should the driving age be raised to 18 argumentative essay

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Should Driving Age Be Raised

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Should we Raise the Legal Driving Age?

The legal driving age has been a constant debate and every few years another log is thrown onto the fire. Should we really raise the legal age to drive? Would it save lives? If so, how high should we raise it? Currently, most states allow for teen drivers to apply for a driver’s permit 6 months after their 15th birthday. Some say this is way too soon.

Teen Driving is Deadly

It’s an unfortunate truth, but auto accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers. A 16-year-old is almost twice as likely to die in a car crash than a 30-year-old. And with new issues such as cell phone driving , texting while driving , and other forms of distracted driving , there is good reason to debate this issue. If we can take the most dangerous drivers off the road, we will not only save the lives of young adults, but we will also make the roadways safer for everyone else.

But Driving is Deadly for all Age Groups

As stated, the leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-olds is auto accidents . They are the only age group where this is true.

However, car crashes are the leading cause of accidental death in all age groups over 4 years old ! Let’s face it, 15 to 24-year-olds aren’t plagued with disease and sickness like older folks are. So it’s only natural that their leading cause of death will be accidental, and will also be the leading accidental death for nearly every age group. So the stats aren’t exactly cut and dry.

The bottom line is that driving is dangerous for ALL ages, not just teens.

Is it Age or Inexperience? Consider These Points.

I s age really the biggest factor to consider? If we raise the legal driving age to, say, 17 years old, wouldn’t 17-year-olds have the highest accident rate simply due to lack of experience? Many argue that our decision-making skills aren’t fully developed at 16 (the legal age at which a license can actually be obtained). However, this is mostly unsubstantiated evidence and since every person develops differently, a blanketed law is going to punish those who are ready.

I’m a truck driver and see this with new truckers. The legal age to receive a commercial driver’s license is 18 years old, but most don’t obtain their commercial driver’s license until after the age of 21. The most dangerous truck drivers on the road are those with under 2 years of experience, regardless of age . It’s likely that if we simply raise the driving age, we will only shift the “problem drivers” to a higher age bracket.

By the way, be sure to check out these tips for driving around semi trucks

Major Issues with Raising the Legal Driving Age

Aside from young teens hating the idea, do we really want our teens dependent upon us for everything? Do we really want to chauffeur our teens everywhere, up until the point they graduate high school, go off to college, or even join the military?

Getting a driver’s license is a ‘right of passage’ so to speak. We have to “let go” at some point or another. Most teens don’t have access to public transit. We need to let them have some freedom. We need to let them get jobs. We need to let them grow up. And learning to drive is one of the very first steps into adulthood. The world is a dangerous place, but we must “let go” at some point.

A Graduated Solution

Every child and every teenager develops in their own unique way. Instead of forcing the government to make blanketed laws, let’s leave things the way they are and force parents to be parents. Allow mom and dad to decide if their child should drive or not. Who knows a teenager better than the teenagers guardian?

Most states have developed a “graduated licensing” program, which has proven to be successful. This includes more time behind the wheel with a supervised and licensed adult, more classroom time, and zero tolerance policies for traffic violations (a violation could result in further training or even license revocation).

Limiting forms of distracted driving is also a good idea. Some states have a graduated rider program. At first, no passengers are allowed unless it’s an adult. After some experience, they can bring more passengers on board. Zero tolerance cell phone use and driving curfew laws have also proven to be successful.

Traditionally, we have given full license privileges to 16 year olds. Instead of simply raising the driving age, we should continue to implement programs which slowly gives more driving privileges to teens as they prove themselves to be safe, trustworthy drivers. Let’s treat this as an experience issue, not an age issue.

Sometimes Life is Worth the Risks

We all live a fine line in life. Just about everything we do is dangerous. We could slip and fall in the shower, get hit by a car crossing the street, or die while riding a roller coaster. Does that mean we shouldn’t do anything in life that is remotely dangerous? Of course not.

Giving teens the ability to drive will give them invaluable life experiences. Yes, driving is risky. It’s risky no matter our age. But driving is one of those things we just can’t avoid in modern society, and teens should be able to experience the world with the freedom driving brings.

Limiting Risks is the Answer

Instead of blanket driving bans or raising the driving age, we should instead find ways to make the transition into adulthood safer for teens. Graduated driver’s license programs have greatly increased safety for teen drivers, along with safer cars, zero-tolerance laws for alcohol and distracted driving, curfews, better driver’s education , and more parental oversight with safe driving apps, dashcams, and GPS tracking.

Instead of arbitrarily raising the driving age, we should continue to explore and research ways to improve driving safety for teens as well as the overall motoring public.

Is the perfect answer? Not by a long shot. However, simply raising the driving age is not necessarily going to make roads safer. This is a fair compromise between safety, and giving teens the freedom they should be able to experience.

Should the States Raise the Legal Driving Age to 18? Essay

Introduction.

