States Should Raise Driving Age, Says Insurance Safety Group

By | September 10, 2008

  • September 10, 2008 at 9:45 am
    wudchuck says:
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    problem that we run into, is that we always try to take the word of a child. the child feels that he/she can drive to school and its functions. concern is that he does not have enough experience. during the school year, there are more things going on. the school system uses busses to transport children back and forth to school. the need that these kids need to work and goto school, is ridiculous. kids need to learn the value of an education and work during the summer if they are looking for funds. as a parent, why not be involved in the child’s activity. afterall, they will remember that you saw them play football or took them to the prom. it shows that you care more than just throwing them the keys. it also helps that you know that their mind is on the correct issue. many kids are distracted from cellphones, texting and many other things. we need to protect them because if we lose them in an incident; or have other issues, we would blame ourselves for allowing them to drive the car.

    if you don’t want to raise the age, then place a time restriction on them – like no driving after dark alone or any other kids in the vehicle. have a parent with them if it is night driving involved.

    in today’s society we are trying to remove any responsibility of a parent, when in reality, until the age of 18, we are still responsible for their actions.

    let’s increase the driving age (alone driving)!

  • September 10, 2008 at 10:21 am
    former teen says:
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    what kid wants their parents to take them to the prom? i could not name one if i tried.

    ok so 16 year olds do not have enough experience driving.

    so you move the driving age up to 17.

    now 17 year olds do not have enough experience driving.

    the only way to gain experience with driving is to DRIVE!

    even if you moved it to 18….. you may have more responsiblity in life but NOT DRIVING!

    MASSACHUSETTS has laws that you are not able to drive past a certain hour if under a specific age and also you can not have any passangers except for immediate family so at least they are not cruising areound with all their pals in the car.

    and really. tell me the difference between a 16 and 17 year old….except a shoe size….

  • September 10, 2008 at 10:35 am
    InsIsMyPassion says:
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    The story discusses only two states. To make a nationwide recommendation based on two states seems spurious at best.

    Does either state require driver’s education classes before awarding a license?

    How do states that require driver’s ed stack up and compare to this.

    And cell phones have to be a factor.

    How do these teen statistics compare with drivers 65 and over? Who’s privileges get taken away next?

  • September 10, 2008 at 10:38 am
    imateen says:
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    u r stoopid i b a teen and i drive and text good and i no have axadent my frendz tell me win i b abowt 2 hit sumthing then i stop texting and pay atenshun 2 the road y u always b trippin on us teens for anyways

  • September 10, 2008 at 10:53 am
    wudchuck says:
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    well, i know that i took my dau to the prom and my mom took me. what are we afraid of? that our parents took us to a school event? we should be proud that our parents cared. it’s no different if they had gotten a limo and a driver for you. instead they made sure you arrived safely and returned safely.

    today’s society is so looked upon a style; how we look, dress, act, what car we drive and so on. what happened to being safe? what happened to doing things right? i think we would as parents would want to see you complete your education and move onto your life outside of our own. we want to see you accomplishments and achieve your dreams. you are not going to be able too if a tragic accident happened.

    i think we should remember to responsible for our kids. protect them, even if they don’t think they need to be. remember that one day, it could change their life dramatically.

  • September 10, 2008 at 11:22 am
    wudchuck says:
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    imateen:

    um…texting while driving, if ur texting like the posting, then let everyone be on the lookout. why should someone else be looking for you when you are the driver of the vehicle? if you have an accident, who do they blame? not the passenger, but the driver.

  • September 10, 2008 at 12:30 pm
    Mr. Obvious says:
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    All the graduated licenscing thing did for my daughter was to raise her insurance rates. She had a minor fender bender and then a speeding ticket. Lost her license for 6 months. Because of that she had to go on SR-22. $180/mo for liability only on an 88 Escort, compared to $44 before her license was suspended.

  • September 10, 2008 at 12:49 pm
    Compman says:
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    Mr. Obvious, graduated licensing didn’t raise your daughter’s rates, she did. SHE got into the accident and SHE got the speeding ticket. You are doing her a great disservice by sticking up for her and making excuses for her. If it were my kid, she would have the choice of paying her own insurance or hoofing it.

  • September 10, 2008 at 12:49 pm
    Baxtor says:
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    Former teen: Reread wudchuck’s message. The very first sentence you missed. And then you reply, what teen would want their parent to take them to the prom. Duh, that’s what he means. We shouldn’t let our kids be the parent, we should be the parent and that includes you.

    wudchuck, do you really believe imateen was serious when they typed that? It’s a joke, laugh!! They are supporting your comments with sarcastic humor.

    Mr obvious, Thanks for letting us all know your daughter should not be allowed on the road. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree so I’m assuming you shouldn’t be on the road either.

  • September 10, 2008 at 12:57 pm
    wudchuck says:
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    agreed! it was not the rate that caused her to get into a wreck. u agreed to allow her to get a license and drive. probably because of the inexperience, she had gotten into activity (ticket and accident). her inexperience cause the rate to change and the state to re-review that she does have insurance based on her activity.

