Driver's Licences Moved to 17.5?

[TomStrife]

Does anyone agree with this?

I'm assuming the older members are going to say they believe the drivers license should apply to older ages due to immature drivers, but do you honestly think someone will change their outlook on driving at 17.5?

I am turning 16 the year this law MAY stary (2007) so I obviously have a stance against it. I will not be an immature driver seeing how I will be aware it is a life-death situation............and care.

EDIT: Darn, I spelled Licenses wrong in the title.

[Mistress Sheena]

Ah, so they changed it so you wont' be able to get it at 16, huh? That sucks. But it doesn't really matter, at 16 it isn't even a real license anyway. It's more of a permit that looks like a license, lmao.

The real license is when you turn 17.5/18. Haha. I don't even have one yet and I'm 22, so uh.. yeah.. even if I was 16 or so, I wouldn't really care. Because you probably dont' even have a job or a car of your own yet. ^^; I know I didn't.

[Tiffany]

They do something similar to that up here.

They started what they called "Graduated Licensing". You get your G1 licence at 16, and it has certain restrictions on it.

• No driving between 1am and 4am... (I think.. it's either that or 12am-5am)

• 0 Blood Alcohol Level

• A person who has had a vaild G licence with 5 years driving experience MUST be in the passenger seat at all times

• Must stay off of the 400-series highways

• Only as many people as working passenger seat belts.

You do that for 1 year, or 8 months if you take a driver's ed course. Then you can go for your G2, which has less restrictions:

• Only as many people as working passenger seat belts
• 0 blood alcohol level.

Then you have up to 5 years to go for your full G licence.

They did this in order to cut down on the amount of car accidents caused by reckless youth. It sucks that people have to ruin it for everyone else eh? Personally I don't see how you're going to be more mature at 17 and a half rather than 16, but whatever I guess.

What I got upset with, is that they're trying to pass a law stating that unless you have a high school diploma, you can't get your licence. Personally, I don't see how that has anything to do about driving abilities.

But that's another debate for another time.

[Hecate]

But I DO agree it should be pushed back, and when you're older, you'll agree as well (More than likely).

The MAJORITY of the kids these days at age 16 are too immature to handle the responsibility given to a driver. When you're on the road, no matter how old you are or what your skill level is, you risk your own life as well as any passengers you hold with you. Even the best driver can be rammed into by someone else and get seriously hurt or killed.

When you're 16 and you get, what we call here, "Cinderella license" (gotta be home by 10 unless you work past 10), kids go crazy. "FINALLY I can drive on my OWN without my MOTHER (or father) watching me all the time!" and in their excitement tend to start to drive rather poorly without anyone there to correct them. Granted, some people ARE ready to be on the road at that age, but not many. PARTLY why dangerous kids are on the road isn't the kids' fault, but their parents for LETTING them. I wasn't ready for my permit when I was 16, I didn't get it till I was 17. I'll be 20 soon and I STILL don't have my license, but that will change VERY soon. Know why it's taking me so long? FEAR. Fear of young teens not knowing what they're doing without someone to guide them, fear of show-offs (Be it teens or older college show-offs), and generally fear of someone ignorant enough to drive like that RAMMING into me and possibly killing my one and only son. I'm sorry, but if people won't keep irresponsible teens off the roads then I REFUSE to let my son go on the road when I drive. Are there gonna be some adults who can't drive worth shit? HELL YEAH, but by taking the younger teens off the road, the risk is greatly reduced. Now we just gotta work on the druggies and the drunks. In my area, everyone (who is "old") who admit they can't drive safely anymore MUST turn in their license, so by also raising the driving age, that's a start.

People just don't see how dangerous it can really be. My cousin's step sister is 17, and she's wrecked 5 cars already, because her parents let her do whatever the hell she wants and she's snooty about it. People who stay OFF the roads are the smart ones.


If you disagree, that's fine, this is my opinion, like it or not, and I'm NOT gonna change it and I won't reply to anyone who goes against me, because this is it right here, take it or leave it.

[TomStrife]

Originally Posted by Dizzy

Ah, so they changed it so you wont' be able to get it at 16, huh? That sucks. But it doesn't really matter, at 16 it isn't even a real license anyway. It's more of a permit that looks like a license, lmao.