In a 2019 overview of the fatality rates in the United States, while teenagers drove less compared to all but the oldest people, the number of deaths and crashes associated with them were disproportionately high. By comparison, between 16 and 19 years, the number of fatal crash rates was three times more than crash rates among drivers over twenty years (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, n.p.).

Furthermore, the risks of such fatal crashes and deaths were reportedly highest in teenagers aged between 16 and 17 years. With the understanding established, Fritscher argues that, among various reasons, teens should be allowed to drive because it plays a fundamental role in teenage development. The purpose of the essay is to compare, therefore, and contrast the rhetorical elements associated with whether the states should raise the legal driving age to 18. While teenage development is vital in growing up, it does not compare to the risks associated with teenage driving. Hence, the states should raise the legal driving age to 18.

Fritscher on Reasons why teens should drive shows that despite research showing the risks that come with teenage driving, the majority of the people in the U.S. consider teen going an essential element of life. By 16, getting a driver’s license is regarded as a rite of passage in the majority of the states in the U.S. (Fritscher, n.p.). In the understanding by Erik Erikson, developmental theorist, this rite of passage contributes to discovering the identity and plays a fundamental role in teenage development. Teenagers require space to break away from their parents, develop personal values and morals, and spend time with their peers (Fritscher, n.p.). While some metropolitan regions in the U.S. have excellent public transport systems, most similar areas do not and thus, require teenagers to drive in search of their independence.

While teenage development is a significant aspect of growing up, the search for independence, personal values, and morals might come at a cost, both in the lives of teenagers and other road users as well. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Fatality Facts 2019: Teenagers aims to show that the independence sought after by teenagers comes at a high cost. In a study to analyze the licensing systems in the U.S. between 1990 and 2019, the graduated licensing for National studies found that lower fatal crashes were reported when every state adopted graduated techniques. In the presence of solid laws, there were associated lower fatal crashes and substantially lower insurance claim rates among teenagers (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, n.p.).

With substantial restrictions on teen passengers and nighttime driving, alongside raising the licensing age for teen drivers, the insurance firms encountered a decline in insurance collision claims resulting in reduced fatal crash rates.

From the findings of the study by the fatality analysis reporting system (FARS) of the U.S. transportation department, reports posted in March 2021 showed that in 2019, there were over 2,370 teenagers involved in automobile crashes. Compared to the same statement made in 1975, the figures associated with 2019 were over 70 percent more than in 1975 and 5 percent more than the previous year (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, n.p.). By breaking down the number of deaths, in terms of gender, the Institute discovered that two-thirds of the teenagers killed were male, and the number of male deaths since 1975 has been on the rise. Compared to their female counterparts, the rate of male teenage drivers who were reported dead rose by 76 percent, unlike 64 percent of female adolescent drivers.

Rouse, on the Pros and cons of driving at the age of 16 , seeks to show that while teenage driving is essential, it might be inappropriate to allow teenagers to drive. It might be problematic for teenagers to go because it is the main contributor to the increase in fatal crashes among teen drivers. An increase in fatal crashes has been highly linked to the lack of experience by these young drivers (Rouse, n.p.).

Since these young drivers have only been driving for a shorter timeframe, they encounter dangerous or challenging situations where they lack experience in understanding how to respond safely. In a 2008 article by the New York Daily, the article reported that because of the lack of experience, the leading cause attributed to teenage deaths was car crashes (Rouse, n.p.). Minimizing the possibilities that come with adolescent driving might require all states to raise the legal driving age to 18 years.

While teenage driving, like a rite of passage in most Americans, might seem appealing, considering the risks and rates of fatal crashes is an equally attractive point to emphasize in the lives of Americans. The absence of experience from teen maturity levels, while it might be argued to increase responsibility, threatens the lives of many others due to the possibility of encountering dangerous and challenging situations. A high time has come when all states should legalize the driving age to 18 years, primarily as a way of combating the increased number of fatal crashes attributed to teenage driving.

Fritscher, Lisa. Howtoadult. 2017. Web.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 2020. Arlington, VA.

Rouse, Britany. Howtoadult. 2017. Web.

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Pros and Cons of Raising the Driving Age

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Arguments for raising the driving age

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is running a Put the Phone Away or Pay campaign during distracted driving awareness month, which is each April. Though we are all susceptible to distracted driving, the NHTSA says drivers ages 16-24 are distracted by devices at higher rates than others. Here are some data-based arguments to be made in favor of raising the minimum driving age.

1. It could reduce fatal crashes

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety , the rate of fatal crashes per mile driven is nearly 3 times higher for teens aged 16 to 19 as it is for drivers over the age of 20. 1 It is thought that raising the driving age to 18 could help lower the overall rate of fatal crashes.

2. It could make teens more active

It is thought that removing the option to drive will cause more teens to walk, ride bikes, or use other active options to get places. This could cut back on teenage obesity levels by providing more opportunities for exercise.

