to work they work to its not that they arent being responsible its just that they have a job to i agree with people here it doesnt matter on how old you are but on how much expirience you have behind the wheel.

» left by Beano from Cheltenham (298 days 7 hours ago.)

Im 16 and i am getting a car in a few months to do up as a project and when the project is finally finished i want to drive the car when im 17 after i have taken my driving test! i mean the driving age should stay the same but just give more advice or anything that will make the new drivers think before they make there actions in a car because if they lose control of the car and crash it will be there fault for not taking in there advice at the driving test! i think new drivers need more experience before driving the main roads! when you turn 17 and you dont want to ask your mum or dad for a lift to work or whatever it is a bit stupid when we all can take driving lessons and get a car and be INDEPENDANT! It would make our parents happier from stopping them from thinking about using there petrol to get us to work, and then them going to work! Also i agree with an idea of stopping people of the same age as the new driver in there car at nite, because it would be more safer alone driving if the driver didnt have any distractions! So dont increase the driving age theres no need for it!

» left by Brooke Pepper from Wathena, Kansas (290 days 6 hours ago.)

I think that you should leave the age at what it is.

» left by Alisha from Wathena, Kansas (290 days 6 hours ago.)

I think that it shouldnt be raised because of the young people that are still in school and they have to get to there jobs.

» left by ryan (284 days 5 hours ago.)
omg why would any body want to change the age of drive omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

» left by sarah from louisiana (280 days 19 hours ago.)

raise the driving age to 18!! the risks are way too high.... teens should get a learners permit at 16 & only be allowed to drive with a experienced driver till there 18. 2 years of learning should definately help the dealth rate!!! im only 15 & i think im a okay driver but its not me who im scared of its the imature drinking teens on the roads today!!! hey I've waited 15 years 2 more won't hurt!!!

» left by Dom from Connecticut (276 days 20 hours ago.)

No, the driving age should not be raised. Almost all 16 year olds have jobs, and cannot depend on parents for bringing them to their jobs while they have jobs of their own. As far as i'm concerned its the foolish teens who drink and drive and are too irresponsible to drive who should be barred from driving. And good job throwing in 9/11 and the war, makes your liberal agenda sound really legitimate...

» left by Anonymous from San Jose, California (273 days 22 hours ago.)
I would say that having the driving age be at 18 would be a bad idea because then new drivers would be driving themselves to college when they have not had enough practice. im not saying that we teens dont get into accidents, but dont go blaming it on 9-11. c'mon people

» left by J from florida (273 days 10 hours ago.)

Please dont change it I have been waiting for getting my licene my hole life I am 14 years old and I'm about to turn 15 in a couple months I just got a car but I cant drive it cause I dont have my licene and I cant drive it if you change it. {Please dont change it}

» left by Mariné from Indiana (267 days ago.)

I'm 23 years old, I didn't get my license until I turned 20. It was not until my daughter was born, that I understood why the legal age SHOULD be raise to 18....When you are responsable for the life of another human being, you begin to drive more safely, and believe me, I get upset when 15, 16 or 17 year old run the red light when I have my daughter in the back seat, they don't think about the consequences of their acts.

» left by Chelsea from Arizona (265 days 16 hours ago.)

I am 16 years old and i feel that i am a somewhat a good driver but i know that most 16 year olds dont have the experience that i do because of my job. I feel that it should be raised to 18, because i have seen what inexperienced drivers can do, and its not pretty.

» left by Spencer from Bumpy Cake (263 days 4 hours ago.)

Grow up! All you immature people need to stop the insults and post something intelligent.

» left by sam from maryland (262 days 4 hours ago.)

think about it this way, could you see your fellow ninth grade friends ion the road driving right beside you? adults see that all the time anbd think to them selves or hope the person very young, knows what they are doing

» left by dssdfdsfsddsfsdfd from ddsdfsdfss (262 days 3 hours ago.)

I believe the age should stay the same for a license, but get a permit at 13 so you get much experience before your test

» left by elizabeth from england (261 days 3 hours ago.)

a permit at 13?! are all you americans insane? im only reading this for research for a school project, as in the uk were aiming to raise the age of driving to 18. i think this is a good idea, as at 17, young people dont have the experience to make them safe drivers, your suggestion of having permits at 13 is insane, children are only just going through puberty then, they shouldnt be put in charge of a moving vehicle at that age!

