Would raising the minimum legal driving age to 18 reduce the number of accidents?
i think you are all right
the age of 16 is simply not mature enough. Why do 16 year old need to drive anyway..
Posted by: Anonymousyes teens should not drive at 16
Teens don’t know the consequences that come with driving; like crashes. “They party and drink, and when they drive drunk, that's another wreck and death waiting to happen. A lot of teens just want a car to drive, they don't really drive the proper way.” “Teenagers who drink and drive are at much greater risk of serious crashes than are older drivers with equal concentrations of alcohol in their blood.” Statistics show that it is estimated that on average, for every driver age 15 to 16 killed in a crash, there are nearly two other people who are killed in the accident. Are you sure you want to hand over those keys to your 16 year old?
Posted by: AnonymousRaise the driving age
Statistics show that US is one of the few countries that grant 16 year olds their license. And we are the country with the highest percentage of teen car accidents in the world. Coincidence? I think not.
Posted by: AnonymousRaising the minimum legal driving age to eighteen will ensure that the drivers are more responsible, thus reducing accidents.
Older people are more responsible. An eighteen year old will weigh the pros and cons of his actions. This attitude ensures good civic sense. youngsters are safe and sensible drivers. Their careful driving reduces accidents on the roads. Thus,increasing the minimum driving age to eighteen makes good sense.
Posted by: Sk8brdrSalomYes
Because driving is a huge responsibility, passenger's and their lives depend on the driver. I think they should be a little more mature than 16 to drive. Students aged 16 have too much other work to do in high school so they might forget some rules.
Posted by: AnonymousYes.
I believe it would, although I think the minimum legal driving age should remain at 16. The difference between 16 and 18 isn't that much (therefore the difference in accidents wouldn't be much), and many 16-17 year old's licences are important to them. For example, they may need a license to run errands for their family, or to drive siblings to places they need to be.
Posted by: martiansharkYes - lets raise it even farther to 21
Yes, and I approve raising it to 21!
There's a greater problem in the United States - teenagers from a young age learn to be dependent on cars. By the time they're out working, they have a car, and they don't know any different. We have such an ingrained car culture here that it's sickening and destroying our planet, and our urban environments.
I propose raising it to 21. What will this accomplish?
The general population will see what its like to go a good 3 years after high school without being able to drive.
These young high school grads and college students will increase the demand for walkable urban environments.Posted by: AnonymousYes, I agree because raising the age bar will mean that there will be more responsible and mature drivers behind the wheel and hence lesser accidents.
Though there are a number of other factors other than age that causes accidents, I consider age as one of the chief factors responsible for a lot of road rage. Raising the age bar will mean more level headed people driving. We will have lesser people involved in bike racing and drunken driving on the roads. A good number of rash driving cases involve youngsters. Even another two or three years of age adds a fair degree of maturity to an individual; so the administration may try this for a few years and examine the statistics after a three year period. That will give a clear indication that this is a prudent thought.
Posted by: SmarterTabbyYes, I do think that raising the minimum legal driving age to 18 will reduce the number of accidents as there will be older and more responsible people on the roads.
People who are 18 and above are more mature and responsible than 16 and 17 year olds. They might drive more responsibly and less rashly which will reduce the number of accidents on the roads. So I think a minimum legal driving age of 18 is a good way to do that.
Posted by: danoneenoThey should raise it to 18
Because kids dont really mature once they get a hold of a car they think the road is theirs! Thats why we have alot of accidents and fatalities. Some people or should i say some parents dont like that idea because it will be more on them on driving the teenagers.
Posted by: AnonymousYes, 18 year olds are more mature
Raising the driving age to 18 would give teens some time to gain more maturity. It would give teens a chance to learn more about driving, and how dangerous it can be. They could get a chance to learn the consequences that could come with reckless driving. Also, raising the driving age limit could help tackle obesity. With more teens walking or biking instead of driving, more kids would be getting the excercise they need, not to mention it would help the environment.
Posted by: AnonymousOf Course it would, it already has
Its already been proven actually, in New Jersey you have to wait an extra year to get your drivers license, and the number of crashes before and after the law passed indicates how raising the driving age even to 17 would reduce the number of accidents. Raising it to 18 would even further reduce the number of actions, especially if it were implemented nation-wide
Posted by: imabench??