3. 18-year-olds are more emotionally mature than 16-year-olds

Emotional maturity increases as we age, and it’s thought that 18-year-olds are more likely to make smart decisions without giving in to peer pressure than 16-year-olds.

Arguments against raising the driving age

Here are two common arguments in favor of keeping things the same.

1. It would limit transportation options for teens

Teens these days may not be as physically active as they ought to be, but they're definitely busy. School, extracurricular activities, jobs, and social events usually require some form of transportation.

If the teens can’t drive themselves, the responsibility for transportation often falls to their parents—who may not have the time or ability—or to public transportation, which may not be readily available. And with most American cities being built with drivers in mind, walking or biking long distances may not be practical or safe either.

All in all, fewer transportation options could limit the opportunities kids have for personal growth at a critical age.

2. Teen car crash stats would skew toward the new minimum age

 The argument here is that the higher crash rates for 16- and 17-year-olds may just be because they are new to driving and lack experience. Delaying the start of driving may just delay that learning and shift the crash rates more toward the 18- and 19-year-olds. 

Teaching teens to be safe drivers

Whichever side of the argument you fall on, we encourage you to stay invested in your child’s safety as they learn to drive.

Consider these gadgets to keep them accountable: 

• A vehicle gps tracker
• A dash cam  
• A driving safety app like Life360

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• Spring 2022

Unpopular opinion: The legal driving age should be increased

by Marla Rowley , Reporter March 24, 2022

The leading cause of death among teens… car accidents. The controversy around raising the driving age has remained a hot topic with safety experts, politicians, and drivers. As the number of car accidents remains a constant issue in today’s society, Some advocate that the legal driving age will prevent road accidents. 

In many ways, I agree.  Driving has changed significantly.

In some states, drivers can earn their learner’s permit when they’re as young as 14. In most European countries, the minimal driving age is 18, which results in fewer deaths and accidents. With America having millions of yearly accidents and considered one of the most dangerous countries to drive, is it ethical to continue allowing teenagers to drive so young?

Over a decade ago, Maryland senators proposed a bill to raise the legal driving age to 18 in order to reduce teen traffic deaths. This law is a three-stage licensing process where people can receive their permit at 16 and a full unrestricted license at 18. Many disagreed with this bill, saying that drivers wouldn’t be any more prepared at 18 compared to being 16. 

Many teens condemn the idea of having to wait even longer to begin driving. They enjoy the freedom and flexibility it gives them. Having the ability to drive allows them to manage their schedules better and not rely on a family members to drive them around.

However, teens tend to underestimate the dangers of driving and make more reckless decisions due to having underdeveloped brains. 

Distracted Driving

Teens are much more prone to distracted driving. From playing music too loud, having distractive passengers, drinking, and texting, 16- year-olds are more susceptible to being in an accident due to mistakes made within the vehicle. 

For example, teenagers are addicted to their phones. According to a survey done by the AAFP, one in three U.S teens text while driving.  This behavior is typically associated with other behaviors such as drunk driving, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and other forms of distracted driving. Although, it is estimated that the actual number of teenagers who text and drive is much higher. 

Drinking and driving among teens is very common, despite drinking being illegal for people under 21. In 2019, 24% of drivers ages 15-20 were killed in a car accident after drinking . Teenagers’ lack of driving experience along with drinking and taking drugs heightens the risk for crashes. 

Thrill of Reckless Driving

In addition to distracted driving, teens tend to lack good decision making when it comes to driving. Adolescents are more likely to take risks and put themselves in uncertain situations . This is attributed to teens not being finished developing and immaturity. The responsibility of driving a car combined with underdeveloped brains allows for more fatal accidents. 

During teenage years, the part of the brain that controls emotion develops faster than the part that controls impulses . This accounts for more risk-taking behaviors among adolescents like speeding, swerving, and driving while distracted. At the age of 18, a teenagers brain is significantly more developed which contributes to less road accidents. 

At Linganore High School, there have been a total of four car accidents involving students this year. One of those accidents resulted in medical attention. Ted Mostoller, Linganores student resource officer, agreed that teens’ inexperience in driving results in more accidents. Younger drivers are less prepared for things such as bad weather, road rage, and traffic. 

Developing Brains

While adolescents are at higher risks of making reckless decisions while driving due to immaturity, many teens in today’s society are too emotionally unstable to be operating a vehicle. The emotional development in teens suggests that they’re likely not prepared to safely drive a vehicle at 16 without supervision. 

Despite teens being in their prime physical health, many suffer from suicidal behaviors and substance abuse. These characteristics combined with independently operating a vehicle present more risk on the road. 

In 2017, it was reported that 17% of teens in grades 9-12 thought seriously about attempting suicide, and 2.4% of teens made a suicide attempt resulting in medical attention. This is the age where most people begin driving. If such a high number of teens are experiencing suicidal thoughts, giving children the responsibility of doing something as dangerous as driving isn’t logical. Although, by the time teens graduate high school, their mental health dramatically improves making it much safer to independently operate a car. 