The real license is when you turn 17.5/18. Haha. I don't even have one yet and I'm 22, so uh.. yeah.. even if I was 16 or so, I wouldn't really care. Because you probably dont' even have a job or a car of your own yet. ^^; I know I didn't.

A job I DO have but I car I do not.

As for Alchohol level, that will never be a problum for me at least hopefully it won't be.

[Tiffany]

I was either the first or second year that they started the graduated licencing.

I wasn't impressed about it at first, but when looking back, it does make sense. I too, waited to get my driver's licence. It seemed like too much of a responsiblity for me and I didn't want to be responsible for potenially killing myself and others. Not by drinking and driving mind you, but being reckless or careless.

I don't see anything wrong with the graduated aspect of it, maybe if they did it that way as opposed to pushing it back. It forces kids for the first year to be responsible while driving (hence the person with 5 years experience in the front passenger seat).

How they got their restrictions is they looked at their statisics and noticed that most accidents caused by young drivers happened either: during that time of the evening, on the 400-series highways, alcohol or not enough people with driving experience to help out the new driver.

I totally agree with this. Most 16 year olds aren't mature enough when they get behind the wheel.

[Angantyr]

New Zealand has the the lowest age, in the World I believe at 15. We have 3 levels with rules:

Learners:

• You have to drive with a Full License driver who has had their license for more that years
  Takes 6 months before you can go for restricted
  If you are 25 or older it takes 3 months

Restricted:

• No passangers unless somebody there has had their license for more than 2 years
  Not aloud to drive between 10pm and 5am
  If you take it in Auto, you are not aloud to drive Manual
  It takes 18 months, unless you do a Defensive driving course, which takes you down to 12

Then you go for your full which removes all the Rules obviously

Personaly after being in 2 accidents, I think it is too low as most people aren't matured then, I don't like the Restricted passangers rule as I feel safer with somebody watching, New Zealand has very dangerous road, in fact the second crash was partly caused by it, I am an experianced driver but I would of avoided this crash but personal problems effecte me, I just blacked out so I don't know exactly what happened. But I think it should be raised to 17 1/2 here but I doubt that will happen. Personally I think a lot of stupid kid's ruin it for everybody with there "most go fasT, I can do it on Gran Turismo so why not here?" sh!t. Its the same with alcohol, the drinking age is 18 but they're thinking of raising it to 21 cause some shit for brains got killed with their big fat ugly Ego, I am 20 and like to drink but if they do change it, probably won't effect me. Stupid kids

Oh yeah, I am currently on my Restricted but have had it for 2.5 years.

[Sasquatch]

A lot of places are going to a graduated licensing system. I agree with it, but I think that instead of an across-the-board delay for all drivers, there should be some type of monitoring system. There's some type of box that a parent can install that measures speed, acceleration, turning force, etc. while somebody's driving. I wouldn't have a problem with all new drivers having to have something like that for a certain number of driving hours, or six months or a year or so. To make sure the driver is responsible enough to get behind the wheel before he/she is left completely unsupervised. I'd also say they should increase the penalties for reckless driving, DUI/DWI, etc. -- not so much for speeding and such, but for being stupid. Racing, etc.

I'm 20, and I'll only be stateside for another two months between now and after I turn 22, so not much of this would effect me. I've also had my license since shortly after I turned 16 -- but that was because I proved to be responsible enough to drive at 16, unlike my brother and sister who got theirs later. I didn't have any of the "here son, let Mommy and Daddy buy you a vehicle and get you your license as soon as possible without teaching you anything." My dad was a truck driver, too (and ended up doing safety orientations and driver training), so I learned a lot from him. I'm not really stupid with it, either -- I've had my truck for more'n a year, and I still haven't had it above 90 or done reverse drops or anything. Sure, I'll give 'er coming off a stop sign if there's nobody around every once in a while, or maybe have some fun on the ice in an empty parking lot, but nothing near anything that could damage the truck, or me, or anything else.

In short, if they find that kids are more mature and responsible with vehicles at 17 or 18 than they are at 16 and that it could prevent accidents and damage, I'm for it.

[Lai]

In New Jersey, you don't get to drive until you're 18. Pretty lame.

[Asheis]

I think we should base it off of being developmentally finished.

I'd vote for 25.. XD

[Lai]

Well then we need to also take into consideration the experience that comes with child raising. I'd say 50 is a good age. You should know the ropes by then.