Where Would You Set The Driving Age?

[SanFranciscan]

To be on the up and up with you all I will tell you that I am not a teen. I am 47 years old. I am asking where you would set the legal driving age because I saw an insurance company's advertisement saying that the legal driving age had been raised to 17 in the state of New Jersey and that this was credited with saving lives. My own experience as a teen made me question this. I learned to drive twice because I originally learned with an automatic transmission so I had to learn over again with a manual transmission, which my husband taught me.

My father did not want for me to drive when I reached legal age to learn and only relented when he realized that I would soon be 18 and had already been sneaking around to learn with a man who was only teaching me in hopes of puttting the make on me in return, although I was naive enough that it took me a while to figure that out. I think that I would have been safer if I had been allowed to drive legally than taking all of the risks that I did accepting rides from strangers when I refused to live under house arrest, which is basically what you do without a car in the suburbs.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[BabyPiglet]

I honestly think 17 is a good age. Here you can get your permit at 14, and I think that's just way too young.

 

[imabrat]

I really think it depends on someone's maturity level. There are 17 year olds I know who have totalled 3 different cars, text while driving, and should absolutely NOT be on the road. But, I also know 17 year olds who are more cautious/a better driver than most seasoned veterans.

The driving age is really tricky because you expect someone to be mature enough to handle such a big responsibility, yet they fail you in many ways. Since you can't judge someone's maturity based on their age, you just have to assume they'll be mature enough. I, personally, think 18 is a good age. It may be a hassle for some, but it'll save lives.

 

[Sparx]

in tennessee its 16. i think thats a good age.

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

I got my permit at 14 and 8 months, personally I see nothing wrong with that.
I'm going to have a license with a few time-related restrictions on my 16th birthday.

Honestly, I also believe it has to do with maturity. Most people I know are great drivers, and they fact we get our permits so early gives TONS of practice before our license.

Now, there are those who've totaled 2 cars within 2 months of their license, in which case they were certainly NOT ready.

 

[Sparx]

I really think it depends on someone's maturity level. There are 17 year olds I know who have totalled 3 different cars, text while driving, and should absolutely NOT be on the road. But, I also know 17 year olds who are more cautious/a better driver than most seasoned veterans.

The driving age is really tricky because you expect someone to be mature enough to handle such a big responsibility, yet they fail you in many ways. Since you can't judge someone's maturity based on their age, you just have to assume they'll be mature enough. I, personally, think 18 is a good age. It may be a hassle for some, but it'll save lives.

i moved an hour away from my mom at 17, after i graduated high school. and i'll be well into my first semester before i turn 18. who's supposed to drive me to class?

 

[PigletGurl]

18

 

[Axel]

Honestly, I think that 18 is a good age. I'm glad that it's 16 because it meant I could have my license earlier, but that's about it.

I think that, especially in the area I live, 16 with a car brings on a lot of undue stress. I know people who were cutting back on what they ate so they could afford gas and keep their cars in repair so they'd look cool. I know kids who use their cars responsibly, but then I know kids who drink and drive, do drugs and drive, and are generally just really stupid when driving. A fried of mine has totalled three cars-- including flipping her second car with her little sister in the backseat.

I dunno. I think there should be certain exceptions for people like Shelby-- those who are living on their own independent of their parents or family and who need a car for legitimate reasons ie: getting to school, getting to work, etc;

 

[I Am What I Am]

Here in FL it's permit at 15 and license at 16. I'm getting my permit within the next week. I'm not getting a car until I graduate so at 17/18.

I think that giving your child a car at 16 isn't the best idea. They've only had a year of practice. I think permit and license at 15/16 then car at 18/17 because they've had 2/3 years of experience at least.

It also depends on a person's maturity. Some kids are more mature at 13 then others are at 18. (I am in no advocating that 13 year olds should be driving BTW)

 

[My Wild Love]

I think 16 is a reaonable age as long as the 16 year old attends safe driving classes. The class should be free though because around here its almost $1500 to get your license before you're 18 which sucks.

 

[imabrat]

i moved an hour away from my mom at 17, after i graduated high school. and i'll be well into my first semester before i turn 18. who's supposed to drive me to class?

Which is why I said it would be a hassle for some. I understand your issue, because our public transportation here is really crappy. But, it's something and it would allow me to get to college if I needed. If we had no public transportation, I'd have to call a cab or carpool with a friend. If it was that important to me, I'd find a way.

 

[Sparx]

Which is why I said it would be a hassle for some. I understand your issue, because our public transportation here is really crappy. But, it's something and it would allow me to get to college if I needed. If we had no public transportation, I'd have to call a cab or carpool with a friend. If it was that important to me, I'd find a way.

well, we don't have public transportation, and my only friend here (the only other person i know in this town) is also 17. and poor college students can't afford cab fair every single day multiple times a day.

the fact of the matter is, even if the driving age was 50, a lot of people are still going to be crappy drivers.

instead of making drivers be older, how about we focus more on better road education? granted, a lot of people are still going to be horrible, but i think people will ALWAYS be bad drivers. and age has nothing to do with it.