Reduce Road Accidents

In 2019, nearly 2,400 teens were treated for motor vehicle crashes and every day, about 7 teens die from car accidents . Teen drivers are three times more likely to be in a fatal accident compared to people over the age of 20. Inexperience, bad critical decision making, alcohol and substance abuse are all factors that put teens at risk. 

Inexperienced drivers are unavoidable since everyone has to start somewhere. Although, there are significant differences in the brain of an average 16 year old compared to an 18 year old driver. Raising the legal driving age to 18 could help lower the overall rate of fatal crashes and allow teens more time to mature before taking responsibility for driving. Regardless if you think the driving age should be increased or stay the same, teens definitely need more guidance before receiving their license. 

Do you think the driving age should be increased?

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16 Pros and Cons of Raising the Driving Age

The ability to earn a driver’s license at the age of 16 is a rite of passage for many families in the United States. With education programs allowing for the provision of an instructional at the age of 15 1/2 in some communities, it is an exciting stage that occurs for teens during the process of growing up.

Although there are several advantages for a family when another driver can run errands, teen drivers are also at a higher risk of accident or injury compared to any other population demographic. There are specific challenges that young people face behind the wheel because of their general lack of experience while driving as well.

One of the ideas proposed to counter the disadvantages of earning a driver’s license at 16 is the raise the driving age. By allowing for a longer period of instruction, the thought is that young people can become individual drivers with better skills because they have had more time to practice with their parents or instructors.

These are the significant pros and cons of raising the driving age.

List of the Pros of Raising the Driving Age

1. It could reduce the number of fatalities that occur on the road with teen drivers. One-third of the deaths in the 13-19 age demographic occur in motor vehicle crashes each year. That’s because young drivers are more likely to take risks when compared to the older generations behind the wheel. Every additional passenger in a vehicle with a 16- or 17-year-old driver increases the risk of a fatality occurring. Drivers who are 16 also have the highest crash rate than any other age. By requiring an instructor to stay with the teen until they got older, it would allow each young driver a chance to develop more positive habits.

2. It would encourage teens to be more physically active. If the driving age were raised from its current limits, then it would encourage young drivers to be physically active when they want to go somewhere outside of the home. Since getting behind the wheel would be off-limits, there could be an increase in walking, cycling, and other exercise-based movements. With up to 1 in 3 teens in some states being overweight or obese, we could encourage our children to work on their health while they also get more time to practice for their eventual driving test.

3. It would provide more opportunities to gain experience. 75% of the serious crashes that involve teen drivers are due to critical errors that happen behind the wheel. There are three common steps that young people miss when they are driving which account for almost half of all crashes: scanning for traffic and hazards to avoid, going too fast for the current conditions, and being distracted by something inside or outside of the vehicle. Since many new drivers exit their instructional period with significant deficits in these skill areas, the extra experience could help to reduce these risks.

4. It could reduce the cost of automotive insurance for families. When teen drivers are added to their parent’s automotive insurance, the price of a policy typically skyrockets. The average annual rate quoted for a teen driver in the United States is $2,267 as of 2017. Even adding one driver to an existing policy adds more than $600 to the cost of coverage on your vehicles. By raising the driving age, parents could show their child is a safe driver and secure some additional discounts to reduce this financial impact.

Even teens who maintain a clean driving record in the 15-19 age demographic face significantly higher auto insurance rates because they are four times more likely to be in a crash when compared to older drivers. Since rates don’t start to decline until the age of 25, some changes to how we issue a license could be beneficial to everyone.

5. It would create consistency throughout the U.S. for driving standards. Depending on the state where you live, there are different standards in place for when teens can obtain a license or permit. Some geographic regions allow teens as young as 14 to receive a learner’s permit. You can sometimes receive a restricted driver’s license at 16, while others offer an unrestricted adult license at that time. The global standard for driving is 18, but in the U.S., what is legal for a teen in one state might illegal in another.

6. It could reduce the amount of congestion on the road. Because there are fewer drivers on the roadways with an increase in the independent driving age, there could be less congestion in some communities. Schools would require fewer parking spots to accommodate student drivers, which means the land could be used for other facilities or needs. Fewer vehicles would also mean lower emissions generated for our transportation needs since students would carpool or take the bus to school, which could give our environment a small boost.

7. It would allow a teen’s physiology to mature. Science shows us that the human brain tends to be underdeveloped and volatile during one’s teenage years. That is one of the reasons why kids in this age demographic tend to be impulsive, emotionally unstable, and fail to predict what the consequences of their actions will be. Because all of these skills are essential to the driving process, raising the driving age would allow for young people to finish physically maturing in a way that will eventually make them better drivers.