Raising the driving age will mean that fewer cars will be driven. Having fewer vehicles on the road (maybe 2% less) will benefit society as a whole. Firstly, it will reduce overcrowding on the roads, easing congestion and allowing the remaining traffic to flow more freely. Secondly cars are a major source of pollution and especially pump out a lot of carbon which contributes to climate change. Any measure which reduces car use should therefore be supported. Raising the driving age would also help us tackle obesity. Lack of exercise is a major reason why many people are hugely overweight. Obesity leads to ill health for the individual, and society suffers through higher taxes to pay for the extra healthcare spending, as well as from lower economic output. Many teens are obese and raising the driving age would force them to walk instead of riding, giving them much-needed exercise. 16-18 is also a time when people develop habits that will stick with them for life. This means that raising the driving age will have a wider impact as people will grow up less dependent on their cars.
Posted by: AnonymousMathematically speaking, raising the minimum driving age to 18 would reduce the number of drivers on the road, thereby reducing the number of accidents.
One must logically come to the conclusion that reducing the number of drivers in a given space would reduce the number of possibilities for accidents. By raising the minimum driving age to 18, you also take the youngest and most inexperienced drivers off the road, thus reducing the potential for accidents. Albeit, this would mean that 18-year-old drivers would be inexperienced, but the fact remains that you would have fewer drivers on the road. Further, you would have fewer total drivers in the 16-24 year old age group, which is the group primarily responsible for the largest number of automobile accidents per year.
Posted by: DerangedGil33I believe raising the driving age to 18 would reduce the number of accidents mainly because kids are to immature to be driving at 16.
There have been studies done that teenagers' bodies and minds are changing dramatically at the ages of 15-17, and they have many distractions and find it difficult to concentrate on one task at a time. That is why there would be less accidents if they raise the driving age to 18.
Posted by: MycCra2iiI'm 18 and I know many people who use their licenses irresponsibly.
Why not just slow down and ride a bike? No need to rush around everywhere; let's enjoy our youth before speeding off into adulthood. However, while we're on the subject I think there should be more regulations for restricting the number of accidents involving the elderly. As a cyclist in an area which contains many senior-only communities, there are certain parts of town I avoid for the simple fact that many people have died there from being run over by elderly people with bad eyesight. Past a certain age (let's say 70), there should be a requirement that seniors have their eyesight checked by a doctor to see if it's good enough for driving. They don't need perfect eyesight, but they at least need to be able to distinguish a bike lane from a car lane.
Posted by: Anonymousyes
because they have more time to think about the dangers of driving
Posted by: AnonymousYes,I waited until I was 18 and it gave me the maturity I needed.
Many teens get into car accidents, more so than adults. Two local accidents this last weekend show that. 11 teens are dead and 2 are injured, all because of stupidity. By increasing the driving age to 18, it would save money and lives. I'm a strong proponent of raising the driving age. I'm all for giving people their freedom, but not at the risk of others. Teens can't buy alcohol, cigarettes, or guns, yet they can drive a 2-ton automobile around other people.
Posted by: AnonymousYes, statistics show that younger drivers have more accidents.
Absolutely, raising the age to 18 would save many lives and prevent many accidents. Statistics show that young, inexperienced drivers have a higher rate of accidents than those in older age groups. This is especially true of teenage boys. They do not have enough experience or wisdom, and sometimes,not enough self control to be good drivers.
Posted by: NettN355Young drivers are inexperienced and cause a large proportion of accidents, so raising the age should reduce accident numbers.
Statistically, teenagers are very likely to get into automobile accidents, perhaps because they have not fully developed cognitively and through lack of experience. In addition to requiring more hours practicing with a licensed driver, increasing the minimum legal driving age to 18 would take these drivers off the road, and prevent countless accidents and deaths.
Posted by: SpikyWesleyThis would save lives.
Raising it to 18 would reduce the number of drivers on the road, thus causing accidents to be lowered in general; it would also give young drivers a chance to mature before they begin driving, This also gives them a chance to be mature in decisions like driving under the influence and also peer pressure on driving.
Posted by: AnonymousYes, those extra couple of years can help as people get a little more mature and responsible.
Raising the driving age to 18 might help a lot. When a bunch of 16 year olds are driving around together, they are very irresponsible. They don't pay attention, I believe this has been proven, they don't understand the impact their youth and lack of attention can have. They need to know the consequences that unsafe, immature driving can have. Those extra years of life an offer a bit of experience to take along on the road.
Posted by: PinkMychRaising the minimum age of driving to 18 would prevent a large amount of accidents because younger drivers aren't as matured.
