18, not 16, to drive!

[Bubba1]

i think the amount of maturity increase from a 16 to 18 yr old doesnt out weigh the reasons for a 16 yr old to be driving. fact is, most 16 yr olds need a way to get around for jobs, sports, friend's houses, etc... and not everywhere has public transportation so u cant give liscenses just to the suburban kids and not the inner-city kids.

Well, when I was 16, I used this wonderful device called a bicycle to get to work and to visit friends. I also walked to school. If the distance I needed to go was too far, and public transportation was not available or if the weather was bad, I asked someone to drive me. I'm not saying I walked to school 2 miles each way uphill barefoot across a frozen tundra. It was only 1.5 miles(snicker). But amazing as it seems, most 16 yr olds can actually survive without a drivers license. It's not a requirement or a "right" in high school, it's an adult privilege. And 16 is not considered adult. 18 is...

Here's another factor besides maturity: Most 16 yr olds live at home and are presumably still in high school. Many more 18 yr olds are more likely out of their parents homes and living somewhere else. (college, 1st apartment, etc) Big difference. As far as fines go , I kinda like the more harsh penalties (automatic suspensions) for 16yr old drivers, because they obviously have not comprehended the responsibility they were just taught. And in most cases, the 16yr old's parents get the honor of being nailed for insurance surcharges, not the 16yr old.

Older drivers do tend to get some breaks over younger ones as (in general) they have to drive in order to make a living and provide for their families (which include 16 yr olds). Yes, it's not fair. But that doesn't make the offenses they commit any less wrong, or that older offenders should be punished any less. The national trend is moving toward insurance surcharges for speeding tickets, so bad driving has an added cost attached to it. Hopefully a financial hit will convince more people with the "need for speed" to slow it down, regardless of age.

[milo]

I see the reasoning behind both sides and its rather solid

I'll give you my 2 cents as a 17 year old.

I don't really know what i'd be doing without my car right now. Without it i'd probably spend alot more time at home on the weekends, wouldn't be able to drive to school and back, couldn't go to the gym, couldn't drive to any practices, dances, football games, etc. It would smash my social life.

However, when i'm a passenger (as in with other people my age) the stupidity of young drivers really shows... i'm glad I always wear my seatbelt. I will admit that most kids that are driving really can't drive for ****. One of my best friends totalled two cars in like a 4 month period (its a chick but still).

But, on the other end of the spectrum, I know a kid who is 18 and has totalled two cars already. Last time I was in his car he was doing 70 down one of the most crowded streets in our city (40mph zone). It makes me shake my head as to think that he, as an 18 year old, should be able to drive and not me.

Although alot of kids are like "well i'm a good driver!" (very common thing to hear) most arent. Compared to anybody i've ridden with, i'm a "safe" driver, but I also make mistakes (comes with gaining driving experience.) While many people on the board would laugh at me if I claim I am a good driver at 17, they would probably agree if they rode along with me, especially after viewing some of the complete morons on the streets of New Orleans (not like they dont exist anywhere else, but its REALLY bad here.) Also, some of the worst driving I see comes from adults.

I would say that the driving age should not be raised - but the requirements for a license should be much steeper... so we dont have as many idiots on the road.

Little story to add onto this about some retard who was probably in his early 20's in an eclipse in front of me. I'm driving down a main street to the interstate ramps, when this eclipse driver apparently doesnt notice the land ENDS and he flies up the cross-section white lines. I slowed down (no traffic really, late at night) and let him merge in front of me. So he floors it even though the ramp is a 25mph sharp exit and soon disappear.

A minute later i'm getting ready to merge onto the interstate, no traffic.. I look in front of me after checking blindspot and such and... the retard eclipse completely stopped at the end of the "speed up section" right before you merge... so i slow down.He again floors it and swings across 3 lanes and begins to instantly tailgate somebody.. swinging left and right behind them.He finally gets around them and speeds off...

So much for older people = more maturity :/

[89240sx]

Hey stutt944 , I just noticed you are in Athens.. .Nice to have more GA people here! I'm in Snellville ... work in Atlanta

You go to school in Athens?

/change of subject.

[biggie]

ok now mine

It is probably true that 18+ should get license. But from me when I was 16 (I'm almost 26 now) I nor my parents could afford to support me without some help. Therefore the law of 18 will not and should not go into effect. Kids need to drive because kids need to work. But then again maybe it could be based on income and necessity, because most of the stoopid driving comes from rich kids who don't have to work and don't have an responsibilty in there life. I can't say much though, the first day I had my license I hit 100+ on the way to school (I grew up in the middle of no where though).

Ok, enought of the old guy.

laterbiggie

[MrFox]

The need for driver licensing is to protect the public's safety. It cannot be based on necessity. Should those who need to drive for a living be held to a lower standard comparaed to those who drive for less important reasons?

[skydragoness]

i think a lot of the "minor 24+ license suspension" has a lot to do with the fact that 18 and older can live out in the free world on their own, and they "need" a car more than a minor. minors are in HS (or should be) and it is 100x easier to restrict them by taking away the license. 18 and up people (i.e. the rest of the world) usually have a greater obligation requiring their license.most minors reasoning for needing a car/license is they have to get to work. but why are you working? to pay for the car, the car's gas, dates, cds and stuff, marijuana, etc. its not totally a need based situation at that age. (mind you, 99% of the time...which might as well be 100% because to the gov't and statistic-takers...theres always those one-percenters. and who really cares about them anyway):cwm27

that's what i was saying. i didn't need a job in highschool (well, not that much) but i definitely needed one once i got a car.

but i think the duration of driver's education should increase, and not just the duration but the quality too. none of this "one week and your'e on the road" crap. that's just scary to think about.

edit: Mr.Fox: i totally agree

[Nathan]

The work issue is a good point, My girlfriend gets absolutely no spending/extra money from her parents...all the money she has she saves up for by working and near us the options for GOOD jobs are pretty low so she'd end up walking a good distance. She also will be paying for her own college and hence feels the need to start saving before it starts. For people like her...a car is a necessity as early as possible. For people like me...well I'd have done stupid things no matter what, it just took screwing up once to teach me that it's not worth the risk to endanger those that I care about and those that others undoubtedly care about. No amount of age would have taught that to me, only experience.

[KoukiS14]

I'm not gonna read 4 pages. . but .. just to make sure it's been said

It's not the age at all... Licensing is MUCH too easy to obtain in the U.S. . . If you change the age to 18, you'll have inexperienced 18 year olds driving. Take a look at the foreign people that are in their 30s, 40s, even 50s that come to the U.S. and obtain a license, that have never driven a car before.

They have no clue what's goin' on...

I've gone through flight school, and I believe that obtaining a driver's license should be just as tough. (but still manageable)