8. It gives new drivers an opportunity to work with today’s intuitive assistance technologies. Driving today is a very different experience for young drivers than it was even a generation ago. Teens in the 1990s were still managing all aspects of the driving experience through their personal skill because vehicles came with minimal features. Now 16-year-olds have access to lane assist technology, automatic braking, and some vehicles can even park themselves. By working with these features early, they can begin to master them as they gain more wisdom behind the wheel.

List of the Cons of Raising the Driving Age

1. It doesn’t guarantee an increase in driving skills. Raising the driving age from 16 to any age does not matter if there isn’t something in the societal infrastructure that provides the new driver with experience. Even someone who gets behind the wheel at age 25 without any experience will struggle in the same ways that a 16-year-old does during their first driving sessions. The only way for this disadvantage to disappear is to offer meaningful, affordable lessons in each community that gets people driving since you can’t learn everything in the classroom environment.

2. It makes the family schedule more challenging to manage. When kids reach a certain age, they begin to manage a job while they are going to school. There are athletic practices to attend, often right after school. If a 16-year-old (or 17) is unable to drive because the driving age was raised, then someone else in the family must step up to provide these transportation services. If that isn’t possible, then carpooling with other families would also be necessary. This added pressure could make it challenging to manage the career responsibilities of the parents in a single-guardian home or one where both are working to make ends meet.

3. It communicates a lack of trust in the young drivers. Although young drivers do make significantly more serious mistakes on the road when compared to others, it would be incorrect to say that 16-year-olds are responsible for every major incident. If we decide to raise the driving age because of these statistics, then we are effectively discriminating against these kids since the same process is not followed for older drivers. This disadvantage shows that we do not trust all drivers of a certain age, even though there are many young teens who are very responsible behind the wheel and never in accidents.

4. It would prevent them from learning the responsibilities of vehicle ownership. The idea of getting behind the wheel is very exciting for most new drivers, but the responsibility of vehicle ownership is a necessary part of the experience. Raising the driving age would prevent some teens from learning about the responsibility of budgeting for fuel expenses while traveling to school and work. You would also miss the experience of applying for an insurance policy or getting added to the parent/guardian plan. There are even the lessons on vehicle maintenance to consider that wouldn’t always be taken as seriously since there is less independence.

5. It could place the safety of our children at risk. Although taking 16-year-olds out of the vehicle would potentially reduce the risk of being in an accident, having them take public transportation or carpool just increases the potential for problems in other areas. Teens who walk, take a bicycle, or ride a bus to school have a higher risk of encountering a dangerous person or situation without adult supervision present to protect them. They have limited mobility without the vehicle to get away. In neighborhoods where the crime rate is high, this issue just trades one problem for another.

6. It eliminates a family’s freedom to choose what is necessary for their needs. It is interesting that the right to drive a vehicle creates a passionate debate about safety when teens can receive training to handle firearms. If we raise the driving age, then kids could legally possess long guns and ammunition in the United States, but they wouldn’t be permitted to get behind the wheel. There are approximately 3,000 automotive related deaths among teens in the United States each year, which is about the same number of kids who die from gunshot wounds. How can we debate the merits of taking a driver’s license away if we will not debate the same need for firearm ownership for young people?

7. It would still leave a patchwork of confusing driving laws. Individual states in the U.S. have the power to regulate what the driving age is within their state borders. Even if every legislature decided to add requirements that stopped 16-year-olds from getting behind the wheel, there would still be differences in state laws that teen drivers would encounter that could get them into trouble if they were unaware of the change. The only want to really see all of the advantages of this idea would be for the federal government to institute a nationwide change somehow. Since the structure of the government makes this a challenging outcome, we may never see the full life-saving benefits which we might achieve when implementing this idea.

8. It would create an economic deficit for the insurance industry. The premiums are so high for teen drivers because of the risks that they pose on the road. Although 16-year-old drivers are at a higher risk of being in an accident, not every kid with a driver’s license has this happen to them. About 60% of teen drivers are never in an accident before the age of 20 when they are behind the wheel. The insurance companies can charge inflated premiums because of the collected statistics today that they wouldn’t be able to do tomorrow with a higher age limit. That action could create some economic deficits that might even put some professionals out of a job.

In Conclusion with the Pros and Cons of Raising the Driving Age

Whether you are for an increase in the driving age or you believe that the current structure in society should remain the same, we can all agree on the need for training above everything else. If an untrained driver of any age gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, then that action increases the risks for everyone else on the road. The problem is often a lack of experience more than it is a problem with maturity or awareness.

Although the rate of accidents drops dramatically when comparing a 16-year-old driver to an 18-year-old one, the data suggests that the reason why this occurs is because of the experience that drivers get behind the wheel. Is it possible to gain that wisdom with a restricted license or a permit that requires another driver to be in the vehicle? Or should an unrestricted adult license be the better solution?

