Proper Driving Age?

[Wiggin]

My first topic.


If I weren't procrastinating right now I would finish my driver's ed and get my permit. I'm barely even fifteen and a half, sixteen in June.

Here are some statistics I grabbed:


National Teen Driving Statistics

* Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers.
* 16 year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age.
* 16-year-olds are three times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than the average of all drivers.
* 3,490 drivers age 15-20 died in car crashes in 2006, up slightly from 2005.
* Drivers age 15-20 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 in 2006.


What do you think the proper driving age is?

[nerdvincent]

I don't think it's a matter of age, but experience. If you put the legal driving age at 35 instead of 16, you'll have a higher car crash rate at 35 instead of 16.

[Wiggin]

I suppose that's partially true. But there's the argument that teenagers are less responsible, drive while talking to friends or on cell phones.

[Chris]

It should be 18 and it should be like what it is in Germany and the UK.

Acquiring a driving license here in America is such a joke.

[gela]

Let me tell you about our stupid system of getting a licence.

We have to take 4 tests to get our full licence.
The first test can be taken when you are 16 - it is just a knowledge test, of road signes and rules.
Once you pass this test you can get your lerner licence.
On your lerner licence, you speed limit is 80Km/h(49m). You can only drive when you have a full licence holder in the car with you. You have to do 120 hours of driving with a licence holder in order to take your second test - you also have to be 17 to be able to take the second test.

After the second test you can get your red Provisional licence. You have to 'P plates' on you car so police can target you for anything you might do wrong. Speed limit is 90km/h; and you have a curfew. You can't carry more then one passenger after 11pm. Your also not alowed to have any alchole in your system. If you were drinking the night before, then too bad.
After a year on red Provisional, you can get green provisional. Green Provisional's dont have the curfew, and their speed limit is 100km/h. They also have to have p plates so police can target them. Alchole is still not alowed in your system at all. You stay on green P's for at least 2 years.
Finaly, after at least 4 years (it takes most people more then that); and the driver is 20 years old, they can be considered a normal driver, and can have a full licence.

And old people still bitch that young drivers should be hasseled instead of them.

Basicly, it makes us safer - but it also is very very inconvienient.
When I went through my lerners licence I only had to do 50 hours (they have changed to rules since then) - that was hard enough. Parents dont have that much time on their hands, I have several friends on their lerners who have had them for a year, and only have done about 5 hours.
Im on my red P's. I can't drive my friends home after we go out because of curfew - it puts them in dangerous situations. Alot of my 18 year old friends are still on their learners licence.
Alot of people drop out of school at the age 16 in order to work. They have alot of trouble getting to work and back when they can't drive themselves.
We still have a high death toll in teenagers because we make stupid desisions - it isn't about skill, its about choosing to speed, and choosing to take risks. Speed limits do nothing - it only means that the people who were responsible anyway have to go slower.

[Wiggin]

Daaaang...

To get my permit all I have to do is take ten units of "Drivers Ed" and then a test that a first grader could pass.

To get my driver's license I have to take two driving classes and drive fifty hours.

That's all there is to it.

[Cephus]

I think it should be raised to 18 and any alcohol-related offenses on the record at all would raise it to 21 for that individual. It's not all experience, a lot of it is maturity. Teenage males, of which I was one at one point in time, want to go fast and show off. They get into accidents. They really need to have the time to grow up a little before you put a potentially lethal weapon under their control.

[gela]

I think it should be raised to 18 and any alcohol-related offenses on the record at all would raise it to 21 for that individual. It's not all experience, a lot of it is maturity. Teenage males, of which I was one at one point in time, want to go fast and show off. They get into accidents. They really need to have the time to grow up a little before you put a potentially lethal weapon under their control.

I disagree. When your young you have to get a job. No one would employ a 22 year old that has no work history, and no high education.
Not all of us live near public transport or have parents who would drive us around.
One mistake shouldn't affect your entire life like that.. I think they'd be better off giving them a massive fine. That would sting, and make them too poor to be able afford alchole anymore.

[Cephus]

Quote by: gela I disagree. When your young you have to get a job. No one would employ a 22 year old that has no work history, and no high education.