» left by Susan Ciccantelli from Downingtown, PA (257 days 1 hour ago.)

YESSSSS!!!!! I am a driving instructor in PA and I am 100% behind this idea. Beautifully articulated. Thank you!!!

» left by Susan Ciccantelli from Downingtown, PA (257 days 1 hour ago.)
p.s. You neglected to mention one other "beneficiary" that would lose revenue if the driving age were raised and that is GOVERNMENTS!

» left by Johnny boy. from canada? (254 days ago.)

Oh my god, why do you mention 9/11
it has nothing to do with the subject.
teens get into accidents because they are STUPID
and muli tasking or drunk or just not cut out for driving.
do everyone a favor and stay off the road if you cant control a car.
it's your own fault, and you have to deal with what happens.

» left by Brianna from Colorado (253 days 1 hour ago.)

I believe that the driving age should be raised to 18, maybe even 21! If you can't handle smoking until you're 18, and alcohol until your 21, why can you handle a motor vehicle when you are only 16 years old. The driving age NEEDS to be raised. 16 is not a mature enough age to handle such a huge responsibility. I am only 15, and I know that driving is a huge responsibility. There are so many distractions that come along with driving. Ipods, mp3 players, cell phones, makeup, food, FRIENDS. Raising the driving age would save millions of teens lives every year. 2 years isn't that long of a wait. If you have waited 16 years, you can wait two more years.

» left by Brianna from Colorado (253 days 1 hour ago.)

Teens arn't stupid just because they get into an accident. It is called an accident for a reason. Distractions are the cause. When you are 16, there are more distractions and you are not mature enough to handle it. Whether or not you can control the car has nothing to do with it. Say you can control the car, but the person that hits you cannot. Its about responsibility, and maturity.

» left by Anonymous (248 days 13 hours ago.)

SKEET!!! permit age should be lower to 15 allowing teens a full year to pratice with their parents

» left by bobo from my box (248 days 1 hour ago.)

permit age should be at 16, liscence at 18

» left by marisha (246 days 4 hours ago.)

this is a wonderful idea!!!

» left by Anonymous (246 days ago.)
omg. this is amazing. raise it to 21.

» left by Anonymous (245 days 4 hours ago.)
im only 13 and most of my class mates think it should be lowered but i think it should be raised to 18 or 19 at least it upsets me so much to hear hoe\w a young teen is killed every day from careless driving

» left by bob from kansas (238 days 4 hours ago.)

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD LEAVE THE DRIVING AGE WHERE IT IS BECAUSE I DONT WANNA WAIT ANOTHER 6 YEARS BEFORE I GET MY DRIVING LICENSE AND ITS NOT FAIR THAT MY BROTHER GOT HIS AT THE AGE OF 16 AND I MIGHT HAVE TO GET MINE AT THE AGE OF 18 AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD JUST LET THE DRIVING AGE STAY THE SAME...:) P.S. DRIVING IS FUN!!

» left by Anonymous (235 days 3 hours ago.)
uhg....We need to not have the age changed...some of us in the back country need our cars to get around not like some of you city people who walk everywhere! we can't walk 5 to 10 miles even more a day so maybe think of us once in a while will ya?

» left by Carly from LBI (232 days 16 hours ago.)
teens are crazy drivers and i know because i am one of them. but changeing the driving age would mean changeing our way of life. public transportion would have to now get more works and busses to help hard working paernts

» left by Lauren Jenkala from Beverly Hills (232 days 3 hours ago.)
i am 14 and am capable of drving a car
i have alot of common sense
and i think that you do not need to change the age it is not neccsaryy
if you change somthing change the drinking age.
forget about the drving laws
its NOT fair!!!!!!!!

» left by jerad from westfrankfort il (231 days 1 hour ago.)

i am 17 years old and i am for this law to be passed because there are too many teen deaths in this world and by passing this law it will prevent it from happing. ya if you live out in the country or something it might not be fair but ask your parents to take you to work or ride a bus to school in stead of crying all the time. wont you think about saving the lives of teens that dont deserve to die!

