Driver's Licences Moved to 17.5?

[shauns_friend]

I think lisencing ages is stupid... i think changing lisencing ages to older ages is even more stupid... how can someone think there will be a difference in immature driving if you're 16 or if you're 18?... in my opinion theres no difference... it's like most things with an age difference. If you're 15 years 364 days 23 hours and 59 seconds old you are going to be as stupid and reckless at driving as wen you turn 16. I don't think raising the age limit will make any difference.

How about designing driving lisences the way motorbike lisences are made. A certain lisence only allows you to drive a bike with a cerain CC and power output. It also relies on power/weight ratios so no more boy racers souping up crappy lil' 1.1 engines

views?

[SelphieTilmitt]

^ Umm...Okay?

I think that raising the driving age is a wonderful idea. Its a generalized maturity issue and most people around the age of 16 can't handle it.

I live in Oregon, and we have a "provisional" license. You can get your permit at 15, but all that means is you can learn to drive with your parents (or a licensed driver over the age of 25) in the car with you.

At 16 you get you license, and for the first 6 months you can't drive between midnight at 5am unless you are coming from work or a school related/hosted event. You also can't have ANY passengers in the car with you unless they are members of you IMMEDIATE family. IE: they live in your house.

After the first 6 months you can't have more than 3 passengers, and there are still time limits on when you can drive.

Then, at 18, you can get a normal license...I haven't gotten mine yet, even tho I'm almost 20...But that's because I like my picture, and I don't like how they changed the Oregon licenses...So, the provisional license I keep, it doesn't make any difference tho. Because I've had it for 3 and a half years.

[Sasquatch]

I like how most of the people that support this idea are old enough that it doesn't affect them, making them more fair, and most of the people that don't like this idea are too young or barely in the age range to drive and would be affected by it.

Hate to say it, but ... You'll understand when you get older.

[Tiffany]

YES! Finally! Someone who understands!

I can't tell you how many times I keep saying to myself that once the majority of this forum gets older they'll understand things a tad bit better. Although I hate playing the age card cuz

a) it makes me feel old

and

b) I dislike sounding like a know it all. Even though I do know it all. *cough*


Anyways, I was one of the first years of the graduated licencing, and yes, I hated it with a passion, but looking back it's for the best.

[James D.]

There are two crucial problems with raising the driving age.

A. Low-end jobs depend on 16 year old to work for them, and without transportation, their pool of potential employees will drop.
B. A 17 year old will be just as bad a driver. He/She spends another year watching their role model older friends driving, drag racing, speeding, etc.

Whats needed is more parenting. A lot of parents dont take their kids into the back roads and teach them the basics anymore. They figure the school will teach them that. Really. Parents expect the school to teach them driving, sexual education, the political views that the parents believe in, and fit actual education in there somewhere.

[SelphieTilmitt]

Originally Posted by Sasquatch

Hate to say it, but ... You'll understand when you get older.

Sorry for both quotes...but I had things to say about both.

I REALLY didn't want to use that line, so I'm glad someone did. The first time a 16 year old driver is going 40 in a parking lot and clips the bumper of your TWO DAY OLD car (that you bought yourself without mommy or daddy) and you scream "damn kids" is the day you realize you've gotten older...hate that.

Originally Posted by Tiffany

Although I hate playing the age card cuz

a) it makes me feel old

and

b) I dislike sounding like a know it all. Even though I do know it all. *cough*


Anyways, I was one of the first years of the graduated licencing, and yes, I hated it with a passion, but looking back it's for the best.

I hate that whole..."feeling old" thing. It's no fair. But I guess it has to happen to all of us someday, right?

I was also in one of the pilot years for my state's "provisional license" and I know I didn't like it when I was 15/16, but at the same time, I knew it was a good plan. Guess I was one of those smart kids...*shrug*

[Marceil]

I didn't get my license until I was 20 ~_~ and I still had to go to work and tech school.
I had to ride my bicycle and like it either that or just keep giving the dmv free money just so they could keep failing me

Of course I'm a little vertically challenged ... it does work in your favor if you can see clearly over the dash and not around the steering wheel X|

I think if you need to drive to get to work they should issue you an occupational license? That would make more sense right?