The pros and cons of raising the driving age often create more questions than answers. Some states in the U.S. might offer opportunities that are below the global standard, but the question must be answered by legislatures across the country. If you feel this debate is something that could save lives one day, then contact your state legislators to share with them how you feel.

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Argumentative Essay: Should Teens Below The Age Of 18 Be Allowed To Drive?

In the United States, after attaining the age of 16, one is allowed by law to have a drivers license meaning that they can drive along the streets. Some people usually think that the age at which a person can get a driving license should be increased to 18 years just like in many countries of the world. Others think that persons who are 16 years and above are grown up hence they should be allowed to acquire a driving license. In the recent past, the number of car accidents involving teenagers has been increasing, raising an alarm to the concerned authorities. Whether caused by drunkenness or lack of experience, the death toll among teen motorists has been rising. The government should increase the age required to get a driving license from 16 to 18 years since many teenagers are prone to dangerous driving or irresponsible driving. If you're looking for further support in constructing a compelling argument on this topic, you can consider the option to buy assignments from reputable sources to gain valuable insights and ensure a well-structured paper.

According to the National Teen Driving Statistics, one of the major causes of death among teenagers is accidents. From these statistics, it was established that a 16 year old teenager is three times more likely to perish on a car accident than an average driver. In the year 2002, about $40,8 billion was the approximate economic impact of accidents involving drivers between the age of 15 and 18 years (National Teen Driving Statistics, 2008).

When a 16 year old child obtains a driving license, parents are not able to control or guide them. The majority of these children are either in college or high school, where they look for freedom. After getting a driving license, they feel as if they are independent and free from their parents; hence, they become overconfident. At this point, parents may not be able to guide them the way they wish or want. At the age of 16, one does not possess enough skills or experience in life, and when they lack guidance from the parents or adults, they can easily go in wrong directions such as taking alcohol and drug abuse. Any driver should have a lot of experience and at the age of 16, one may not have enough experience to be a competent driver. From personal experience, I have seen many of my colleagues becoming drug addicts as they think that they are mature enough at the age of 16.

The other reason as to why children at the age of 16 should not be given driving licenses is that generally they tend to behave less mature or in a childish way. An inexperienced teenage driver is likely to be distracted while driving as compared to adult drivers. In case of a danger on the road, young drivers are less likely to react speedy compared to adult drivers who have experience. It is normal for young people to be adventurous and curious. They like experiencing new things while driving some of which may be disastrous. They like taking risks while driving and they are not aware of the cost of such risks. Drivers below the age of 18 are more likely to be distracted while driving by things such as watching videos, messaging, or even reading a book. It has been established that drivers under the age of 16 are likely to use their cell phones while driving, and this is one of the causes of road accidents (National Teen Driving Statistics, 2008).

A 16 year old driver is mentally immature; hence, he or she is not capable of handling a car. From a psychological point of view, the brain of a 16 year old remains underdeveloped, especially in crucial areas that regulate contemplation and impulse control of a present actions future outcomes. For any driver, these qualities are necessary as they help in controlling a speeding vehicle. For teenagers, these areas control their highs and lows in form of radical emotions. They are likely to cause a drama as they are mentally underdeveloped. This affects their abilities to handle cars as their emotions make them more prone to accidents compared to adult drivers. A driver should be able to control his or her emotions at any time since there are many road users who may portray different characters on the road. Young and inexperienced drivers are likely to get emotional while driving since they tend to think that they are under-rated by adult drivers. From my interaction with teenagers, I noticed that they are so emotional and may make deliberate decision, which far reaching consequences. I remember one time when we were in high school, there used to be frequent fights among students. The school administration used to deal with many cases of fighting and the main cause of these fights was lack of emotional control among teenagers. When these teenagers become road users, they are likely to quarrel other adult drivers since they are not fully developed mentally. At the age of 18 years, humans are more capable of controlling their emotions and impulses.

Another contributor to teens deaths on the roads is the increased use of technology while driving. Many teenagers admit using cell phone while driving. Some teenagers even put loud music in the car while driving and this is likely to distract them while driving. Some cars are even fitted while video screens, where one can watch a movie while driving. As mentioned earlier, drivers at the age of 16 are likely to get distracted by funny things like movies while driving. Drivers are required to have maximum concentration on the road while driving and ensure that they are focused on the road. For teenage drivers, this is not the case as their attention is easily attracted by some funny things. From my own observation, most cars, which are driven by teenagers always, have loud music playing, radio or a screen. Many of them feel that the advanced technology is beneficial, but on the other hand, it may not benefit them. Teenage drivers influence each other, especially when technology is concerned. If one sees their friends car with a loud music system, they copy that to their cars. For most adult drivers, they are not concerned more about technology inside their cars hence they do not get distracted by things such as loud music or video screens.