It's simple science that the adult brain doesn't fully mature until the person is in their 20's. Raising the minimum age of driving to 18 would be a good step to furthering road safety. Many accidents are caused by careless young drivers, especially if other young people are in the car with them. Hopefully by the time they are 18 they will be responsible enough to drive safely.
Posted by: RayEarSadly yes.
Yes it would simply because there would be less people on the road, but it has nothing to do with the age of the drivers. Increasing the minimum age would take two years of drivers off the roads. But the 18 year old drivers would have just as many accidents as the 16 year old ones today because the only reason that wrecks decrease through age is not brain development, but experience. If there was a law that everyone had to go through a year or two of drivers ed before they could drive it would decrease the amount of wrecks on the road a whole lot more.
Posted by: Mjone77
16 year olds are equally as capable of driving as 18 year olds
Statistics show that new drivers, especially those aged 16 to 24 years, are up to three times more likely to be involved in a serious road crash. However research has also found that strengthening the driving experiences and supervision of new drivers can lead to significant reductions in crashes both before and after getting a driver's licence. Also, most accidents are caused by other distractions such as cell phones or other drivers.
Posted by: AnonymousRaising it to 18 does not remove inexperienced drivers
I'm a 16 year old with a learners permit, and it's my belief that raising the limit to 18 will not take inexperienced drivers off the road, it will simply make the 18 year olds the inexperienced drivers. Right now, the most accidents happen between 16 and 24 years old, if we raise it to 18 who's to say that the rate won't change and the accident toll will be between 18 and 26 years of age? I don't believe in changing the age limit but if we want to keep immature drivers off the road then make them take some sort of test to determine if they have what it takes. Besides, everybody makes mistakes even people who've been driving for over 20 years.
Posted by: AnonymousNo
The decision for a teenager to drive still stands with the parent or legal guardian. Even the learners permit exam requires the signature or presence of the child's parent of guardian. A good parent would know if their child is capable of driving at their age and would make the decision to allow their child to drive or not.
Posted by: AnonymousWith all new experiences your always make mistakes.
My belief is exactly the headline; with all new things you try there's always at least one mistake someone makes and must learn from. Whether the driving age is raised or not, there is still that one mistake made, there could be a 40 year old on they're learners. Changing the driving age will only make the statistics say 18 year olds instead of 16 year olds.
Posted by: AnonymousI oppose raising the legal driving age to 18 because the maturity level of individuals that age is not significantly higher than their 16 year old peers.
Accidents among teens are devastating and many. However, what is needed is a better educational system including scare tactics such as graphic films of wreckage and victims lying dead and broken on the side of the road. Raising the legal driving age will only create hardships for those youngsters who need to work and for their parents who, overwhelmed with their own work and home responsibilities, would be burdened even further trying to haul their kids around.
Posted by: N3vinFaceno
there are still accidents even with other age groups of driving most teens arent responsible and they will serve the consequences for that most of us teens are really maturig at the age og 16 and i dont think that you should raise it because ven if you do that is not going to change in the amount of accidents its who is mature and who is not , its not the age
Posted by: AnonymousAccidents
I've driven with some people who are horrible drivers even though they've been driving for a while, and I've driven with people who haven't been driving very long but are pretty good. Some people are ready, and some people aren't. Is it fair to punish the teens who can drive for other peoples mistakes.
Posted by: AnonymousThe parents are the problem in this situation.
The problem isn't the kids its' the parents. My mother and father taught me how to drive at 12 years old. I know how to drive manual and automatic. We live on almost 200 acres of property in the country and our closest neighbors are Mennonites. I see 10 year olds driving pick up trucks. Problems surface when parents don't take the time to teach their kids and push them in front of a car and expect them to come home safely.
Posted by: AnonymousNO!
No, because you would still have the same amount of experience as you would if you were sixteen. They'd be just as scared and inexperienced as a 16 year old. Many 16 year olds start working, and learning to become responsible at 16. Not being able to drive, causes a problem there.
Posted by: AnonymousPhysical immaturity is not what makes people good or bad drivers.
The issue we have today with bad drivers isn't because the driving age limit is too low. It is because the required knowledge and practice tests are far too easy to pass. For instance on my driving test, if I fail to parallel park correctly twice, and manage to get it on the third try, I still pass that test, regardless of the fact that I just effectively crashed my car twice. We should rather make sure that driving tests ensure that a person actually knows what they're doing. Many accidents are caused by people doing what they think is "nice" rather than what is legal and safe.
Posted by: AnonymousMany teenagers under 18 are very responsible drivers, often more so than their adult counterparts.
