Age to get drivers license
Moms View Message Board: The Kitchen Table (Debating Board): Age to get drivers license
Do you think 16 is to young to get a drivers license? In the past few months where we live there have been quite a few acidents with young kids and deaths. I think they should be older more wiser and quick to think. as an adult I still catch myself looking off the road or fiddeling with something that makes me take my eyes off the road. Its just something I think people need to take a look at and try and do something about it. What do you all think
I don't think it is that 16 is too young, I think it is because they are inexperienced, drive too fast and think that "they" could never get into an accident.
My 12 year old is always talking about when she gets her license. I keep reminding her that it is a priviledge not a right. I think more young teenagers need to think of it in that way.
IMO, I was too young when I got my license at 17. It was a way to get me from point A to point B and that was all I cared about. Speed, safety, others in the car never really mattered to me. I look back now and wonder what people were thinking letting me drive. 3 speeding tickets later, I finally learned my lesson. But Yes, I think 16 is too young. They should raise the legal age to atleast 18, and the drinking age to 25 but thats a whole different story.
I do think 16 is too young. And I applaud the states that put conditions on new teen drivers like limiting the times of day they can drive, number of teen passengers, etc.
And, I think parents should make their driving children pay the extra cost of car insurance AND put serious conditions on driving, like if you get a moving violation no driving for a month.
I also think teens should have a more serious driving test than adults, including being judged on how courteously they drive. While I know many teen drivers are courteous and drive safely, many are not taught some of the things that make driving less risky and more pleasant for those around them. And my experience with driving schools, for me and my three sons, is that they often tend to teach aggressive driving and don't teach any of the courtesies that are actually safe driving habits for both you and the drivers around you.
I ended up not getting my license until I was 18. My dad just didn't think I was ready. It is sad how many young kids are killed in cars around here.
I'm surprised at the response. When I read this, I immediately thought "16 is old enough"
*I* was old enough. I did the year of learner permit with an adult only. I took drivers ed. And I certainly took it as a privilege. I knew if I did it carelessly, I could kill someone or myself. I just assumed every kid thought that way.
However, reading your post above, safety was not a factor. Speed was. Getting there quickly was a factor. So, knowing that, I guess 16 is too young.
I lived a sheltered life and did not have "fun" friends. I guess if I hung out w/ the fun kids, I would have seen the misuse of that privilege pretty often....esp when it comes to drinking and driving.
At 16, I certainly DID NOT have my own car. I drove my mothers. And at 16, there was absolutely no reason for me to drive at night. When I did drive it was to the grocery store, sometimes to school if mom didn't need the car, and to band practice and games (which was at night). I drove there and came home. I did not run around.
When I was 18, I do recall taking my dads car in the middle of the night, just to do it. No reason, no where to go, nothing to do once I got no where. So my girlfriend and I just drove around in the middle of the night and came back home. I know I would have never tried that at age 16! So when are you old enough? At age 18, I was much braver to take risks. You've gotta learn at some point...and no matter when that is, you are a beginner with no previous experience to guide you.
I don't have a teenager in my home, so my views will probably change as my daughter grows 
I think no matter what the age, it's the lack of experience that's dangerous...and as the parent of a DS who will be 16 in less than a month, I'd rather he learn and get the experience he needs while living at home and "under control" so to speak....he is a very responsible kid, though, and saved up both the $400 to pay for Driver ED as well as the money it will cost to add him to the insurance. (With the car he's getting for his birthday that he doesn't know about yet, it will be $127 per month to add him)...I think the Driver Education is important, as well as a LOT of driving while Mom or Dad ride shotgun. Really, experience is the only way we all learn. New Hampshire has some pretty good restrictions, though, and if you have an accident that's your fault within 6 months of getting your license, you lose it until the age of 18. And for the first 6 months, there are restrictions on the time of day, how many non-family passengers they can have in the car, etc.
I think the key here is experience! I got my driver's license at 16 and my permit at 15. We lived in rural texas and I drove out at the ranch starting when I was 14. So by time I got my permit I knew the basic operating of a vehicle, like how to steer (boy you learn alot plowing fields..lol), how to shift gears (albeit only reverse to first). And then when I did get my permit I drove all the time. My mother was unable to drive (she had MS) and my brother had left to college. So I was our only means of transportation. I drove us daily to places, with my mom at my side, commenting on how I was driving, etc. So by time I was 16 I was well ready to drive I didn't have my own car, but it might as well be, my dad had his car and mom had mine..LOL. But I knew it was mom's, so there was no drinking or smoking in the car, we took care of it because boy would I be in big trouble. I think when you grow up in a city it is hard for kids to get the experience they need because there is so much to watch for. I could drive for an hour an only pass 3-4 cars. So my point is if we are going to license children we must take the time to really teach them and this takes lots and lots of time!