Most teenage drivers tend to ignore some basic rules while driving such as wearing a seat-belt and using the car lights appropriately. For adult drivers, rarely do they ignore basic rules while driving. You may find a 16 year old driver ignoring traffic lights yet they know it is against the law and may bring negative consequences. For the past few years, I have always overheard my parents complaining about teen drivers and how they ignore rules on the road such as road signs and traffic lights. The young drivers are always rebellious in nature even on set rules and regulation. Ignorance of the road signs is one of the causes of accidents among the teenagers. My parents have been complaining frequently on how they almost crushed another car, later they found out that the driver was a teenager. Ignoring a basic rule such as fastening a seat-belt may cost ones life, a situation that may have been avoided. The law enforcing agencies should ensure that all drivers follow the set rules while driving.

There are arguments put across by those who think the age for obtaining a driver's license should remain 16 years. One of the arguments is that at 16, one is old enough to carry out their activities, including driving a car, as they are no longer children. Also, they argue that the individual's experience matters most, not age. Each driver has his/her learning time, and increasing the age at which one should drive does not change the learning process and time. There are adult drivers who make more fatal mistakes than teen drivers. It has also been established that drunkenness is one of the major causes of teen accidents, and this is unrelated to age. Students interested in delving deeper into this subject and crafting a robust argument might find it beneficial to buy a research paper from a skilled writing service, as this can offer valuable perspectives and a thoroughly organized examination.

In conclusion, it should be noted that driving is just a privilege and not a constitutionally protected right hence it should be treated as so. It is a serious activity hence putting it in the hands of teenagers who are not fully developed might be risky. Some of the reasons as to why people under the age of 18 should not be allowed to drive include the history of accidents involving teenagers, immaturity of teenagers, parents or guardians losing control over the teens among others. Most of the accidents caused by teen drivers can be avoided if they are prohibited from driving. The law enforcing authority in the country should put stricter controls on irresponsible teen drivers. If the United States is committed to reducing the number of road accidents caused by teen drivers, increasing the required age to obtaining a driving license is the only way out. Teenagers are the future citizens of the country, and when many of them die, it means that the future generation is dying.

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Should the Driving Age be Raised to 18 Persuasive Essay Example

In most states there is a specific age you have to be to be able to drive. In the 1940’s the legal driving age was established and said they should be at least 16 to get their licence. Before the 1940’s there was a few states that already set a driving age of 16. The legal driving age should not be raised to 18 because most 16 year olds get jobs or have after school activities, parents might need help with errands or responsibilities, and teens should have the opportunity to get used to driving before being on their own. 

A lot of teens at the age of 16 are getting jobs or joining activities at school and either do not have a way there or a way home. Most parents work the same hours as their kids activities or jobs. For instance, I had a job over the summer and my hours were 11am-5pm, my parent works from 8am-5pm. I would have to either find a ride to and from work or depend on my sister, that also had a job of her own. Once I got my license at 16 i did not have to depend on anyone to take me to or get me from my job. 

Also there are many parents with reasons on why they need help with certain errands and responsibilities such as working late, disabilities, and emergencies. Some parents rely on their teen being able to drive because they are not able to do a simple task like getting groceries or something highly important as picking up their kids from school or daycare. If there’s a family emergency or someone is disabled at home that makes it impossible for the parent to drive, the teen will be able to take them where they need to go whether it be doctor appointments, hospital, or even visit a loved one. 

When people turn 18 or graduate most got to college or simply move out. I personally believe that  by the time you hit 18 you should have a little experience with driving. Most students in college take a bus or a taxi because they are not comfortable with driving or do not know how to. For the people that chose to move out, usually move In with someone that has a car or they call a taxi. It’s easier and more affordable to be able to drive yourself to classes or where ever you need to go rather than not driving from feeling inexperienced. 

In conclusion, the legal driving age of 16 should not be raised to 18 because a lot of teens have jobs and out of school activities, parents having emergencies or disabilities, and so when they enter “the real world” they feel comfortable with driving on their own.

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National Motorists Association Blog

Should the us driving age be 18 as it is in other countries such as germany.

While we debate the various new developments on our road, such as autonomous cars , an age-old question is: Should we raise the legal driving age to 18?

In Germany, teenagers are only allowed to drive at 17, under the supervision of an adult, and at 18 without supervision. In the USA, the legal driving age is 16, though some states allow teens as young as 14 and a half to drive while others have it as high as 18 and a half.

For teenagers, getting a driver’s license is as much a rite of passage as any other. It gives them the opportunity to grow up and be independent and it forces us, parents, to let go. These teenagers will not always have access to public transit, so they will also be highly inconvenienced.

Let’s look at some of the arguments for why we should raise the legal driving age, then some of the stronger arguments for why we shouldn’t, and then make a judgment based on that.

For Raising: A reduction in fatal road accidents

A rather unfortunate truth is that the leading cause of death among our teenagers is auto accidents. An American teenager has twice the chance of dying in a car accident as an adult. Issues that lead to this include calling while driving and texting while driving. If we can take these drivers off the road, then it might seem reasonable that we would save many lives.

