16 Year-olds Should Not be Allowed to Drive…and Here’s Why.
A recent plea by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety asks that states raise the minimum driving age from 16 to 17. The argument comes from studies that suggest, well, to put it bluntly:16 year-olds kill themselves a lot while driving. The study highlighted the mortality rates of 16 and 17 year-old drivers in New Jersey and Connecticut. In New Jersey 4.4 out of every 100,000 population 16 year-old drivers died in a car accident. Conversely Connecticut had 20.7 per 100,000 16 year-olds die in car wrecks. The difference is that New Jersey does not allow 16 year-olds to get licenses, where as Connecticut does. The trend was also encouraging in 17 year-olds, where rates remained about the same for both states, indicating that not being a licensed driver for the 16th year minimally effected mortality rates in the 17th.
This study really has me thinking. Would you trust a 16 year-old to do anything that puts your life in danger? Why do we allow people this young to get behind a multi-ton slab of metal, and allow them to propel themselves down our interstates at high rates of speed? Given the recent SAT scores, which indicate that high-schoolers are dumber then ever, why do we allow such a massive responsibility to be held by these kids? Did you know that in South Dakota you can get your license at 14.25 years of age? The idea of someone getting behind the wheel, cranking up the Jonas Brothers on the stereo, and(in earnest) driving to their friends house to watch “High School Musical” really, really makes me nervous.
16 year old can drive if they put their minds to it!!! don’t misjugde us!!!!!!!!!!
dont get me wrong they are crazy but thats how they learn. dont tell anyone that they cant do something because you are just discouraging them by making them feel stupid! and they are smarter than they act!!!!!!
16 shouldnt be allowed, 18 should be the age!
Ellen,
Thank you for your support! I didn’t drive until I was 18, and I’m glad I didn’t because I know I would have been in a bad crash. I know at 16 everyone is really wanting to drive, but it’s safer for them and everyone else on the road if they wait in my opinion anyway.
I think that they should make the driving test a little more difficult so the people that pass can drive so there would be less teens dying because of crashes. I thank you for reading my comment.
your being totally short sighted hear, you cant even think that every 16-17 year old will end up in a car crash, yes you have you stats but thats not that much of a terrifying statistic, im sure you would of wanted to drive as quick as you could of when you was 16-17, thats what the problem is in this world, short sighted people like this who dont let the growing generation experience anything for them selves, we are the future…..
Dont judge all 16 year olds by some stupid statistics. I’m 16, been driving my parents around since I was 12 and I can say I’m a better driver than most middle aged women on the road today. I think if you get into an accident and it is your fault, no matter what age you are you should have your lisence suspended for quite a while. Give all ages the same strict punishments and get them off the road if they cause accidents, and the roads will be safer with plenty of 16 yr olds still on the road.
Hey Im 17 but whats the difference if you’re 16 or 17 yrs old when u start driving you’ll have the same level of experience. Your argument is illogical wheres youre proof of the SAT scores? A lot of teens may have died in car wrecks but what were the reasons? They could have been texting or drinking or anything, and thats not affected by the age of the driver.
Age has nothing to do with it, respobsibility does. There are sixteen year olds who drive much better than people in their 40s. Parents should be making sure that their kids are respobsible enough to drive. It’s up to them to set limits and keep their kids out of dangeorus situations.
some of you people are really narrowminded. Dayle argues that the author is ’short sighted’, not letting ‘our generation experience anything for itself’, and yet he cannot even punctuate, nor spell, nor distinguish the meaning of could’ve as a CONJUNCTION. could of makes no sense whatsoever, so why would you be trusted to misjudge a yield sign on the road? oops, dead child, no biggie, small statistic, right, Bobby? But i doubt to that family, or especially to the dead kid, its not a big deal. Nate- you may have the same level of experience but your brain is much more prone to reckless decisions and careless distractions than at 17. Your brain fully matures at 24, but obviously if the driving age was raised to it would be neither convenient nor socially accepted. Raising the driving age to 17 would at least prevent the higher amount of accidents and deaths from 16 year olds, because the judgment part of a teens brain matures more by the time a teen is 17. So no matter how much experience a driver has, their age literally represents a drivers judgment and decision making abilities.
i am 17 years old and i have been driving since i was fifteen and i have not once in been a car crash….you can not say all 16 year olds are bad drivers and wind up dead..
Dayle, you are very stupid.
Tamwyn.. youre not helping the cause…
i think 16 is too young to start driving especially since most teens think theyre invincible and drive intoxicated, im in no rush to start driving until im 18
Im so against 16 yr old driving
I could wait another year to drive a car if that means i would get into an accident less often if i started driving at age 16.
In my opinion 18 should be the age to put an end to the reports of some drunk 16 years old crashing their car which is some how meant to generate sympathy because their live’s were cut short.
Yes, Bobby you are the future………..if you have one ………….but its not looking very hopeful with the continued denial of this culture that we cannot sustain our gas consuming habits. As the BP spill continues to gush daily at 60,0000 barrells……it amazes me that your generation are not up in arms about so much of the mess to your future……….instead of the right to get behind the wheel so you can contribute to the spewing. I am not saying you should have no rights to drive but what is the hurry? If all the 16, 17 and 18 year olds of this country did not drive and were willing to take the bus to school and to work with their parents, neighbors and so forth to get rides the CO2 emission reductions would be considerable. But so would the symbology of the determination of your generation to shame the older generation who were your role models…………to give you that desire to get behind the wheel…………..to take responsiblity for the mess we have already made and to try to reverse some of it.
A 16 year old who has that kind of foresight would be one I would call more mature and ready to take on more responsibilities.
the age of a driver doesnt matter. there are some 16 years olds who are better drivers than most adults. what matters is focusing on driving and a 16 year old is capable of doing that as well as a 40 year old person. anyone could get in a car wreck and die, not just teenagers between 16-17 and there are adults these days who dont even follow the laws and text while driving, so they are the problem just as much as teens are.
yes ur rite..teenagers should wait till they 18 to b able 2 drive because they get so many distractions with txting n changing the radio station..