At what age should people first be able to earn a driver's license?

Tracey

18 at least. I think 16 is too young. Did you know that 50% of boys aged 16 and 17 get in accidents during their first year of driving? Fifty fricken percent! We have to share the roads with them! Why do we want to hand licenses over to such a clearly irresponsible group?

Ultimate Guitar Hero!

I say 18.

CuriositySatisfaction

Most kids these day's aren't as responsible as they were in the past.
So I believe they shouldn't have a LICENSE until they are over 18
Permit yes......license no.......... until they have some sense

coyotecoup

I got mine at 14 (a rural state).
I thought I was old enough at the time.

Now that I am older I think 18 is a better age.
Every year there are stories from almost every high school of teenagers dying or being permanently injured in accidents. I don't want my daughter to be one of them.

tom the plumber

PATRICIA MS

When they show their diploma!

sensible_man

16 isn't bad but I would have stronger penalties for drivers between 16 and 18 who violate the laws so they know that driving is a privilege and not a right.

pr0ph3t1cl1v1ty

Oh, probably about 26 - 30.

Of course, I've met some 35 year olds that couldn't handle the responsibility of driving, so maybe no one should be allowed to drive.

Ron L

We have all these various ages for different things- 18 to enter into a contract. 16 to be tried as an adult criminal, sometimes younger. 16 to drive. 21 to drink. 18 to buy cigarettes. It might be better to make it more consistent- perhaps 18 for everything- have a general age when you are considered an adult.

Another concept that might make sense is not to base it on age, but on something else. Some people are quite mature at 16 and others are quite immature at 40. There is some research that the brain isn't fully mature until 18 or so, particularly in the area of judgment.

We should probably base driving rights more on the person's ability to drive safely since other people's lives are at risk. Maybe there should be some sort of evidence required that the person is a safe driver before we let them on the road and if they ever show evidence that they aren't safe, such as getting a DWI, they should have to prove that they are safe drivers again before they are allowed to drive again, rather than just waiting a specific period of time. For example, completing substance abuse treatment and having a series of clean urine screens would be required after a DWI, rather than just waiting a year to get your license back.

What type of proof would be required to make sure people are safe drivers? Well, we already have driving tests and written tests. I think perhaps those could be improved with driving simulators- we have much better technology that could be used. Also, a more complete written test could be helpful, more like the CDL test. Also, more thorough driver's education courses could be helpful- the equivalent of a college-level course.

Then, the driver's license wouldn't be based on a particular age (with some minimum, like 16), but on completion of required education and courses.

Lorelle F

When and if they graduate high school. are seventeen, and they have no felonies before that time.

If, however, they have graduated, are seventeen, and they have any type of felony, they should have to wait until they are at least a year free of any crime before earning the right to a driver's license.

Because this would give the incentive to finish high school and to stay out of trouble.

People seem to forgot that a driver's license has to be earned and that it just is not a basic right. When you drive you are required to follow laws and if a teenager has already be charged with any type of felony before getting a driver's license, it shows the irresponsibility of that teenager. What makes you think that he/she will obey traffic & other laws?

The line has to start being drawn somewhere to keep our young people out of trouble. This is a very sad world to raise children in today.

Top

Males 18
Woman...when they can pry that damn cell phone from their head. I'm saying never.

Emma

i reckon it should be 18 when boys especially aren't so imature

Gary A

The question is clearly subjective as it has as its base a question in maturity, both from a physical and emotional standpoint. Suffice to say, an individual generally reaches a level of physical maturity by the age of 16 which allows them to operate a motor vehicle but the emotional maturity can take much longer and in some cases, as with mental disabilities, it's never achieved. My subjective opinion, don't change it in North America, 16 is a perfectly good age to learn to drive and continue implementing programs to monitor and develop the maturity side, such as the graduated license program in Ontario.

I see a lot of answers that are trying to tie driving to education, which is a wonderful leverage for parents but let's face it, it's a ridiculous idea for the world in general. Many rural areas of the world manage to operate motor vehicles despite the lack of a high school diploma, in fact, many of our transportation workers, both bus drivers and truck drivers do not have high school educations. It doesn't require book knowledge to understand the value of life and the value of responsibility.

Let's face it, there are kids at 14 who have the maturity both physically and emotionally to handle the responsibilities of driving, most do not... That said, should it not be a parents responsibility to know when their own child is ready to drive? If at 16 they aren't nearly ready, hold them back until they are 18, but don't punish those 16 year olds who are ready to learn to operate a vehicle responsibly.

Insensitively Honest

I think they should make it to where you not only have to have a diploma , but have a trouble free school record during high school , I don't mean petty things , but anything that shows a person as having a mental disorder , or a history of violence , and lack of respect for the rules and regulations ...

Sounds tough , but I look at it like this , car crashes are the number one killer of teens . if they do not behave away from mom,and dad at school , how can you expect them to behave out behind the wheel , I have been on the fire dept for 20 years and the number of dead teen kids I cut out of cars are growing , most of the causes are stupidity .

I would also make everyone re test every renewal day , I see plenty of adults who should not be driving as well ,

the parents who buy these kids the fast hot rod cars , sports cars etc. I think the parents should have to come to the crash site , and remove their kids bodies as well , after all buying a kid a fast car is just dumb ....

I am tired of paying high insurance costs because of others idiotic driving .......

I do not care how old you are as long as you have a High School Diploma , 17, 18 or 25 it does not matter the age as long as you have graduated..
And notice I do not use the word accident ..there is no such thing involving a car , it is a crash or a collision because it is stupidity of someone that has caused the crash , and if stupid actions caused it , how can it be accidental ????

Many people have forgotten that driving is a privilege and it is not a right ..

Mildred S

car_fanatic83

In my belief, once someone is at least in high school level can they start to drive. By someone's teenage years, they should learn to be that independent and be more responsible.

Midnight Rose

i think if a teenager is responsible and passes their driving test[s] then they should be allowed to drive at 15.

â™¥angelfireâ™¥

16 years old

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