Feds May Raise Driving Age for Teens

[Dr. Shane]

I would hazard a guess even as a new driver your wife lacks the recklessness of teen drivers.

Well, she has already crashed the car. Luckily it was with a neighbor's fence post and not another car.

[bonnie]

Originally Posted By: bonnie

I would hazard a guess even as a new driver your wife lacks the recklessness of teen drivers.

Well, she has already crashed the car. Luckily it was with a neighbor's fence post and not another car.

I would still trust someone the age of your wife than a sixteen year old to show maturity at all times.

Our sons are 37,45,46,47. It is quite educational,sometimes very humbling to listen to them now as to their childhood,discipline,rules etc of their childhood.

When it comes to gauging what we did as parents I find them a much more accurate barometer than a 16 year old or parents with young children that still have miles to go rearing their families.

I am still surprised at times to hear "Thanks mom and dad",whether it was for the sacrifice of a christian education or keeping their toes to the fire as to behavior.Agreeing 16 year olds should not have their license as they well remember how little they knew at sixteen.

Sometimes it is not a thanks as they still disagree with some decisions.

But overall they have all raised their children more strictly than we did them.

In time, God willing, parents of young children get the opportunity to listen to their adult children and have a window into what decisions they made was right or wrong.

My four are much more accurate in their assessment of their childhood than those that have not been there yet.

Regardless of any law passed I am relieved that our sons will make decisions for their minor children based on their own sense of right and wrong,what is good for them etc.Not what they are pressured to do.

[Outta Here]

There are some teens who show maturity beyond the years of even a 37 year old. And statistically speaking, most teens are inexperienced drivers. It is largely a factor of inexperience that drives the statistic that teens are a greater risk for insurance companies.

And for the record, I am a 40 year old mother of two. My eldest is a very mature 18 year old young woman. My youngest is a mature 14 year old young man. Both are learning to drive this summer.

So, according to the standards above, I, too, am one who can offer an accurate assessment. Additionally, both my sister and brother-in-law are actuaries at two different insurance companies for the midwest--we have lots of talks about teen driving and why rates are so high for them.

[bonnie]

There are some teens who show maturity beyond the years of even a 37 year old. And statistically speaking, most teens are inexperienced drivers. It is largely a factor of inexperience that drives the statistic that teens are a greater risk for insurance companies.

[bonnie]

Car accidents can cause extensive personal injuries and property damage. There are several causes of car accidents, but reckless teenage drivers are a main cause of car accidents.

Many teenagers tend to neglect the safety precautionary measures as soon as they are behind the wheel. Reckless fast driving, unsafe passing techniques, and driving under the influence of alcohol are the most common causes of teenage car accidents.

Teenagers between the age of 15 and 20 years cause most teenage car accidents. Sadly, even minimum precautionary measures such as wearing a seat belt at all times are also neglected. Also, teenagers high on alcohol and drugs are the reason for a large number of accidents. The worst part is that all the others in the car would also sustain severe injuries due to recklessness of the driver.

All states have strict rules regarding drinking and driving in an attempt to reduce the number of teenage car accidents. However, even in places where it has been made illegal to drink and drive, there is a small percentage of rebellious teenage drivers who do not care for themselves or for the lives of others who might be involved in the car accident. In spite of all this, there has been a considerable reduction in the number of teenage car accidents in states who have tightened the security and law relating to drunk driving.

Another cause for more number of teenage car accidents is inexperience of young drivers. Due to a lack of experience, these teenagers are more prone to accidents, especially on highways and other places with considerably more traffic. Backing up in the driveways, parking, and reversing are other difficult driving techniques that often lead to accidents. Most of these kinds of accidents involve property damage more than personal injuries. It is wise for young drivers to practice driving with a responsible adult before driving on their own.

Car Accidents provides detailed information about car accidents, car accident injuries, car accident lawsuits, and more. Car Accidents is affiliated with Drivers Ed Games.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Morris

[bonnie]

Maturity is a part of equation, another part is the sheer number of people driving. When I was geting a drivers licence the amount of traffic where I was living in the country side was minimal. That same area today is jam packed. What ever the age education is a very big factor, more so today than before. No matter how mature a 17 or even 18 y/o is, they do not have the experience. We have enough adult drivers that don't pay attention as it is and drive as if they are the only person on the road. Teens are even more problematic in that regard as well. Throw in the factor of multiple people in the vehicle and the problem increases. Drivers Ed, in my opinion, should be mandatory not optional, if available at all.

I certainly have not denied the need for education. That can only take most young people so far.Experience can only be gained by doing.

Even with that you still have a teenager at the wheel.Expecting him to make adult decisions in the blink of an eye. Many adults fail at that.While any death is sad,I had no desire to get the call that my sixteen year old was speeding,missed the curve and is no in the morgue.

It is impossible to keep your children safe at all times. One area for us that we could control was they need to be a little older before they drove.

Obviously from the amount of sixteen year olds driving we were in the minority,thankfully so are our sons. That is fine with me.

