Should 16 year olds should be able to drive?

Rock Firestorm

Judging by the illiterate, uneducated buffoons who post here, I'd say a big NO.

Joshy

Sure....The responsible ones.

I started driving at 15 and a half. In a few months I will be 18, still have never been in a car crash, have no speeding tickets, etc etc...

I do however feel that most of the teenage population shouldn't get their licenses until they are responsible enough for them. I still wonder how people managed to get theirs, even adults and people of older age.

Just because you turn 18 does not mean your a safe driver. and when your age 35 or 80, it doesn't matter either if you cannot handle the responsibility.

Turtle 6

NO!

1. At the age of 16, most people still have their heads in the clouds, thinking that they're invincible.

2. Most 16-year olds are of the opinion that that license is a right; when the ONLY three rights they have are to stay the color they are, vote [when 18] and die.

3. I've seen 30 year old people drive in such a way that I wonder if they got to eat the Cracker Jack, too.

4. There should be mandatory testing criteria, to include other factors affecting driving ability -- such as music so loud that you can't hear an emergency vehicle [that should be a felony]; windows so tinted you can't see outside, let alone inside; also let them know that out here on the road, if you use a cell phone while driving, there are some people who would be more than glad to make that cell phone a suppository.

5. I was a professional [CDL] driver for a number of years, until my vision began to deteriorate. It's back to 20/20 but I won't get out there on the roads with all the stupid people.

Rapid Fire

Go ahead and change the age of admission into the driving fraternity to 18 or 19. Here is what will happen, and it will be noticeable almost immediately.
The death rate for inexperienced 16 year old drivers will drop so dramatically that all the experts and legislators will be slapping each other on the back and awarding themselves big wage hikes for a job well done.
At the same time the death rate for inexperienced 18-19 year old drivers will rise even more dramatically causing the experts to ponder '''where did we go wrong'''.
The only thing raising the driving age will do is change the ages of the deceased. It's not their ages that is killing new drivers. It's their lack of inexperience behind the wheel.

During WW II the death rate among young drivers went down and the death rate among women drivers went up. WHY? Because all the young men went of to war and the women had to learn to drive to keep the economy at home running. And their lack of behind the wheel experience caused their segment to suffer more traffic deaths.

bungee

1 their stupid and don't know it
2 their stupid and don't know it
3 their stupid and don't know it<

Felt Monkey

Ya know what? I'm 16, I don't drink, smoke, take drugs, or sleep around. I'm heavily involved in my studies and always have been. I'm probably mature enough to drive. I get fed up waiting for a bus in the rain that's half an hour late. But I don't think they should be allowed to drive. I'm in the UK, so I can't drive yet (if you're American).
But there are some exceptions. My boyfriend's learning to drive, but if he wanted to insure his own car, it'll cost him between Â£2-3K. That's not fair, because he always abides by the speed limit and is a very careful. But I know there will always be exceptions, and the majority of people aren't responsible enough at 16. But what I really don't agree with is raising the age to 18... If you're not good enough to be on the roads alone, then you can't pass your driving test. Simple. Why raise the age limit?

UCANTCME

Nope................

JANUARY 2009

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 3,490 drivers in this age group died in motor vehicle crashes in 2006 and an additional 272,000 were injured.

Drivers age 15- to 20-years old accounted for 12.9 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes and 16 percent of all the drivers involved in police-reported crashes.

Twenty-five percent of teen drivers killed were intoxicated.

In 2006 (latest data available) crashes involving 15 to 17 year olds cost more than $34 billion nationwide, in medical costs, property damage and other costs, according to an AAA analysis.

Among licensed drivers, young people between the ages of 15 and 20 have the highest rate of fatal crashes relative to other age groups, including the elderly.

In fact, the risk of being involved in a fatal crash for teens is three times greater than for drivers age 65 to 69.

Immaturity and lack of driving experience are the two main factors leading to the high crash rate among teens.

kylander9878

i think that there shoulnd't be a set driving age. u should have to take a state mandated test and a driving test to determine ur abilities to drive, not ur age. some pple should nvr be able to drive. they are just dumb.

borrnlikeme

NO

When i was 16 i was out partying, drinking and smoking pot. I didnt get my license until I was 18 and I was mature. I watched kids in my highschool try to act cool and drive crazy so i decided I didnt want my license.

Now that im 22, Im thankfull that I didnt get it. No tickets, accidents on my record. Never been pulled over. I swear.

Im Germany you have to be 21 to drive and 16 to drink. They need to change the laws here.

Sunnyboy

No

1. They aren't mature enough to handle the responsibility
2. They aren't mature enough to handle the responsibility
3. They aren't mature enough to handle the responsibility

tang021

yes if the car is Limited to at most 500cc and you don't go on motorways.

kari

this web site helped me im doing a debate-terminology in my speech class about this ......... im 15 and i am not mature YET to drive in the road yet wit these crazy drivers here in Pasadena !!!

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