» left by key key24 (229 days 3 hours ago.)

i am doing a essay on the age requirement for driving and i couldnt agree with this article more! i think teens underestimate safety and they are in responsible so there fore i think they should increase the requirements for driving. im only 14 so i dont care about driving haha!!

» left by tanja sisarica from huntley IL (221 days 6 hours ago.)

they should not change the age. it would stil be the first time behind the wheel. and if we were 18 people are in college and are pressured to drink and do to illegal things and when they are behind the wheel so they just cause more accidents

» left by mackenzie barden from huntely il (221 days 6 hours ago.)
They should be able to drive at 16. If they already raised the hours and we have to a night hours, there is no point to raise the age. If they raised the hours we will work for our hours, and be safer on the road because there is always the chance of taking away our rights to drive. If most of the accidents are in a certain state ban that state don't punish the rest of them.

» left by Laura from new york, ny (220 days 23 hours ago.)
i dont think they should raise the age because it is stll under the legal drinking age, so teens will still drink and drive. and who's to say that a 16 year old wont jump into a car with an 18 year old that just got his/her liscenes? i dont think it would decrease the teen deaths related to driving.

» left by Nolan from Arizona (219 days 5 hours ago.)

i think that the driving age should stay the same because like many have said some of us teenagers are responsible and are up to the task of upholding a licence. it would be unfair to take away all of our hopes. i agree with those who have said that in driving school they should teach more and teach u how to stay in control of your vehicle in rough terrain. im almost positive this would have a massive effect on the casualties of not only teens but adults and children as well.

» left by Jamie from Omaha, Nebraska (217 days 18 hours ago.)

I am a young fellow member of the Lebians of America Club, and I am appalled of how many of not only our members and other family and friends have been in a collision caused by a teenage driver. I believe and support the fact that the driving age should be raised to around17-19, that way them youngins' can learn before they get onto the road and kill another innicent victim. I;m Jamie and I support the Lesbian pride, but mostly the issue we have with teenage killers.(behind the wheel)

Lesbian Pride!

» left by Boricua from Puerto Rico (215 days 18 hours ago.)

im in Puerto Rico and they just changed the law of minimum driving age to 18 if you get your learners in 2008 cause of dumb people like you. drinking and drugs and driving should all be legal with some sort of test. age isn't a good way to decide whether someone is smart enough to do something but knowledge is. freedom or death!!

» left by Anonymous (214 days 19 hours ago.)
I laughed at the fact that you willingly told us that the number went down from 2002 to 2003 despite the fact that population went up significantly. You basically disproved your point about the rate going up. Good job.

» left by Anonymous (214 days 18 hours ago.)

yes i really needed this info because i am also a teen driver i have to write a essay too pass my test in driver's edd

» left by Jacob Telano from West Monroe (212 days 6 hours ago.)

I think this article has a good point to it. This would lower the death rate a lot. I really think that it's a good idea, but we need a way to get to work, college, and other places when our parents aren't available.

» left by Pablo from Nome, Alaska (212 days 3 hours ago.)
i think that the drinving ag should be raised becaus of so many people that die every year

» left by poop from toilet (212 days 2 hours ago.)

stay the same!
the end

» left by Brittany from MS (211 days 21 hours ago.)

why must you be idiots?

» left by Terry Mitchell ⁽⁶⁵⁵⁾
Terry Mitchell (211 days 6 hours ago.)

Melih, I say you're abolutely right!! I've been preaching this for years. Why should a minor be allowed to drive anyway when they're not allowed to vote, join the military, drink, smoke, or get admitted to an R-rated movie by themselves? Why is it that we make this one exception with a dangerous 2000-pound weapon like an automobile? I didn't start driving until I was 22. I knew I wasn't ready until then. And waiting didn't cause me any permanent psychological damage. Of course, it doesn't matter what we say -- the conventional foolishness will persist and kids will continue to be allowed to drive at 16 and lives will continue to be lost unnecessarily.

» left by Tommy Salami (211 days 1 hour ago.)
i think the age should stay the same until march when i get my license and then they should change it beause then my brother would have to wait to get his

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