Essay On Raising The Age For Legal Drivers From Sixteen To Eighteen
Is sixteen an appropriate age to drive? More than five thousand United States teens die each year in car crashes and according to the National Highway Safety Administration. “The rate of crashes per mile driven for a sixteen year old is almost ten times the rate for adults” CBS News (1). Many countries in Europe and elsewhere have a driving age of seventeen or eighteen. Also, teens under the age of eighteen are not allowed to purchase alcohol or buy cigarettes then why are they allowed to be in control of a potential deadly weapon like a car. Lawmakers are considering raising the age for legal drivers from sixteen to eighteen. lawmakers should raise the age for legal drivers from sixteen to eighteen because waiting until the age of eighteen years old will help reduce accidents and prevent deaths. Eighteen years of age is a more emotionally stable and responsible than a sixteen year old drivers. Youth are still developing and are immature, according to research, “Sixteen year old drivers social and emotional development remains immature and seeks novelty and risk” Chicago Tribune (2). Teenagers are more vulnerable to distraction and peer pressure while driving:eighteen year old drivers make sophisticated decisions and have good judgement. Furthermore, “The front portion of the brain, which includes control of impulses, judgment
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and decision-making, and the coordination of multi-tasking matures deep into the twenties” Chicago Tribune (2). Eighteen year old brains are developed more and will have the ability to make better decisions and judgement. However, others may disagree. Many teenagers would be very disappointed if the legal age to drive was raised to eighteen. Research shows raising the legal age of driving can save lives. First, responsibility is developing into young adults, they are still learning to make good choices and develop good habits. A lot of adolescents disagree with raising the age to drive considering they have waited a long time to drive but that is not the problem. The problem is young adults between the ages of fifteen and sixteen are not responsible enough. An Eighteen year old is responsible enough to vote, hold down a full time job and help support their families. In addition, “there are many factors that contribute to make teenagers poor drivers” Chicago Tribune(2). Knowing what to do in a car accident, being aware of the consequence that will happen and deliberating what to do on the road is all part of the liability. Overall, responsibility is a reason why lawmakers should raise the age for legal drivers. Furthermore, precaution is taken in advance to prevent something vulnerable from happening. Eighteen year old drivers have learned to use precaution in driving from their peers and teachers that have gained a greater knowledge of road safety. According to the study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, "between 1995 and 2004, there were 30,917 fatalities in accidents that involved fifteen to seventeen year old drivers" The New York Times (4). This study indicates people age eighteen and older are more responsible drivers and are less likely to be involved in a fatal accident. As a matter of fact, all fifty states prohibit youth from drinking alcohol, buying cigarettes, and purchasing handguns The New York Times (4). But they are giving them a potentially deadly weapon, a car. Some parents believe that drinking alcohol, buying cigarettes, and purchasing handguns are going to harm their children. Not to mention, they do not know letting teenagers under eighteen drive an automobile without ensuring they are responsible and precaution is more treacherous than permitting them these objects.
On the other hand, some people disagree and say that lawmakers should not raise the driving age. Gregory, Ted said, "Some people are ready, and some people aren't" Chicago Tribune (3). This is clearly dogmatic. Of course, some people are ready and some people aren't but are under obligation, a precautions adult is going to notice more than those who are delinquent. Many parents say that they do not like to chauffeur their teens to school, sporting events and any number of other places CBS News (1). On the contrary, would you rather have your child get into an accident because he or she was being irresponsible? Jail time can also happen if your child is not precaution on the roads that is why lawmakers should raise the driving age. In essence, some people counter with the idea of changing the driving age, although lawmakers consider changing it. In conclusion, lawmakers should raise the age for legal drivers from sixteen to eighteen because waiting until the age of eighteen years old will help reduce accidents and prevent deaths.
Eighteen year olds are more responsible because they can vote and take care of families. Precaution is a main reason why a sixteen year old should not be on the road. An eighteen year old is more precaution on the road because they have more knowledge and understanding of the road. However, others disagree. We as people should influence lawmakers to change the legal age to dive to age eighteen in order to reduce the deaths of young teens on the
road.
and decision-making, and the coordination of multi-tasking matures deep into the twenties” Chicago Tribune (2). Eighteen year old brains are developed more and will have the ability to make better decisions and judgement. However, others may disagree. Many teenagers would be very disappointed if the legal age to drive was raised to eighteen. Research shows raising the legal age of driving can save lives. First, responsibility is developing into young adults, they are still learning to make good choices and develop good habits. A lot of adolescents disagree with raising the age to drive considering they have waited a long time to drive but that is not the problem. The problem is young adults between the ages of fifteen and sixteen are not responsible enough. An Eighteen year old is responsible enough to vote, hold down a full time job and help support their families. In addition, “there are many factors that contribute to make teenagers poor drivers” Chicago Tribune(2). Knowing what to do in a car accident, being aware of the consequence that will happen and deliberating what to do on the road is all part of the liability. Overall, responsibility is a reason why lawmakers should raise the age for legal drivers. Furthermore, precaution is taken in advance to prevent something vulnerable from happening. Eighteen year old drivers have learned to use precaution in driving from their peers and teachers that have gained a greater knowledge of road safety. According to the study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, "between 1995 and 2004, there were 30,917 fatalities in accidents that involved fifteen to seventeen year old drivers" The New York Times (4). This study indicates people age eighteen and older are more responsible drivers and are less likely to be involved in a fatal accident. As a matter of fact, all fifty states prohibit youth from drinking alcohol, buying cigarettes, and purchasing handguns The New York Times (4). But they are giving them a potentially deadly weapon, a car. Some parents believe that drinking alcohol, buying cigarettes, and purchasing handguns are going to harm their children. Not to mention, they do not know letting teenagers under eighteen drive an automobile without ensuring they are responsible and precaution is more treacherous than permitting them these objects.
On the other hand, some people disagree and say that lawmakers should not raise the driving age. Gregory, Ted said, "Some people are ready, and some people aren't" Chicago Tribune (3). This is clearly dogmatic. Of course, some people are ready and some people aren't but are under obligation, a precautions adult is going to notice more than those who are delinquent. Many parents say that they do not like to chauffeur their teens to school, sporting events and any number of other places CBS News (1). On the contrary, would you rather have your child get into an accident because he or she was being irresponsible? Jail time can also happen if your child is not precaution on the roads that is why lawmakers should raise the driving age. In essence, some people counter with the idea of changing the driving age, although lawmakers consider changing it. In conclusion, lawmakers should raise the age for legal drivers from sixteen to eighteen because waiting until the age of eighteen years old will help reduce accidents and prevent deaths.
Eighteen year olds are more responsible because they can vote and take care of families. Precaution is a main reason why a sixteen year old should not be on the road. An eighteen year old is more precaution on the road because they have more knowledge and understanding of the road. However, others disagree. We as people should influence lawmakers to change the legal age to dive to age eighteen in order to reduce the deaths of young teens on the
road.