Against Raising: This is a one-sided View

While we like to point out that 16 and 17-year-olds are often involved in accidents, the fact is that taking them off the roads will simply shift the statistics to 18 to 21-year-olds. Drivers don’t just crash because they are texting or calling while driving; they also crash because they lack the experience to drive safely.

We can’t just take teenagers off the road because they are supposedly putting other drivers in danger. There are similar statistics for male drivers versus female drivers. Should we then ban males from driving?

Actually, while we’re on the topic of leading causes of death, those between the ages of 15 and 24 don’t constantly get sick like older people, so it’s only natural that auto accidents will have few contenders as the leading cause of death. The statistics here aren’t so obvious or direct.

For Raising: Teenagers aren’t Mature enough

The main argument here is that 16-year-olds have a mind that hasn’t quite matured to the level of the mind of an 18-year-old. 18-year-olds have a higher capacity to think about the future and plan ahead, probably because of the experience that comes with going to college.

Against Raising: This is a Blanket Declaration

Learning to drive, on its own, is a process that really helps a teenager to grow up and mature. They learn some important motor skills and they learn to share a road with other people. They learn to be responsible for their own transport and they also learn to be independent. A 16-year old that has had this experience will be a lot more mature by 18 than an 18-year old that never drove, at least as far as driving cars is concerned.

For Raising: It’s Environmentally-Friendly

If we don’t permit young people to drive, then we will take off all of those extra cars from the road. Not only that, but we will force young people to seek alternatives, such as riding bicycles and taking public transport. This mentality will carry over into adulthood and instill in the ‘green’ culture, which will help slow down environmental pollution.

Against Raising: Why discriminate against young people?

So the government wants to promote green transport; that’s a noble purpose. However, why is it picking on young people to do that? If the government wants to promote green transport then the laws should be applicable to everyone and not just teenagers. Moreover, not everyone has access to public transport, especially teenagers living in rural areas.

For Raising: Other countries are doing it

Most European countries have raised the driving age to 18 and they seem to be doing just fine. Germany is a good example. Why not follow their lead?

Against Raising: No justification to do something just because others are doing it

This is just a case of peer pressure. We don’t have to enact any laws or adopt any culture simply because other people are doing the same. When it comes to the legal driving age, Germany and other European countries are different than the US, have different cultures, different roads, and different laws. Adopting their driving age isn’t going to give us the exact same results as them. Besides, while Germany doesn’t allow its teenagers to get a license until the age of 18, it allows them to drive by 17 anyway, as long as they are supervised by adults. I lived in Germany for 12 years and I can tell you that their roads are much more complicated and dangerous than ours. They have a case for their higher legal age.

For Raising: Teens will be more active

This is understandable. Without the option to drive, teenagers will have more options open to them, such as walking, riding bikes, and other things that force them to be active. This might help to fight the rising obesity among American teenagers and encourage them to exercise.

Against Raising: This is another case of Discrimination

Again, forcing teenagers to be more active by taking away their driving rights while the rest of the population does whatever it wants is discriminatory. Teenagers should be allowed to choose, in this context, whether they want to drive or use other more active modes of transportation.

A More Balanced Approach

So now that we’ve looked at the two sides of the story, you can see that I am strongly against raising the legal driving age. I believe that we should instead go for something a little more balanced.

To start with, every teenager will grow up at a different rate. So instead of blanketing everyone with the same law, why not pass on the responsibility to parents? While the legal driving age should remain 16, parents should be the ones to decide whether they want their children to get a driver’s license or not.

There are also already graduated licensing programs in place in most states and they are working quite well. Under these programs, the teenager spends time behind the wheel under supervision by a licensed adult and time in the classroom learning driving theory. There is also zero tolerance for traffic violations, with a violation leading to more training time and even potentially leading to license revocation.

I don’t believe we should raise the driving age. It’s always been 16 and it has found its way deep into our psyche and our culture. Like I mentioned earlier, getting a driver’s license has even become a rite of passage. We should instead implement programs that give graduated privileges to teen drivers over time so they have the opportunity to prove themselves as responsible drivers. Driving is all about experience, not age.

Jacob Dillon is a highly skilled freelance writer and editor from the UK who currently works at My Assignment Writing , a thesis writing service. He is deeply interested in human development and education and writes blog posts on these topics regularly. He also regularly writes reviews, such as the EssayShark review . He can be reached via Facebook or check his Twitter .

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the author.

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9 Responses to “Should The US Driving Age Be 18 As It Is In Other Countries Such As Germany?”

Discouraging teenagers from driving is part of the War On Cars and the agenda of ridding the planet of autos. Driverless cars are a step in that direction as are electric cars.

This is a weak argument. Why do you say this is wrong? We need evidence.

bro let me drive

i disagree with this statement

The driving age should not be raised. I am 15. I especially want the driving age to say the same.

thats crazy

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