Should The Driving Age Be Raised To 18

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Teens have access to automobiles, they use the vehicles to get to school, work, sports practice, and other daily activities. People think that raising the driving age should allow for fewer teen-related car accidents. But if people think about it when raising the driving age, teenagers will have a harder time getting from place to place. They will also have trouble finding jobs and getting “real-world experience.” So, the real question is, should the driving age be raised to 18? No, I believe the current driving age should stay at age 15 because at that age teens will start getting jobs and making money and will be less dependent on their parents or older siblings.

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I also think that teens who take driver's ed should have a better understanding of the consequences that come with such a young inexperienced driver. Several driving mistakes are made by teens that can be corrected by taking driver's ed and not just reading the book and taking the test.

By taking driver's ed I had learned more than I did from just reading the book. Having a teacher who lost his daughter in a car accident, made us have a better understanding of what young can cause. Young teens are more likely to make bad choices while driving than teens who are at the age of 18. The teens put not just their lives at stake but the other people who are in the car with them. Teens should spend more time studying instead of recreational driving. Teens waste so much time and money just driving around, which could be better spent studying for a test that is the next day.

While driving with friends they can be a big distraction, along with playing loud music and texting while driving. Many people believe that 16 years old is old enough to operate a motor vehicle. If the law was to change the legal driving age to 18 teens who are just graduating high school will have less experience when they are off to college. By gaining night driving training teens are less likely to have car crashes at night. Teens living with their parents only can take the car to and from school, but some parents buy a “school” car for the teen to drive around until it is time for them to go off to college. Parents play a big role because as their children become teens they don’t have as much time to drive them to practices and other events during the week. The ability to drive allows teens to be less dependent on their parents and take on more responsibilities as they grow up. Without driving the teens would not be able to get from place to place.

They should take the time to teach their teenagers how to drive in various conditions and different situations, as well as help them understand traffic laws. Teaching kids to respect the automobile and other drivers creates more responsible drivers. To hand over the car keys to their already reckless and immature teens, parents are not providing adequate training. They need to take initiative and decide whether their teen is mature and able to drive without supervision or whether that teen needs more instruction and time. Youth often look to their elders for direction and wisdom and, although they may not realize it at the time, will appreciate the choice made by their parents. Therefore, parental guidance is key to mature and responsible drivers. State governments can also make changes to help teens be better drivers by creating education programs to teach the consequences of bad driving and collisions. Some places have staged realistic portrayals of fatal collisions at school assemblies to show teens how horrifying the collisions are. These mock collisions bring many a shocked student to tears. They prove that the consequences are very real, car accidents kill teens. Certain states have set up educational classes for teenage traffic offenders. When the judge sentences the offender, he or she is required to attend a class on traffic safety and the consequences of poor. Both programs have been effective in decreasing reckless driving among young people. In addition, states should provide better driver's education classes that are more readily available to teens. Current classes consist of bookwork, lectures, and the occasional simulation. The classes should use actual cars or simulations whenever possible. There is no substitute for the driving experience. Bob Bondurant, former professional race car driver, current president of the Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving in Phoenix, Arizona, and consumer advisor for Ford Motor Company strongly believe in driver education. He states, 'teenage drivers need to be equipped with sight and thought processes which allow them to make correct decisions in the ever-changing traffic environment. Proper on-road instruction and experience can help a young driver meet the many challenges of vehicle operation'. An alternative to increasing the driving age is to use the graduated license system. This system utilizes curfews for drivers under the age of 18, the strict enforcement of seatbelts, adult accompaniment for a designated period, and limits on the transport of other teenagers. It also places restrictions on drivers under 21 with moving violation convictions or major driving offenses. A 16-year-old obtains his or her full license after supervised behind-the-wheel practice, a completed driver's education class, and having a learner's permit for a minimum of three months. These steps have proven to be beneficial to teens; reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) declare that 'states with night-time driving restrictions are associated with crash reductions of up to 60 percent during restricted hours' Many states have successfully established graduated licensing systems. Nevada has also been moving toward this goal, proposing bills for restricted teen licenses. Graduated licensing has numerous benefits and no drawbacks. These licensing laws should enact at the national level. Implementing this procedure nationwide will help prevent teen traffic fatalities. While some young adults are irresponsible drivers, many are law-abiding teens in need of better instruction. There will always be a few who break the law, and the consequences can be severe. Teens need to be taught that if they act immaturely and abuse the right to drive, they could die in a collision. One may include that the great need for teenage independence and responsibility makes driving a necessity. With parental guidance and adequate education, Americans can lower teen crash fatality rates.

In conclusion. The continuance of the current driving age, improved education, and teen driving restrictions will prevent teen deaths due to automobile collisions. Legislators in many states are currently trying to push graduated licensing bills through and provide better funding for driver's education. But is it necessary or should the driving age be raised to 18? In the words of the wise Bob Bondurant, 'safe driving requires experience'. Experience comes from proper training and practice, not a couple of years without any application of knowledge.