  • September 10, 2008 at 12:57 pm
    SP says:
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    It’s easy to tell that imateen is not well versed in txt. They didn’t use txt lingo correctly. :)

    Mr Obvious, I got my license at 16 and promptly was in an accident. I didn’t drive again, except to go to school, until I was about 18. You should do the same with your daughter.

    My concer with increasing the driving age is that you now have 18 year olds, with even less supervision, teaching themselves how to drive. Keep the drving age at 16. Change the laws to make the parents of the drivers MUCH more responsible, financially and criminally, for their teen drivers. Force the responsibility.

  • September 10, 2008 at 1:04 am
    Careful says:
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    I think 16 is fine it is experience that is needed and in some states they now require 6 months on a permit before they can take the test. Now parents it is up to you to help decide when your teen is ready for this responsibility.

    Requiring driver education for all might be one idea and not just the 5 hour course.

  • September 10, 2008 at 1:12 am
    AFranks says:
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    Wudchuk, I’d have to agree with you 100%. Children are growing up way too fast…I know this, because I was just there a few years ago. It flies by quickly and we never get those years back. I admit, having my parents drive me around would have sucked but I would have gotten over it and probably had a better relationship with my parents because of the time spent together.

    Teens are too busy these days, between school, homework, jobs, sports. I can see why a license frees up the parents to do whatever they want to do BUT it also frees up the teen to do other things that don’t promote a well-rounded young man/woman… ie drinking, drugs, etc. I’m not saying that all teens do these things, but what I am saying is that raising the driving age to 18 would be appropriate. In regards to ‘what’s the difference between 16-17?’, maybe not much, but at 18 there is. Responsibility should be given to the responsible. Texting while driving is extremely irresponsible and unsafe.

    And regarding the elderly drivers: WATCH OUT. I will admit I have more concern for elderly drivers than I do teen drivers. While a handful of teen drivers are irresponsible and scary to drive next to, it doesn’t compare to the amount of accidents I’ve almost been in because of the cute little old lady with her hands at 10 & 2. Teens are constantly scrutinized and almost have that ‘new-driver’ fear of cops & accidents. But the people who’ve been driving for who knows how long have lost that fear along with their vision & reaction time. Unfortunately age doesn’t really determine the driving eligibility with elderly (and sometimes teens)because you’ve got the 70 year old who’s hunched over with arthritis and another 70 year old who runs marathons like he’s 50. I think that driving tests & written tests should be taken every 5 years after the age of 55 to ensure that not only they’re capable but also to ensure that they’re aware of new laws & guidelines.

    Just my opinion.

  • September 10, 2008 at 1:30 am
    SFOInsuranceLady says:
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    will be united in fighting this proposal.
    Tired of taking “little Bobby” to soccer practice and “little Suzie” to ballet lessons? Too bad! Then you shouldn’t have kids. According to “law” you are responsible for them until they are 18…(I think that the “adult” age should be raised to 21). I feel that since we are living longer, it seems that kids are maturing slower, much slower than 50 or so years ago.

    I was a teen once…my friends were teens, too….couldn’t wait to get daddy’s car….friends driving drunk….(I grew up in the turbulent 60’s
    and was a teen in the “me generation” 70’s). I was fortunate that nothing happened to me, but something did happen to two of my “well-scholared” & “well behaved” friends…No matter how mature, 16, 17 and yes even 18 year-olds think they know everything, and how they seem to have gone through all of life’s experiences at that tender age. Amazing!

    I also believe that if they want to raise the driving age to 18, they should also make driver’s education and training MANDATORY at that age. Too many of my youngest daughter’s friends waited until they were 18 to get their license so they wouldn’t have to go through driver’s ed.
    I made both of my children go through it and they are better drivers for it.
    Yes, they waited….they were trained properly and they didn’t get their license until I knew they were confident enough and responsible enough to hadle a car. They are probably better drivers than some adults I see talking on their cell phones (why aren’t you using your blue-tooth?) and applying make-up while drinking their lattes and reading a map all at the same time.

    I am so tired of lazy & irresponsible parents….it’s not making the kids become more responsible driving at 16…tell it like it is….it’s taking the burden off the parents who are too lazy to drive their children around and they are getting less involved in their children’s lives!

    Thanks for letting me vent! :)

  • September 10, 2008 at 1:48 am
    AFranks says:
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    Amen!

  • September 10, 2008 at 1:57 am
    SFL says:
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    I believe parents are too lazy and scared to do the right thing. That is teach your kids how to drive and handle responsbility.

    I am not talking about goverment mandated classes, I feel they in no way replace the hundreds of hours I got driving with my parents when I had a permit. As your kids get older it will be harder to find the time to teach them to drive.

    Is anybody else scared of the constant erosion of individuals rights and privileges by the latest crusade? I guess the kids of the future will only have to worry about diabetes and loneliness.

    Sincerely,

    Scared, Fat, Lonely and waiting for my goverment to take care of me.

