Driving Age
The New Zealand government in the last 18 months have increased the diving age from fifteen to sixteen, many people are shocked and lots of teenagers are angry and do not agree with this change, but in 88.5% of New Zealanders eyes that was the right thing to do. I am going to tell you my reasons about why I think that they have move the age limit up to sixteen on driving.
Firstly, the government has done the right and responsible thing for the increase of age for getting your license; they have primarily done it to keep you as a new driver safe and knowledgeable about the road and safety on it. A quote by a road safety minister saying “Young New Zealanders have 60% higher fatality rate than Australia, all because the age difference”. But its not all just about age, it is also about the fact teen agers are open to newer faster cars, that have not been as accessible as before. The amount of accidents with teenage drivers is more than triple that of drivers who are older and have had more experience. With the driving age higher this would lessen the number of accidents more because people would have a better understanding of what they are doing on the road.
Secondly I will discuss the positives of this new law. While it is dangerous to put young drivers on the road who lack experience, the only way they'll gain experience is to be out driving. The International Debate Education Association website argues that even if the driving age were raised to seventeen or eighteen, teens may still be dangerous drivers because they would still be inexperienced. To counter this, many states have long probationary periods where teen drivers must drive with an adult for a certain amount of hours to practice driving before they receive their full license. Some states also have a curfew where teens under eighteen cannot be out past a certain time of night, usually midnight. Lastly for this point While many feel that sixteen is too young for teenagers to be driving due to immaturity
Firstly, the government has done the right and responsible thing for the increase of age for getting your license; they have primarily done it to keep you as a new driver safe and knowledgeable about the road and safety on it. A quote by a road safety minister saying “Young New Zealanders have 60% higher fatality rate than Australia, all because the age difference”. But its not all just about age, it is also about the fact teen agers are open to newer faster cars, that have not been as accessible as before. The amount of accidents with teenage drivers is more than triple that of drivers who are older and have had more experience. With the driving age higher this would lessen the number of accidents more because people would have a better understanding of what they are doing on the road.
Secondly I will discuss the positives of this new law. While it is dangerous to put young drivers on the road who lack experience, the only way they'll gain experience is to be out driving. The International Debate Education Association website argues that even if the driving age were raised to seventeen or eighteen, teens may still be dangerous drivers because they would still be inexperienced. To counter this, many states have long probationary periods where teen drivers must drive with an adult for a certain amount of hours to practice driving before they receive their full license. Some states also have a curfew where teens under eighteen cannot be out past a certain time of night, usually midnight. Lastly for this point While many feel that sixteen is too young for teenagers to be driving due to immaturity