My apologies to any teenagers here, but I'm not averse to this idea:

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Although Idaho has a graduated license, which is an improvement over the way it used to be, we still allow kids to get behind the wheel with a learner's permit at 14 1/2, and allow them to get a restricted license at the age of 15.  Far too early, IMO.  Ellen was not allowed to get her learner's permit until the age of 16.

We recently had an incident here involving a 16 year old driving at excessive speed late at night, who t-boned a fuel tanker.  A tragic, and completely avoidable death.  I know this is but a single example, but any experienced driver can tell you of many hair-raising encounters with young folks who shouldn't be behind the wheel yet.

What say you?  I'm all for raising the age for getting a learner's permit to 17 1/2, and granting a full license to drive at the age of 18.  Might go a long way toward reducing overall insurance rates as well.

No reflection on the responsible teens who are definitely out there, of course--but we don't allow adult behaviors in other arenas until the age of eighteen, and I think driving is a responsibility that a great many younger teens are not yet equipped to handle.

Best wishes,

George  

I agree.  I think if it stays at 16, then you should be registered at  school and maintain at least a C average and have no criminal record.  Would give kids a reason to do well in school too

If we lower it to 12, it might force a few more 95+ year old drivers to hang 'em up.

though i agree, i see a day when 'iris technology ' comes in to play, and this botheres me. i think time, and money would be better spent pulling 'society' together. No, i don't know how. andrew.

A 14-1/2 year old with a Learner's Permit!!!!  Good Grief!!!!!  Please tell me there are a multitude of restrictions with that one!

We have a graduated system here but kids can't even get a learner's permit until they are 16.

Based on my previous working life - I wish they'd raise the ago to 25 and then take away the right by about age 70!!!  I'm kind of kidding, maybe! ;)

andrewjb wrote on Sep 9^th, 2008 at 5:39pm:

though i agree, i see a day when 'iris technology ' comes in to play, and this botheres me. i think time, and money would be better spent pulling 'society' together. No, i don't know how. andrew.

Andrew,
Either you posted this on the wrong post or I'm as lost as a goose!


On the driving age, I don't know that upping the driving age would change the stats on accidents that much.  THe group would just be a bit older.  That being said, Sarah didn't get her license until she was 18.  Didn't see a reason for it (she rode with a friend to school and wasn't working).  She really didn't start driving on her own until her second semester of college (it did get to be a pita at times).

On the flip side, I was 17,almost 18 when I got mine and I still couldn't drive worth a sh1t (at least not a car, much more comfortable on the tractor  ;D).

I think that the time a new driver spends with an experienced driver should be substantial (at least a year).

Carolyn

FWIW, my Grandmother drove until she was 80 and never had an accident (and she didn't drive like *memaw* either).

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Went to a funeral of a 100 year old man a few weeks ago. His birthday was December and he was driving in January. That's a new one for me. Yikes.

Charlie

deltadarlin wrote on Sep 9^th, 2008 at 5:57pm:

Andrew, Either you posted this on the wrong post or I'm as lost as a goose!

Mmmm, i thought i was on thread. i was thinking of how it may be policed. andrew.

I say up it!  8-)

George--I would go even further, namely, give drivers' licenses only to 20- or 21-year-olds.

There are press accounts about the plain fact that the brain does not stop growing or changing until the early twenties.  We all need every bit of brain power we can get to drive, and teens are way too young, in my opinion.

Also I notice that In every derned close call I've had on the congested freeways where I live, a teen had a derned cell phone affixed to the ear.  But that's another subject.  I'm enough of a curmudgeon to advocate forbidding cell phone use in a car except for real emergencies.

Any other curmudgeons out there?

Barbara

writer wrote on Sep 9^th, 2008 at 9:12pm:

George--I would go even further, namely, give drivers' licenses only to 20- or 21-year-olds. There are press accounts about the plain fact that the brain does not stop growing or changing until the early twenties.  We all need every bit of brain power we can get to drive, and teens are way too young, in my opinion. Also I notice that In every derned close call I've had on the congested freeways where I live, a teen had a derned cell phone affixed to the ear.  But that's another subject.  I'm enough of a curmudgeon to advocate forbidding cell phone use in a car except for real emergencies. Any other curmudgeons out there? Barbara

Wrong on all accounts, in my opinion.

The brain does not stop growing or changing until the early twenties. Hmmmm. Why is it that most of the best athletes worldwide are 15-23 years old? I'm not just talking physical prowess, I'm talking about coordination, mental savvy, and endurance. Perhaps it stops changing and growing in the early twenties - my take is that that's when it starts its slow but ever present decline toward the end of life. This argument holds no water with me.

And as for cell phones while driving? If we simply enforced the inattentive driving laws that are already on the books, it wouldn't punish the vast majority of drivers who know how to drive and use a cell phone. I'm most definitely not a "least common denominator" kind of guy.

15-21-year-olds do a lot of work in this economy, and many of them would not be able to get to their jobs without the ability to drive a car. I can't imagine what denying them this access would do to the economy.

47-year-old Non-curmudgeon

wrote on Sep 9^th, 2008 at 9:51pm:

writer wrote on Sep 9th, 2008 at 9:12pm: George--I would go even further, namely, give drivers' licenses only to 20- or 21-year-olds. There are press accounts about the plain fact that the brain does not stop growing or changing until the early twenties.  We all need every bit of brain power we can get to drive, and teens are way too young, in my opinion. Also I notice that In every derned close call I've had on the congested freeways where I live, a teen had a derned cell phone affixed to the ear.  But that's another subject.  I'm enough of a curmudgeon to advocate forbidding cell phone use in a car except for real emergencies. Any other curmudgeons out there? Barbara And as for cell phones while driving? If we simply enforced the inattentive driving laws that are already on the books

Would that be "driving to endanger" or "driving while impaired"?

Quote:

Would that be "driving to endanger" or "driving while impaired"?

Or driving while dating? ;D

wrote on Sep 9^th, 2008 at 10:37pm:

Quote: Would that be "driving to endanger" or "driving while impaired"? Or driving while dating? ;D

LMAO!!!  [smiley=crackup.gif]

There is at least one book I know of that talks about brain development going into the early twenties.  It specifically talks about the development of higher decision making capabilities and the ability to incorporate potential consequences into the decision process.  This capability is less formed in teens, and this is not just theory.  The book is Change your brain, Change your life.  The book isn't about migraine or CH.

Anyway, just wanted to point out there is a basis in fact for wanting to raise the driving age.

I tend to think the kids these days are mostly idiots that I don't want to see driving... but that's me.  In this area, we have a ton of vacationers and college students, all of whom drive like morons.  It skews my opinion, I'm sure.

And our parents all thought we were idiots too, I'm sure. For the most part we were. And back then, you could drink legally when you were 18.

I just have fundamental problems with making blanket changes that affect everyone in a demographic group when a huge part of the solution would be to enforce (and I mean really enforce) existing laws.

I've been riding shotgun with my 15 1/2 year old daughter who got her drivers permit last week.  Since this is my third time around, I'm not as terrified  :o.  She is getting the hang of those turns and has even driven in the rain, on the highway, and at night time.

Illinois just changed to the graduated drivers license.  I think that was a good idea.  Legal age is still 16, but certain (resonable, I believe) restrictions apply.

Beth