Agreed. Make it one standard age of majority. There were 29,569 deaths by firearms in the U.S. in 2004. In the same year, there 42,836 automobile deaths. If a person is too young to own a gun at 16, why in the world would we want to put them in control of a device that kills over 10,000 more people every year? And in the same token, if you're old enough to be responsible with a gun at 18 (along with serving in the military, serving as a juror, and voting), why aren't you responsible enough to handle alcohol? Rule #1 (or, at least, way up there) of teaching any child is, "Be consistent." It'd be helpful if the government would help us out with that.
Should 16 Year Olds Be Allowed To Drive?...
- Thread starter ChefChiTown
- Start date
Agreed. Make it one standard age of majority. There were 29,569 deaths by firearms in the U.S. in 2004. In the same year, there 42,836 automobile deaths. If a person is too young to own a gun at 16, why in the world would we want to put them in control of a device that kills over 10,000 more people every year? And in the same token, if you're old enough to be responsible with a gun at 18 (along with serving in the military, serving as a juror, and voting), why aren't you responsible enough to handle alcohol? Rule #1 (or, at least, way up there) of teaching any child is, "Be consistent." It'd be helpful if the government would help us out with that.
Im going to say no. Near where I live is a road notorious for being one of the most dangerous in the country. Ive driven this road many times and if you maintain a safe speed its perfectly safe, its the boy racer breed with their invincible attitude that does cause the accidents and sad as it is, after a crash they are the ones who generally survive while the other cars occupants dont. I dont feel any pity for them either, its the lives on the other side they ruin that I mourn for, its the same old tired story, an ordinary average safe driving joe, on his or her way home at a casually safe speed, its all over because some ignorant little shit with a brand new drivers licence wanted to see how fast he can go.
I can tell you this, I live near an open field and they are more than welcome to wreck in it so I can watch the flames rise from the wrecks! You dont respect the road you drive as well as the drivers around you and you are as dangerous as any knife carrying maniac on the street, at least when he attacks someone its through desperation and need, not because you couldn't spare a few minutes and overtook on that blind curve and didnt see the car coming the other way!
I can tell you this, I live near an open field and they are more than welcome to wreck in it so I can watch the flames rise from the wrecks! You dont respect the road you drive as well as the drivers around you and you are as dangerous as any knife carrying maniac on the street, at least when he attacks someone its through desperation and need, not because you couldn't spare a few minutes and overtook on that blind curve and didnt see the car coming the other way!
Right on... :thumbsup:
I prefer the "graduated" option.
But then, I myself didn't get my license until a couple of years ago. :dunno:
But then, I myself didn't get my license until a couple of years ago. :dunno:
Violator79
Take a Hit, Spunker!
I went to a driving school. A guy around here takes you in one of his cars and you learn how to drive. He sits beside you and teaches you everything. I did that for about a month then I got my permit. Back in '97 you had to wait 3 months to get your liscence, now it's 6 months. A few weeks after I got my permit, my mom and I took a trip to Gettysburg, a 3 hour trip. She let me drive the entire time. She was so confident that she fell asleep in her seat. I was a good driver when I was a teen. Now I have a lead foot but I know when and where to use it and not get caught :thumbsup:
Snazzy. I took Driver's Ed when I was 15½, and practiced driving. I just never NEEDED a dl until I was in my 20s. (And since I've gotten it, I still haven't driven much. Hell, I don't even have my own car.)
Heeey! Sounds like me. Except.. I still dont have a license. Tested a couple times cuz my GF was bitching at me about it.. but that never stopped me from doing it illegally. :shrug:
I really dont like driving at all. Troublesome, scary.. you can NEVER pay enough attention to everything. I hate that insecure feeling I have when I'm in one.. driver's seat or passenger position makes no difference.
Petra
Cult Mother and Simpering Cunt
I honestly and truely believe that a drivers license needs to be conditional up until the age of 18. Especially since one of my best friends from high school, who just had a newborn child, was killed by an idiot 17 year old a few months ago that had absolutely no clue how to drive in foggy/smokey situations.
There are just too many distractions these days and kids need more driving experience than a few lessons with the driving instructor before being released into the world.
There are just too many distractions these days and kids need more driving experience than a few lessons with the driving instructor before being released into the world.
Anyone up til the age of 21 needs to bike their ass to work, honestly. Bunch of friggin' idiots who never have the right mindset to succeed in ANY circumcstances.. let alone driving tests.
Teens are idiots. Make smoking 16, drinking 18, driving 21. People need to earn the privilege to drive like fuckheads on any roads. People dont need to earn the right to nicotine their worries away, and almost equally drink their cares away. (Not that any of them have legit worries at 16 or 18, fucking whiners)
Teens are idiots. Make smoking 16, drinking 18, driving 21. People need to earn the privilege to drive like fuckheads on any roads. People dont need to earn the right to nicotine their worries away, and almost equally drink their cares away. (Not that any of them have legit worries at 16 or 18, fucking whiners)
Member 1098
Closed Account
I don't think (16) is the right age to be driving period. I think maybe 18, 19, and 20, somewhere around that age category. Teens today make stupid choices/decisions they be making half of the time, and never think. It's not like if you were a kid to make mistakes, that's fine and good. But, sometimes you need to be careful what you're doing. I don't think it's the right time to give a (16 year old) a car, I never had a car/start driving around that age. I never really wanted to know how to drive at that age, and the age that im in right now, is because im scare if I hit something/or someone, just be angry at myself. I think maybe having someone with you, to start driving lessons. I would have someone like my parents. I think it all the depends if the person is mature ''enough'' to start learning how to drive. But, (16) is ''very young''.