I'm on the fence with this one. When I was 16 I definitely thought I was *ready* to get my license. I went through all the training, had all the driving hours and so on, and passed my written and driving test.
But, even though I had that experience, I still wasn't that mature about it. I remember being a teen and doing some pretty dumb things behind the wheel. We use to play some driving games with another car full of boys. Our car being full of girls of course. I look back now and think, wow, I really shouldn't have had a license.
My mom always said I was such a good driver, which I was...I was an excellent driver, just not a responsible, mature driver.
I look at 16 year olds now and think that they definitely shouldn't be on the rode. Especially when I have to share the road with them with my 3 kiddos.
So , now that I have my license, I wouldn't mind seeing the license laws changing and maybe uping the age to at least 17.
I really don't think it's the age that's the problem, it's the lack of experience. Some 16yo's are ready because they've been on the road with a responsible driver/instructor and have hours of driving time under their belts and are ready for the responsibility. Other 16yo's have just what they need to get their license (requirements--tests, clock hours-which may not be enough, etc) and aren't ready. A friend of mine was just rear-ended yesterday by a girl that just got her driving permit. Thankfully she's not seriously hurt, just sore (she saw her in the rearview mirror and tensed up just as she was hit). She was very lucky because she was delivering mail and was in the middle of the front seat without a seatbelt on at the time. I don't think it's so much the age that needs to be changes, but the requirements for obtaining a license. JMHO, of course.
Another Texan here who started driving (illegally, with permission) at 14 in the country at our lakehouse. I started driving (illegally with parent's permission) in the city a bit at 15, but I had a wreck and totalled a parked car (no injuries), this while I was enrolled in driver's ed at school. Thankfully, the owner of the other car dropped all the charges against me. But after a few months break from driving (I was scared) I started driving again (illegally, finally legally, not always with permission) when my parent's bought me a new Camero before I turned 16. (I was spoiled!!)
We did do some crazy stuff while driving. "We" meaning the girls on drill team bec I was on it and that's who I hung out with. We drank Boon's Farm wine and drove, stole things, rode in the trunk, my best friend fell asleep at the wheel once and we coasted on into a corn field before we could wake her up. It's amazing we are all alive and grew up to be doctors, CPAs, nurses, teachers, lawyers, etc (before most became SAHMs). Back then drill team practice was at 6am, before school and after school and driving was a necessity.
The kids who scared me where the ones who had never been behind the wheel of a car until driver's ed and there I was in the backseat of the driver's ed car horrified. Thank GOD for the teacher's brake on the passenger side!
I'll probably do the same thing with my son. Teach him myself at 14 at the lakehouse, so when he is 16 he has more driving experience. He can start driving golf carts at 10, next year! I do like the restrictions that are put on 16-year-olds now, though. I don't see raising the age. At 18 I was already away at college - with my car.
I agree, experience, or lack of, is the key here. In Louisiana, when I was a teen, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, you could get your license at age 15. I got mine at 15. Was I experienced enough to have a D/L at 15? NO WAY! I had taken driver's education, but went straight from that to getting my license. If my mom had been *smart* she would have gotten me my Learner's Permit and made me drive with her for a while before getting my license.
The first afternoon I had my license, my mom sent me to Roy Rogers' Roast Beef to pick up fast food for dinner. My very first time out in the car. With my one-year-younger sister and 2 other teen friends. Radio playing loud. Lots of chatter, giggling, horsing around. Lots of excitement, feeling of freedom, feeling *grown up*, very nervous. It almost ended in disaster.
All I had to do was drive down the highway a mile or two, pick up the food, drive back. In the excitement, and due to MAJOR inexperience, I *forgot* to put on the brakes and slow down to turn the corner off the highway on the street to our home. On the corner was a convenience store, 3 rows of gas pumps. I almost wiped out the first row of gas pumps. Could have been tragic. Scared me to death. I was afraid to drive for weeks after that. I think I was the exception - it made a HUGE impression on me. Other kids would have joked about it and gotten right back behind the wheel.