A license for a sixteen year old is not a matter of life and death. A licensed sixteen year old may very well be.

Drivers ed is mandatory here until eighteen

[Liz]

General post to no one in particular....

You know the flip side of this coin is that there also needs to be a mandatory age limit; when the age limit is reached then those people need to retake the driving portion of the test again and each time their license is up for renewal. There are some very dangerous elderly drivers out there.

[bonnie]

General post to no one in particular....

You know the flip side of this coin is that there also needs to be a mandatory age limit; when the age limit is reached then those people need to retake the driving portion of the test again and each time their license is up for renewal. There are some very dangerous elderly drivers out there.

No doubt about it.Personally I think 70-75 should be the max without retesting.

The only difference is I was trying to keep my sons safe and let them mature a bit before turning them loose with a car. Elderly drivers are out of my control except for my husband and myself. Hopefully we will not have regressed and have the maturity to listen now to our boys when they say "Mom it's time now"

[Liz]

The only difference is I was trying to keep my sons safe and let them mature a bit before turning them loose with a car.

You know I would love to do the exact same thing with my son, however, life didn't deal me that hand. I have to roll with what life throws my way and right now, it means him getting his hardships license at 15.

[bonnie]

Originally Posted By: bonnie

The only difference is I was trying to keep my sons safe and let them mature a bit before turning them loose with a car.

You know I would love to do the exact same thing with my son, however, life didn't deal me that hand. I have to roll with what life throws my way and right now, it means him getting his hardships license at 15.

My three oldest boys were 2 1/2 years apart.The oldest being 2 1/2 when my third son was born. I would have spent their teenage years on valium if they all had their license at basically the same time.

I just have never seen the need to push the kids to grow up.Let them be kids while they are kids. When they take on the responsibilities of adults they should be adults.

[Liz]

I just have never seen the need to push the kids to grow up.Let them be kids while they are kids. When they take on the responsibilities of adults they should be adults.

I hope you realize how very blessed you were/are. pals

[bonnie]

Originally Posted By: bonnie

I just have never seen the need to push the kids to grow up.Let them be kids while they are kids. When they take on the responsibilities of adults they should be adults.

I hope you realize how very blessed you were/are. pals

Every day since the day each of them were born. More so since each of the twelve grandchildren were born

[aldona]

For what it's worth here's a foreigner's perspective.

In this part of the world (with minor variations between the Australian states), we can get our learner's permit at 17, it must be held for a minimum of 6 months and a driver can get their licence thereafter (they may still be 17).

Most kids get their licence at about 18. This is also the minimum legal age for drinking alcohol in Australia. Most of the time it also coincides with the end of high school, and all the celebrations and festivities that follow.

The result is all too often carnage on the roads.

I see that in the USA, kids can get their licence younger but must wait until they are older to start legally drinking. There still appears to be a problem with young drivers causing carnage on the roads.

I don't think there are any easy answers.

In Australia there are now laws about how many hours of driving learner-drivers must clock up before they can sit their driving test. (They must keep a log book.) This varies from 25 hours in Western Australia to 120 hours here in Victoria. This scheme is only new, so it will take time to see if it makes a difference.

It would be interesting to compare with other countries too.

AJ

[Outta Here]

Just thought I'd add a few more thoughts to this thread.

I have been spending the greater portion of the morning hours of the past two weeks teaching my eldest to drive. We began driving in a park with speed limits between 10 and 25 mph; stop signs, speed bumps and parking; parallel parking and a few other cars on the roads. We then progressed to roads with limits of 35 and 40 mph; stop signs, yields and 2, 3 and 4-way stops. From there, we drove on rural highways with speed limits of 40 to 55 mph; stop signs, a few traffic lights and a little more traffic. This week, we've driven twice after the sun has set, once in the rain; we've taken the highways at 60 mph, and traveled with light traffic on main thoroughfares at speeds varying from 30 to 45 mph.

The most dangerous people I've seen on the roads are the experienced drivers who roll the stop signs; fail to signal when turning; drive over the speed limits; eat while driving; and talk on the phone while driving.

People, I am training my teenaged driver to be a safe driver. Please, do not drive without caution. Obey the speed limits. Keep a safe distance between you and the other cars. Yield. Do not get aggravated when the driver in front of you refuses to drive faster. Do not try to undo the training I have painstakingly go to in teaching this driver.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Statistically, teen drivers are involved in auto accidents and killed in auto accidents at a higher rate than mature drivers. It's partly due to inexperience, but a high percentage of those accidents occur when teens are driving with a bunch of their friends, who incite them to do stupid things.

Michigan adopted a graduated licensing program, shortly before my sons took drivers' education. Teens have to log a certain number of hours driving on their permits, with their own parents, before they can get their first level license, which comes with a lot of restrictions. I forget now how many levels there are and what the restrictions are, but they gradually work themselves up to a top level license with full privileges by the time they turn 18. Anyone who doesn't apply for a license until they are 18 or over doesn't have to go through the stages. The rate of teen traffic deaths has gone down since the graduated licensing program was adopted.