[TomStrife]

Guys, you are making majority assumptions.

I know for a fact that I would be a responsible driver, but I know most kids my age aren't.

Plus, I have a job and my Dad is getting fedup driving me everywhere.

[Sasquatch]

Originally Posted by TomStrife

Guys, you are making majority assumptions.

I know for a fact that I would be a responsible driver, but I know most kids my age aren't.

Yes, we're making assumptions. The assumption that most kids at 16 aren't responsible drivers. Postponing a license to 17.5 wouldn't completely alleviate that problem, but it would definitely help -- though 16-year-olds don't think so, most 17- or 18-year-olds can look back a couple years and see how immature they were -- and the same goes for when they're 20 or so, looking back on when they're 18. I'm sure in a few years, I'll look back on now and see how much maturity and responsibility I've gained.

Like I said. Sorry. You'll understand when you get older.

It ain't easy to hear, we know.

[James D.]

Originally Posted by TomStrife

Guys, you are making majority assumptions.

I know for a fact that I would be a responsible driver, but I know most kids my age aren't.

Plus, I have a job and my Dad is getting fedup driving me everywhere.

Same with alcohol assumption. Maybe they should lower the drinking age to sixteen because a few sixteen year olds can drink in moderation. Sorry, wrong.

[Sean]

I don't know about you guys, but I was a helluvalot more mature at 17.5 than I was at 16.


Anyways, the Missouri system works as follows

15 - Learner's Permit. Must have for at least 6 months before you can get your license. 0BAC while driving, must have a 21+ year old person with a valid license in the car at all times.

16 - Intermediate License. You can drive on your own, must not drive between 1AM to 5AM. 0BAC at all times.

18 - Full License. You can drive on your own, any time, any where, with as many people in the car as there is seat belts. 0BAC at all times.

21 - Over 21 full license. Looks different than the under 21 license, you can now drive with a BAC of whatever the legal limit is.

I have my under-21 full license right now, being 19.

I personally think it should be changed to 18, period. I know a LOT of kids who were ****ing idiots when they were driving when I was in high school. Granted, many of them aren't much more intelligent drivers these days, but that's beside the point.

When I was 16 and first driving I was responsible.

Then a few months passed. I felt more relaxed.

I stopped caring so much about speeding, about the speed limit it's self, about coming to complete stops. I started multitasking while driving, cellphone, music, just not giving driving my complete attention. 90% of 16 year olds skip my first step and move straight on to this, only getting worse and worse with it until they kill someone.

Granted, I never got into an accident, but I've had a couple close calls that would've been my fault, and one that was (I was 19 when the one that was my fault happened, though)


I've also been hit by a stupid ass 16 year old whom was not paying attention back when I was nearly 18.

Most high school students out in St. Louis county own rather expensive import or domestic cars they try to soup up and race through county roads.

Over 50 people have been killed within the past few years, drivers excluded, because of kids like them. All of the drivers were under 18.

[James D.]

Originally Posted by Sean

I personally think it should be changed to 18, period. I know a LOT of kids who were ****ing idiots when they were driving when I was in high school. Granted, many of them aren't much more intelligent drivers these days, but that's beside the point.

When I was 16 and first driving I was responsible.

Then a few months passed. I felt more relaxed.

I stopped caring so much about speeding, about the speed limit it's self, about coming to complete stops. I started multitasking while driving, cellphone, music, just not giving driving my complete attention. 90% of 16

year olds skip my first step and move straight on to this, only getting worse and worse with it until they kill someone.

Granted, I never got into an accident, but I've had a couple close calls that would've been my fault, and one that was (I was 19 when the one that was my fault happened, though)

I've also been hit by a stupid ass 16 year old whom was not paying attention back when I was nearly 18.

This is why it would be practical to have a probationary period for younger drivers. Screw up in six months after getting your license, and you lose it.

Another solution would be to make the process of getting your license less of a joke. How can someone gauge how you drive on a traffic free, controlled course? Some places take you out to the road, but it is for short periods of time, and everyone is on their best behavior when this goes on. It wouldnt work to have someone spy on you. Probationary period works better.