The Importance Of Raising The Driving Age

To many teens, turning sixteen is a rite of passage. In most states, this is the age when young people become eligible for sixteen year olds to attain their driver’s license. Adolescents see this as the beginning of their child’s independence and freedom, but many adults feel that this is dangerous and a deadly time for many teenage drivers. Statistics show that young drivers are more likely to speed, run red lights, and behave recklessly behind the wheel than more mature and experienced drivers. Many experts agree that this kind of behavior accounts for the thousands of teens that are killed every year in car accidents. In fact, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, teens are four times more likely to crash than are older drivers. This has caused many to question what can be done to keep drivers safe. The minimum age for attaining a driver’s license should be increased to eighteen years old due to the numerous downfalls of driving at a young age; these include disturbances on the road, peer pressure, and the underdevelopment of the brain. A growing number of people feel that the only way to truly prevent tragedy is to raise the legal driving age. Most teens, and even some parents, believe in this theory, nut many people feel that such action is necessary. A number of states in the United States have already raised the minimum age a teen must be to acquire a full, unrestricted license, meaning that many young drivers must be accompanied by an adult with a license. These states use graduated licensing programs that put limitations on young drivers. The programs restrict teens from driving late at night or carrying other teenage passengers until they have logged a certain number of hours driving under t...

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...s, including attending extra-curricular activities and helping their families.

A. The driving age should remain 16-years-old because teens need to be driving to attend various activities (Irvine).

1. Many teenagers have after school activities that they would be unable to attend if the driving age was increased, but the safety of other people is more important.

2. Adolescents should be able to attend various activities, although their brains are underdeveloped.

B. The minimum age for attaining a driver’s license should remain 16-years-old because many teenagers need to perform tasks to assist their family or to work (Irvine).

1. Many 16-year-old’s are not experienced or mature, therefore adolescents wont be able to execute tasks to help their family

2. Teenager’s need to be able to be able to have a job and work, however many teens are not emotional intelligent.