Give me a break, I see far too many young people, especially those in school, who have never had a job in their life. When I was that age, I worked a full time job and went to school full time, but today, the thought of anyone actually having to work to put yourself through school?

Have you seen all those commercials where they're trying to figure out where to get the money to go to school? They've got grants and loans but can't figure out where to get the rest. My response? Get a goddamn job!

One mistake shouldn't affect your entire life like that.. I think they'd be better off giving them a massive fine. That would sting, and make them too poor to be able afford alchole anymore.

There are some mistakes that are life-changing, sorry. You're not supposed to be drinking under the age of 21 anyhow, making them pay a fine and have no other restrictions is a bit silly, don't you think? How do you learn a lesson that way?

[Wiggin]

I'd like to add to what Cephus said by saying that simply fining them doesn't solve the problem does it?

The problem should be eliminated by making sure there is no problem or reason to fine anybody for at all.

[gela]

Give me a break, I see far too many young people, especially those in school, who have never had a job in their life. When I was that age, I worked a full time job and went to school full time, but today, the thought of anyone actually having to work to put yourself through school? Have you seen all those commercials where they're trying to figure out where to get the money to go to school? They've got grants and loans but can't figure out where to get the rest. My response? Get a goddamn job!

Don't live in the USA.. most University students do infact, work here. If they are not in university then most have a traineeship or a job at maccas or something.

There are some mistakes that are life-changing, sorry. You're not supposed to be drinking under the age of 21 anyhow, making them pay a fine and have no other restrictions is a bit silly, don't you think? How do you learn a lesson that way?

Again, not from the USA. Drinking age is 18 here.
Sure, take their licence for 6 months. But 3 years? thats a bit steep.
Everyone makes stupid mistakes when their young. I still don't think its fair to ruin a persons entire working life over one drink driving offence.
3 drink driving offences? mabe.

Then you get all the blurry ones in between. Like I said before, if under 20 years old your not allowed to have any alcohol in your system at all whilst driving.
What if you are driving home the morning after a big night out? What if you take some medication that that some alcohol content? What if your drink was spiked? What if you took one sip of an alcoholic drink, mistaking it for your own unalcoholic drink?

[Chris]

Quote by: Wiggin Daaaang... To get my permit all I have to do is take ten units of "Drivers Ed" and then a test that a first grader could pass. To get my driver's license I have to take two driving classes and drive fifty hours. That's all there is to it.

As I said it is such a joke getting a full driving license here.

With me I had a drivers ed course in school (after hours) and had a learners permit at the age of 15 y and 6 months.

I drove with my dad in the car for that period, and then took a written test (joke) and the state employee made me drive around the parking lot of the DMV. (freaking joke) No highway driving, no major road driving. (freaking joke).

I was tested in maneuverability. (drive through cones without knocking them over - joke)

thats it. Pay the lady and heres your license, wham bam thank you maam.

(freaking joke)

[Cephus]

Quote by: gela Don't live in the USA.. most University students do infact, work here. If they are not in university then most have a traineeship or a job at maccas or something.

Here, it's way too common for people to never get a job at all until after they graduate from college and that's pathetic.

Sure, take their licence for 6 months. But 3 years? thats a bit steep.

I don't think it's steep at all considering it is illegal here to drink *AT ALL* before you turn 21, I have no problem putting strong penalties on it, especially with how many drunk driving fatalities we have.

Then you get all the blurry ones in between. Like I said before, if under 20 years old your not allowed to have any alcohol in your system at all whilst driving.

Here, you're not allowed to have any alcohol in your system, period.

[gela]

I don't think it's steep at all considering it is illegal here to drink *AT ALL* before you turn 21, I have no problem putting strong penalties on it, especially with how many drunk driving fatalities we have.

just charge them for drink driving and underage drinking seperatly.
I dont think there is a penalty for underage drinking here.. my sister was picked up by the police off her face drunk on new years.. when she was 14. They just asked mum to come and get her, no fines, no questions asked.

Here, you're not allowed to have any alcohol in your system, period.

I think we're alowed to have 1 standard drink.. or mabe two.. something like that.