 

[Fatphil32]

It also depends on a person's maturity. Some kids are more mature at 13 then others are at 18. (I am in no advocating that 13 year olds should be driving BTW)

This is the biggest thing for me. I think having a permit at 15 and license at 16 is fine, but a parent has to know if his child is responsible enough to have a car. I'm a pretty good driver, yet I'm still unsure if I'll be getting a car when I turn 16. My dad hints that I'll have one, but my mom said she won't be paying for one (they're divorced, btw)

 

[imabrat]

well, we don't have public transportation, and my only friend here (the only other person i know in this town) is also 17. and poor college students can't afford cab fair every single day multiple times a day.

the fact of the matter is, even if the driving age was 50, a lot of people are still going to be crappy drivers.

instead of making drivers be older, how about we focus more on better road education? granted, a lot of people are still going to be horrible, but i think people will ALWAYS be bad drivers. and age has nothing to do with it.

IMO, if you're old enough to move away from home at 17, you're old enough to find your own transportation. People who don't have cars and no public transportation can still find a way, even if they have to walk. And really, is the amount of <18 college students that high? I personally don't know that many, but that's just in my experience. Obviously, you are an exception.

Yes, a lot of people are still going to be crappy drivers - even with better education. Age definitely has something to do with it. You can't tell me overall, teens are no worse than older drivers. Of course they're worse, they're just learning how to drive. They're not seasoned yet, they haven't experienced much as far as driving is concerned.

Teenagers drive less than all but the oldest people, but their numbers of crashes and crash deaths are disproportionately high. Based on crashes of all severities, the crash rate per mile driven for 16-19 year-olds is 4 times the risk for drivers 20 and older. Risk is highest at age 16.

Crash rates for young drivers are high largely because of their immaturity combined with driving inexperience. The immaturity is apparent in young drivers' risky driving practices such as speeding. At the same time, teenagers' lack of experience behind the wheel makes it difficult for them to recognize and respond to hazards. They get in trouble trying to handle unusual driving situations, even small emergencies, and these situations turn disastrous more often than when older people drive.

http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/teens.html

 

[Sparx]

IMO, if you're old enough to move away from home at 17, you're old enough to find your own transportation. People who don't have cars and no public transportation can still find a way, even if they have to walk. And really, is the amount of <18 college students that high? I personally don't know that many, but that's just in my experience. Obviously, you are an exception.

Yes, a lot of people are still going to be crappy drivers - even with better education. Age definitely has something to do with it. You can't tell me overall, teens are no worse than older drivers. Of course they're worse, they're just learning how to drive. They're not seasoned yet, they haven't experienced much as far as driving is concerned.



http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/teens.html

i am mature enough to find my own transportation. its called my car.

and im not going to argue with you about my financial circumstances (and not being able to afford public transportation) until you move out on your own and pay your own bills. then we'll talk about if i should have to walk to school or not, even though i'm a fine driver.

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

I'd be a 17 year old college student...

It doesn't concern me thus far as I'd move cross-country and my campuses are sort of contained, but it would be tough not to experience the independence of driving if I'm already halfway across the country from my parents.

 

[Sparx]

I'd be a 17 year old college student...

It doesn't concern me thus far as I'd move cross-country and my campuses are sort of contained, but it would be tough not to experience the independence of driving if I'm already halfway across the country from my parents.

i don't live on campus, so i have to actually GET there. (there are only 2k beds on campus, but 23k undergrads, they don't really expect you to live there)

 

[Axel]

I'd be a 17 year old college student...

It doesn't concern me thus far as I'd move cross-country and my campuses are sort of contained, but it would be tough not to experience the independence of driving if I'm already halfway across the country from my parents.

see, this is where I can see some of Sonya's point. Probably 99% of the under 18 college students I know are away from home and living on campus where you don't need a car.

At UNH you're not even allowed to have a car your freshman year if you're living on campus so it wouldn't even play a part.

But like I said, I think there should be exceptions made for people who are in situations like Shelby's.

 

[Sparx]

see, this is where I can see some of Sonya's point. Probably 99% of the under 18 college students I know are away from home and living on campus where you don't need a car.

At UNH you're not even allowed to have a car your freshman year if you're living on campus so it wouldn't even play a part.

But like I said, I think there should be exceptions made for people who are in situations like Shelby's.

they really don't let you have a car? there are special parking lots at my campus for just dorm students.

 

[imabrat]

i am mature enough to find my own transportation. its called my car.

and im not going to argue with you about my financial circumstances (and not being able to afford public transportation) until you move out on your own and pay your own bills. then we'll talk about if i should have to walk to school or not, even though i'm a fine driver.

I wasn't aware we were arguing over a real situation.

they really don't let you have a car? there are special parking lots at my campus for just dorm students.

I know at the local college they don't. Public transportation goes to the local CCs, and the local state college. All housing, both on and off campus, are within walking distance.