There is no reason to believe that increasing the legal driving age would have any effect on the resulting number of accidents. Unless it can be proved that a preponderant amount of accidents are the fault of drivers under the age of 18 this will be of no value in decreasing the number of accidents.
Posted by: MariaRRaising the driving age will create more dependant generations
I think that if the driving age is raised kids will depend on their parents for rides jobs and money of course it will reduce the ammount of accidents but you also reduce drivers and we will have a dependant generation who cannot function on their own
Posted by: AnonymousIt wouldn't do much to the accidents.
It won't do much. I believe it would cause more. Teenagers might be driving cars without a permit or license. And 18 year old and up might be careless and the accidents wills still be the same because everyone makes accidents and mistakes. We can't undo the deaths and all. Parents and the teachers would know when it's alright to five a teenager their license. Every adult had to go through their own mistakes and learning when we were young, so don't hate.
Posted by: AnonymousNo
How would it help at all if it were changed to 18 then families and children looking forward to getting their license would be enraged that they have to wait two more years because what if the young driver runs errands or dive around a sick relative what than are people supposed to just sit around and do noting are the sick supposed to just sit around and die i think not
Posted by: orgaiscmuffinNO WAY
I've driven with some people who are horrible drivers even though they've been driving for a while, And I've driven with people who haven't been driving very long but are pretty good. Some people are ready, and some people aren't. Is it fair to punish the teens who can drive for other peoples mistakes.
Posted by: AnonymousA License Is What Every Teen Waits For!
They Can't Wait Until Their 16th Birthday. A Driver's License Is The Best Gift, Along With A Car, A Teenager Could Get. Getting To Go Places On Their Own. And 16 Year Olds Can Be Mature And Responsible. I Know Tons Of 18 Year Olds Who Are Completely Immature. The 16 Year Olds I Know Are More Responsible And Mature. Don't Raise The Age!
Posted by: AnonymousNo, I do not think that raising the minimum age of driving to 18 would reduce the number of accidents because it is all about experience
If you raise the driving age to 18 you just change the age of the teens that will die. 16 year olds also should drive because it teaches them responsibility, it provides a convenient "taxi service" for younger siblings, and it allows teens to get to their JOBS without their parents driving them everywhere. That is why raising the driving age is bad.
Posted by: AnonymousRaising the minimum legal driving to 18 would not reduce the number of accidents, because it would only move the number of accidents to a higher age group.
Raising the minimum legal driving to 18 would not reduce the number of accidents, because the number of accidents accredited to inexperienced drivers would move from the 16-18 age range to the 18-20 age range. The accident rate may actually increase, because the older drivers are more likely to be involved in drinking and driving. Combining inexperienced drivers with drinking and driving is an invitation to an accident.
Posted by: JamieMNo, I do not think raising the minimum age of driving to 18 would reduce the number of accidents, because age is just a number.
No, I do not think that raising the minimum age of driving to 18 would reduce the number of accidents, because age is just a number. Also, accidents happen, no matter what. By allowing individuals to start driving at 16, it teaches them responsibility, so they can thrive when they reach 18 years old.
Posted by: SecondNoel50No, the driving age should not be raised because 16 year olds are just as capable as 18 year olds
Statistics show that new drivers, especially those aged 16 to 24 years, are up to three times more likely to be involved in a serious road crash. However research has also found that strengthening the driving experiences and supervision of new drivers can lead to significant reductions in crashes both before and after getting a driver's licence. Also, most crashes are caused by other distractions such as other drivers or cell phones
Posted by: Some_Guy72No it wouldn't
Even if they're 18 when they're first allowed to drive, that's not going to make them any more experienced. They would cause just as many accidents if the driving age were still 16. Therefore they would still see just as many accidents due to inexperience, and if it were to stay at 16, it wouldn't change anything.
Posted by: AnonymousIllegal drink/driving
if we were to keep the driving age at 16, more kids would learn the lesson of not to drink and drive because they are not of drinking age. however, 18 is much closer to the canadian drinking age therefore more people would celebrate getting their G2's by going out for a drink with friends.
Posted by: AnonymousProbably not
Although God knows, I don't have any sort of statistics or anything to hand to defend my stance. I mean, your brain won't be fully developed at either 16 or 18, so does it make a huge difference? Probably not.
Posted by: AlwaysMoreThanYouRaising the legal limit of driving would not do much
Because people who are planning to drive would start driving education at higher ages, and therefore have the same experience. Although hand-eye coordination would increase at later ages.
Posted by: Anonymous