Sixteen year olds are ten times more likely to be involved in an auto accident than drivers between the ages of thirty to fifty-nine.
In the United States more than 5,000 teenagers are killed each year in motor vehicle accidents.
A report released by the Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that states with tougher driving laws concerning teenage drivers reduces the death rates of the teenage driver by 21% for 16 year olds, while States with less restrictive driving laws for the teenage driver reduced by up to 11%.
New Jersey has the highest minimum driving age set at 17 years old. South Dakota has the lowest driving age.
South Dakota allows anyone age 14 years and 3 months old to receive a license. How young is to young to drive?
I remember when I was nearing the age of 16, I was so excited to be able to soon drive. Back then there was less traffic on the roads and less things that were distracting to the driver.
We had no cell phones to chat on while driving and there was no such thing as text messaging. Young drivers tend to feel that they can handle driving and texting at the same time.
Many states have made the use of cell phones while driving illegal for drivers of all ages yet they are still used when driving.
Should the age limit of driving be raised to at least the age of 17 and 6 months or should there be more hands on driver training in schools and at home?
There need to be changes to the driving laws but it needs to be fair to all yet safe for all.
My kids are now grown, I did allow them to drive at 16 years of age but I am not sure that I would allow my children to drive at age 16 now if I were raising children in this day and age. In fact I am hoping that the age limit is raised before any of my grandchildren are able to drive because I feel that in this fast paced new technology world that age 16 is to young to drive.
Safety of the children should always come first!
Yes it is convenient for parents to have children be able to drive at a young age, it saves us as parents time! It is always nice when the kids can take themselves to school functions, after school activities and where ever else the child may need or want to go: but is it convenience we really want to hang on to or should we look at the safety of the children first?
I personally think we need to look at the safety of the children and change the driving age. I have had many times where young drivers have passed me at a high rate of speed. I also have seen young drivers run off the road onto the burm and loose control of their car because they weren't paying attention to what they were doing or else had to many friends in the car and were showing off for their friends. Life is to short and can be snuffed out at any time.
Once a child is lost they can't be replaced!
It is to late once your son or daughter is killed to say "I wish I hadn't let them drive at such a young age"! "Another year or so of waiting to drive won't kill them" "but driving might"! So let's think about a change!
The reason behind this I think is that 16 years are just learning to drive and therefore are more likely to be involved in an accident than experienced drivers.
Another theory of mine is that the kids are just idiots, not mature enough to be able to drive without distraction, to drive well and that they make mistakes and these distractions get them into accidents.