At what age should people first be able to earn a driver's license?

Answer 1

18 at least. I think 16 is too young. Did you know that 50% of boys aged 16 and 17 get in accidents during their first year of driving? Fifty fricken percent! We have to share the roads with them! Why do we want to hand licenses over to such a clearly irresponsible group?

Answer 2

We have all these various ages for different things- 18 to enter into a contract. 16 to be tried as an adult criminal, sometimes younger. 16 to drive. 21 to drink. 18 to buy cigarettes. It might be better to make it more consistent- perhaps 18 for everything- have a general age when you are considered an adult.

Another concept that might make sense is not to base it on age, but on something else. Some people are quite mature at 16 and others are quite immature at 40. There is some research that the brain isn't fully mature until 18 or so, particularly in the area of judgment.

We should probably base driving rights more on the person's ability to drive safely since other people's lives are at risk. Maybe there should be some sort of evidence required that the person is a safe driver before we let them on the road and if they ever show evidence that they aren't safe, such as getting a DWI, they should have to prove that they are safe drivers again before they are allowed to drive again, rather than just waiting a specific period of time. For example, completing substance abuse treatment and having a series of clean urine screens would be required after a DWI, rather than just waiting a year to get your license back.

What type of proof would be required to make sure people are safe drivers? Well, we already have driving tests and written tests. I think perhaps those could be improved with driving simulators- we have much better technology that could be used. Also, a more complete written test could be helpful, more like the CDL test. Also, more thorough driver's education courses could be helpful- the equivalent of a college-level course.

Then, the driver's license wouldn't be based on a particular age (with some minimum, like 16), but on completion of required education and courses.

Answer 3

I think they should make it to where you not only have to have a diploma , but have a trouble free school record during high school , I don't mean petty things , but anything that shows a person as having a mental disorder , or a history of violence , and lack of respect for the rules and regulations ...

Sounds tough , but I look at it like this , car crashes are the number one killer of teens . if they do not behave away from mom,and dad at school , how can you expect them to behave out behind the wheel , I have been on the fire dept for 20 years and the number of dead teen kids I cut out of cars are growing , most of the causes are stupidity .

I would also make everyone re test every renewal day , I see plenty of adults who should not be driving as well ,

the parents who buy these kids the fast hot rod cars , sports cars etc. I think the parents should have to come to the crash site , and remove their kids bodies as well , after all buying a kid a fast car is just dumb ....

I am tired of paying high insurance costs because of others idiotic driving .......

I do not care how old you are as long as you have a High School Diploma , 17, 18 or 25 it does not matter the age as long as you have graduated..
And notice I do not use the word accident ..there is no such thing involving a car , it is a crash or a collision because it is stupidity of someone that has caused the crash , and if stupid actions caused it , how can it be accidental ????

Many people have forgotten that driving is a privilege and it is not a right ..

Answer 4

When and if they graduate high school. are seventeen, and they have no felonies before that time.

If, however, they have graduated, are seventeen, and they have any type of felony, they should have to wait until they are at least a year free of any crime before earning the right to a driver's license.

Because this would give the incentive to finish high school and to stay out of trouble.

People seem to forgot that a driver's license has to be earned and that it just is not a basic right. When you drive you are required to follow laws and if a teenager has already be charged with any type of felony before getting a driver's license, it shows the irresponsibility of that teenager. What makes you think that he/she will obey traffic & other laws?

The line has to start being drawn somewhere to keep our young people out of trouble. This is a very sad world to raise children in today.

Answer 5

The question is clearly subjective as it has as its base a question in maturity, both from a physical and emotional standpoint. Suffice to say, an individual generally reaches a level of physical maturity by the age of 16 which allows them to operate a motor vehicle but the emotional maturity can take much longer and in some cases, as with mental disabilities, it's never achieved. My subjective opinion, don't change it in North America, 16 is a perfectly good age to learn to drive and continue implementing programs to monitor and develop the maturity side, such as the graduated license program in Ontario.

I see a lot of answers that are trying to tie driving to education, which is a wonderful leverage for parents but let's face it, it's a ridiculous idea for the world in general. Many rural areas of the world manage to operate motor vehicles despite the lack of a high school diploma, in fact, many of our transportation workers, both bus drivers and truck drivers do not have high school educations. It doesn't require book knowledge to understand the value of life and the value of responsibility.

Let's face it, there are kids at 14 who have the maturity both physically and emotionally to handle the responsibilities of driving, most do not... That said, should it not be a parents responsibility to know when their own child is ready to drive? If at 16 they aren't nearly ready, hold them back until they are 18, but don't punish those 16 year olds who are ready to learn to operate a vehicle responsibly.

Answer 6

25

Answer 7

some human beings study at 12. because it stands widely used vehicles are many times equipped around somebody of widely used top. Tweens and youths are actually not yet widely used top. you desire someoen to be waiting to pay interest and understand some consquenses of movements. it somewhat is rather greater of an Indivual foundation. some human beings are mature adequate at one age and a few yet another. yet once you have been to circulate by way of effects and documents they might advise 21,.. even although then at 21 new drivers might nonetheless have issues. further: As for coaching, it would be smart to start some style of coaching (no longer adventure) in center college or Junior severe as college platforms variety so especially that some human beings are already of criminal using age by way of the time they start up severe college. yet as I actual have seen the ideal drivers are the effect of faculties that start up with decrease grades in consumer-friendly college. They study to force with/in toys in consumer-friendly college, pretending they're in a vehicle and that they do get into injuries (so adventure is won). The coaching has a tendency to start up with identity of warning signs/indicators and their meaning and the thank you to be a pedastrian effectively,.. then rollar blades & skates possibly yet then the subsequent point is operateing a bicycle jointly as obeying rules. The adventure jointly as they're studying in school isn't interior the sphere yet they might run into one yet another and that's adequate. They positioned on ideal safety. Then while they circulate to parks/playgrounds with their mothers and dads they persist with those rules/rules or maybe on remoted motorcycle trails. finally they locate themselves in circumstances the place they're close to vehicles, no longer monitored by way of an person properly, or no person is present.

Answer 8

16

Answer 9

I got mine at 14 (a rural state).
I thought I was old enough at the time.

Now that I am older I think 18 is a better age.
Every year there are stories from almost every high school of teenagers dying or being permanently injured in accidents. I don't want my daughter to be one of them.

Answer 10

Oh, probably about 26 - 30.

Of course, I've met some 35 year olds that couldn't handle the responsibility of driving, so maybe no one should be allowed to drive.