I never forgot that when my kids were learning to drive. They both went through driver's ed. They both drove with me for a while before getting their licenses. I never hesitated to point out situations where they were doing something wrong, or reacting the wrong way, or when OTHER drivers were doing something wrong or stupid, so they would be aware.
Louisiana has changed it's law now, you can no longer get a D/L at 15. Persons under the age of 17 cannot drive between the hours of 11 PM and 5 or 6 AM, can't remember which. At 16 you can get a Learner's Permit. Jeff got his license when he was 17, so did Jen.
Among the many things I have hammered in my kids' heads about driving, other than the obvious regarding following too closely, speeding, etc. are to ALWAYS use your turn indicators and check your rearview mirror OFTEN. I've been hit from behind twice, once the accident was serious. It's not just what you (or your kids) are doing behind the wheel, it's that you have to watch out for what all the other drivers are doing as well, and kids have no clue what to be aware of.
Mommie....so there is an age for golf carts? I guess I should tell my 8 and 9 year old they have to stop...LOL. Maybe the age is driving alone? I sit right there with them *S*. the funniest story, my 5 year old loves to ride around the golf course, there is this one big hill, he calls king hill. Every night, really every night he wants to ride on king hill. So my dad or hubby take him, they take the golf cart to full speed and slam down that hill. On the way up my 5 year old makes the roller coaster noises and the way down if someone will hold him he will put his arms up. I can't drive it, I think they go way too fast..LOL. So hmm, maybe girls and boys driving ages should be different!
Might get some frowns here. LOL But coming from a farm family I started steering on my Dads lap when I was about 8 yrs old. (cars, tractors, combines, you name it) When I was 3,4,5 yrs old my Mom would put a blanket down on the floor of the combine and my toys/books/snacks... I rode the combine and LOVED every minute of it. The hi-lite of my day was going to the elevator when we got the grain truck filled up and getting a coke in a GLASS bottle and a piece of bubblegum from the lady at the elevator. (ok I am sidetracked now. LOL!)
My point is my sisters and I had LOTS of experinece driving. Not only did we live on a farm but allll of our grandparents have farms. So no matter where we went we got to practice driving on dirt roads and turn rows. We use to dive my grandmas lawnmower around for kicks in the summertime too. I was driving to school when I was 15 and got my license at 16. I felt I had ALOT of experience and I did. The only thing that made me nervous was big city traffic. My Dad let my sisters and I take turns driving through the city when we would travel and that helped us get use to it--plus he was in the passenger seat telling us what to do.
My boys drive 4 wheelers (my ex got brandon one for his b/day), dirt bikes, john deere Gators (on my parents farm) and lawn tractors. They drive my ex husbands truck (with him in it) around his 200 acre farm when helping with fence, etc... They have steered in my lap up and down our culdesac street. Will they have experience by the time they are 16--hec yeah! I wont have them out on the roads without letting them get lots of experience first. I had Brandon back my van out of the garage one day when I needed to sweep. His eyes almost popped out of his head. I said 'GET IN and back it out--you can do it!' He got in and backed it out slowly and was very pleased with himself! lol Another thing that is very important to me is that they know how to maintain a vehicle. Brandon has already helped his Dad put a new starter on his 4-wheeler, he helped change the oil on it too. He washes it and cleans it up when it gets dirty. He has had to find a leak in one of the tires before as well. He knows how to pump gas into my van, cleans the windshield at the gas station for me and can tell you that the sticker on my windshield indicates the mileage at which the oil needs to be changed. They have a lot to learn before they leave home!
Not only do I want them to have plenty of experience driving, I want them to know how to work on their cars and keep them clean...
ahhh the memories of my youth. I really did have a good one. I hope my kids feel the same when they are older.
I almost forgot--Brandon had to drive his PAPA's truck (5 speed!!) while helping get Hay out of the field last summer. The guys would load a bale on the trailor and holler for Brandon to pull the truck AND trailor up to the next bales. LOL!!! He was one proud little guy after that day. Not to mention he was paid well.
Kaye - Ya know, I don't know if there is a *legal* age for golf carts. My aunt who has several at her house has her own rule that you have to be 10 to take one of her carts out as a driver.
At the country clubs, you have to a licensed driver before they will let you drive a cart.
So when I say my son can drive golf carts next year, I mean he can start driving my Aunt's carts around her (huge) property pursuant to her rules. I don't know anyone else with golf carts.
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