I can't help but wonder what all you who think 16 is too young thought when you were 16.
There are shitty 16 year old drivers and shitty 46 year old drivers. It's to do with their personalities and their experience.
Of course most people are better drivers at 18 then 16; at 18 they have 2 years experience. At 16 they have virtually none. If you put a 35 year old who has never driven behind the wheel they'd suck at it at first too.
The average 16 year old is far more mature and independent today then they were even 20 years ago. And given the proper training are fine drivers. Especially if they drive out of more necessity then convenience.
There are shitty 16 year old drivers and shitty 46 year old drivers. It's to do with their personalities and their experience.
Of course most people are better drivers at 18 then 16; at 18 they have 2 years experience. At 16 they have virtually none. If you put a 35 year old who has never driven behind the wheel they'd suck at it at first too.
The average 16 year old is far more mature and independent today then they were even 20 years ago. And given the proper training are fine drivers. Especially if they drive out of more necessity then convenience.
Legzman
what the fuck you lookin at?
I'm mixed on this issue. You gotta figure teens are reckless and feel inincible. That mixed with their inexperience behind the wheel is a deadly combination. But they gotta learn sometime. If we changed the driving age to say 18 or 20 they'd still be inexperienced and still young and reckless. So I really don't know what to do here.
villiageidiot
Leah's Biggest Fan!
When I was 16, I had my license for 4 days and caused an accident. I wasn't goofing off, was alone, it was just inexperience. I had a two year suspension after that and have never caused another accident. I don't think there is enough training for new drivers. Yes some kids goof off, but some are very responsible. I think they need more drivers ed classes more than anything. I have had to spend the rest of my life thinking about that day and the lives that were ruined.
I thought I knew it all, I thought I was ready.
I thought I knew it all, I thought I was ready.
Rattrap
Doesn't feed trolls and would appreciate it if you
This is something I've thought quite a bit about, so I apologize for a lengthy (and possibly redundant at times) reply. And yes, I'm definitely in favor of raising the driving age. I'm in favor of not driving altogether!
I have to agree with calpoon, here. I have plenty of friends who feel like their first car was the start of freedom, and I always feel a little sad for them, because my freedom came on two wheels five years earlier. Maybe one in a dozen times did I ever ask my folks to take me anywhere from then on - whether that be friends' houses, sports practices, or what-have-you. For the rest of my life on.
Obviously, they did not. And we haven't even mentioned environmental and road congestion benefits had they picked the better option.
I have to agree with calpoon, here. I have plenty of friends who feel like their first car was the start of freedom, and I always feel a little sad for them, because my freedom came on two wheels five years earlier. Maybe one in a dozen times did I ever ask my folks to take me anywhere from then on - whether that be friends' houses, sports practices, or what-have-you. For the rest of my life on.
I've always thought the drinking age being set to 21 was discrimination, to be honest. A blatant 'one-time' dip into our rights for 'safety' - well, No_Man said it quite well (emphasis added):
That's the way it is down here. Learner's Permit at 15.
While I don't agree with the smoking bit, I do agree with the idea that the 21-age limit hit the wrong 'solution'. Somebody (most influentially, Mothers Against Drunk Driving) saw a problem: alcohol and driving, when mixed, often turns fatal. Fair enough, that warrants looking into a solution. Well, banning the two together just didn't get enough results. So, what they ought to have done at that point was look at how many people alcohol kills every year (including drunk driving) and how many people automobiles kill every year (including drunk driving) and take away the greater killer.
Obviously, they did not. And we haven't even mentioned environmental and road congestion benefits had they picked the better option.
Yeah it is!But in Finland you become sexually legal when you are 16, having sex is more fun than driving anyways.
I should have never been allowed to drive when I was 16, lol.
They gotta get their cherry popped some time.
I first got pulled over when I was 15 - had my permit and an 18 y/old friend so it was totally legit to drive legally. Dont' know 'bout you all, but I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel. I remember when I first got that DL, I was not around as much and always begging for the car keys. I also had the "friends" that didn't have the whip, so they were more "friends" after they knew I had the wheels. Those were the days. Wish I could go back...
Oh yeah, I remember my permit test, I actually failed - 69 out of 100, when 70 was passing - but the old bugger passed me anyway. Yes, I was happy that day.
F,
Yes, I used to sneak out at night and lift the folks car as well. Must be a Scandinavian thing. :dunno:
I first got pulled over when I was 15 - had my permit and an 18 y/old friend so it was totally legit to drive legally. Dont' know 'bout you all, but I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel. I remember when I first got that DL, I was not around as much and always begging for the car keys. I also had the "friends" that didn't have the whip, so they were more "friends" after they knew I had the wheels. Those were the days. Wish I could go back...
Oh yeah, I remember my permit test, I actually failed - 69 out of 100, when 70 was passing - but the old bugger passed me anyway. Yes, I was happy that day.
F,
Yes, I used to sneak out at night and lift the folks car as well. Must be a Scandinavian thing. :dunno:
