Senators Looking To Make States Raise Drivers License Age

[mrjarrell]

In yet another attempt to further degrade the 10th Amendment, a trio of senators are proposing to raise the age at which a person can obtain a drivers license to 18. They'd only be able to get a restricted permit at 16, rather than a license. It's bad enough that one must have permission to travel the roads in this country, placing further restrictions on who is allowed is too much again, and forcing the states to adhere to yet another federal mandate....ah, who am I kidding? There's loads of people out there, (and likely here) who will think it's the greatest idea since sliced bread.

via USA Today

Every state except North Dakota has a licensing program for teens that includes three phrases. The strongest programs include restrictions on nighttime driving, limits on the number of teen passengers and a minimum age of 16 for getting a learner's permit. Forty-two states allow learner's permits before age 16.
Programs reduce deaths
There is little debate about the effectiveness of good GDL programs on highway safety. States that impose major restrictions have seen crash reductions of 10%-30%, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In Massachusetts, fatal crashes involving drivers younger than 18 dropped 75% in the three years after the state implemented tougher restrictions for young drivers; injury crashes involving these drivers fell 38%.
What is sparking controversy is a key component of the proposed federal legislation: It raises the age at which young drivers can get a learner's permit from 14 or 15 in most states to 16; it also sets 18 as the minimum age at which young drivers can get an unrestricted license.

More statist nonsense at the source.

 

[Bunnykid68]

16 year olds scare me on the road, but they have a right to drive to and from work just like I do. I have a right to make a living and get there and so does the 16 year old kid.

 

[match14]

Aside from being legally liable for their actions at age 18, I really don't think that they'll drive any better if the age is raised two years. The way I see it is that an 18 year old w/o driving experience is just as bad as a 16 year old w/o experience. I don't think maturity would become a large factor until they enter their twenties. Which I think is a symptom of our society's lack of imparting responsibility to young people.

 

[Mgderf]

Aside from being legally liable for their actions at age 18, I really don't think that they'll drive any better if the age is raised two years. The way I see it is that an 18 year old w/o driving experience is just as bad as a 16 year old w/o experience. I don't think maturity would become a large factor until they enter their twenties. Which I think is a symptom of our society's lack of imparting responsibility to young people.

Boy you got THAT right!

 

[thej27]

Aside from being legally liable for their actions at age 18, I really don't think that they'll drive any better if the age is raised two years. The way I see it is that an 18 year old w/o driving experience is just as bad as a 16 year old w/o experience. I don't think maturity would become a large factor until they enter their twenties. Which I think is a symptom of our society's lack of imparting responsibility to young people.

That is exactly what I tell people when they say it should be raised. They seem to think a higher age automatically means a higher ability.

 

[Expat]

It seems like we need to just drop the whole Constitution craziness, get rid of all State and local governments, and just have the one big Federal government.

 

[level.eleven]

It would also help if we actually taught people how to drive. 95% of time spent in driver's education courses goes toward code compliance - how to not break the arbitrary rules. Very little time, if any, is spent teaching people HOW to drive - driving in bad weather, driving on wet pavement, how to make a decision, how to turn into a slide, how to gauge speed without a speedo, how to observe what lies ahead and react, etc..

As an aside, your "driver's license" isn't about qualifying you drive safely on public roads. If you haven't noticed how many times it enters you life as a de facto gov permission slip, give a thought sometime. It basically is the "proper person" qualifier, that, as I said, has nothing to do with driving ability.

 

[irishfan]

Drivers education is not beneficial anymore since it doesn't really lower your insurance much. When it was time for me to get my license it only saved me a few months time and almost no money compared to the cost of the class so I did not do it.

 

[rambone]

Sounds like a great way to delay adulthood by 2 more years.

 

[TheLoneRaider]

I think in Arizona you have to be 18 and have a GED or high school diploma to get a drivers license. When you get it your good till you are 65 lol

 

[CVictor]

I remember when I was 16. It may not be a bad idea....lol

 

[E5RANGER375]

im more scared of old senile drivers on the road who are blind as hell, and cant hear either.

either way, this is just another case of the feds sticking their noses where they dont belong. Heres an idea for all these "smart" politicians ...... how about securing our borders instead of worying about doing things the constitution says you cant do??? DUMBAZZES!!!!

 

[Vince49]

Common sense cannot be legislated.
Anyone getting behind the wheel for the first time is inexperienced by definition.
They could raise the age limit to 30, and then we would have a bunch of inexperienced 30 year olds on the road.
A politicians sole occupation and objective is to get re-elected he(she) has no other ideals or motive.

 

[Benny]

I'm totally fine with the current driving age, but I also like the probationary 10:00 PM curfew they instated for new drivers also...Hell, I'd be fine with extending it...I remember back when I was an invincible teenager.

 

[PeaShooter]

I think that is is an unconstitutional infringement on a young mans rights. If they cant drive, how are they going to get laid...? I remember when I was 16.

 

[ATOMonkey]

Stupid is as stupid does, changing the age, curfew, whatever won't make stupid people smarter.

It's also THE PARENTS' job to teach their children how to drive, not the government. It blows me away that parents will put their kids through 40 hours of government instruction and then expect them to be good to go without any other instruction.

Just plain lazy, IMO.

 

[Colt556]

I think in Arizona you have to be 18 and have a GED or high school diploma to get a drivers license. When you get it your good till you are 65 lol

I'm liking AZ more and more.

 

[Waveraider]

I've always believed that kids should get their beginners permit at age 14. I let my daughter start driving through our neighbor hood with me at age 13. When she took drivers ed, her instructor told hershe really didn't need it.

 

[hornadylnl]

I started driving at age 10 or 11. One of the great things about growing up in the country. I was driving the roads by my house by myself by 12 or 13.

 

[ATOMonkey]

I agree with the above sentiment. If we're going to do driver's Education, it should begin in Jr. High, not the 2 weeks in the summer before you get your license.