  • September 10, 2008 at 2:01 am
    Rocket Scientist says:
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    The problem w/issuing licenses to first time drivers @ 18 is that a large percentage of them will go away to college around 18. They will then be teaching themselves to drive while in unfamiliar territory and with other young & inexperienced people doing the same thing. For many of these students, it is their first foray into freedom…living away from home & we all know how some kids handle this. There is also the prevalence of alcohol/drug use on campuses. Given this, the current system is probably the smarter option than first licensing @ 18. Drivers Ed should be required of every child before they are permitted to take the road test.

  • September 10, 2008 at 2:10 am
    chuck lutes says:
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    i agree! took several hours teaching and reteaching even after they took driver’s ed. both my kids know how to drive a stick and automatic. at first they both hated to learn a stick, but if they wanted to drive my car (since mom’s was an auto), they had no choice. they both are satisfied of knowing that i took the time and effort to teach them. i was always involved w/my kids as any parent should do.

    background: my wife is a teacher for a kindergarten class. she sees many kids whom are dropped of at school like a daycare. many are not ready for school. no manners, can’t tie a shoe, have trouble pulling pants up after using a bathroom. all of her parents are asked to even spend 1/2 hr reading with the child, but upon further review; none is given.

    society needs to look back at the strength of the family – parents. if they are not involved or take control of the family, kids will be lost.

  • September 10, 2008 at 2:27 am
    AFranks says:
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    This makes me very sad! My parents spent a lot of time with us (my dad made me drive a stick shift, too). Growing up, they took special interest in the things WE were interested in. My brother said he liked the stars, so my mom got all the astrology books from the library and we’d all sit out and look at the stars after dinner. I liked animals so we bought dogs, bunnies & cats and learned about how to care for them as pups & kittens, shots, vaccinations, through the breeding experience, birthing, & training…I believe their desire to help us hone in on our interests made us believe we can do anything we set our minds to.

    My husband and I haven’t started our family yet, but I know that if we can be at least 1/2 the parent my parents were, they’ll turn out all right.

    Why is that adults have kids only to realize they don’t want to make the time for them? Is it a fad? An accessory? So sad. I give a TON of credit to today’s educators who’ve now become more of a parent than the biological parents.

    (Sidenote: not ALL parents are like this…its just an observation that people are becoming more and more consumed with themselves)

  • September 10, 2008 at 3:04 am
    SFOInsuranceLady says:
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    Rocket Scientist,
    If these kids are away at college at 18,
    maybe they should concentrate on their studies instead of learning to drive if they are away at college. They can also use public transportation and learn when they are home over winter & summer break.
    They don’t need a car when they are at college…as a matter of fact, most colleges discourage driving to school and using a vehicle. Some volleges even offer shuttle services for these students.

    SFL, what peple fail to realize is that driving is a PRIVILEDGE, not a RIGHT. There are too many kids rushing through the lessons and too many parents who don’t give their kids the time and attention they deserve in order to achieve good driving habits. Mixed with under-age drinking, it’s no wonder why auto accidents are the leading cause of death in teenagers.

    The way I see it, having the government raise the driving age to 18 seems logical, since many parents refuse to become more proactive in their children’s lives.

    By the way, children don’t magically become adults at 18…..legally they are.
    Emotionally, not all are.

    Parents, wake up!

  • September 10, 2008 at 3:21 am
    RS says:
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    Most contributors to this forum are saying that parents aren’t involved enough and you are all in agreement that the driving age s/b increased to 18? Makes no sense. If the law is changed, parents won’t be involved at all b/c most of these kids will be away at school. While I understand that there are many uninvolved parents, this change will not solve that problem. It will take away the experience from those parents who are hands-on. This change if it happens pushes the teen driving/accident problem into the future. Do the powers that be think there will be less teen fatalities b/c the driving age has been increased to 18? How is this substantiated?
    As for the shuttles at college, the majority don’t like them & don’t use them. Just b/c the freshmen aren’t allowed a car on campus doesn’t mean they won’t come into contact with upper classmen who are willing to allow them to drive their cars.

  • September 10, 2008 at 3:40 am
    Interested mother says:
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    This is a very interesting debate just like the drinking age debate.

    I am more in favor of the graduated licensing because it does allow a teen to gain some experience driving with adult supervision prior to being allowed freely onto they highways and byways of our society. And not just to have them run errands for me!

    My oldest son had little interest in pursuing his driver’s license and just got it at 18 1/2, which I had no problem with. But I worry more now that he has his driver’s license with little experience than I would have at 16 with driving restrictions in place. (And we are very involved parents with our 4 boys!)

    As much as we try to keep our children young, we have to give them the resources to transition into adulthood safely and with some life experiences.

  • September 10, 2008 at 3:45 am
    wudchuck says:
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    if the upperclassmen allow them to drive the car, do they know that their own insurance would have to cover them for the accident? probably not! interesting how many folks don’t realize the consequences of their actions, including giving permission to drive a vehicle.

    i like the graduated lic fm 16 – 17 or 18. time limits to drive and whom or how many can be in the vehicle. parents making restrictions as well (being concerned). many of us had parents that took us to places, why not us?! why did our society change? are we so far away from being a family we forgot? do we not sit at the table to eat and have conversation?

  • September 10, 2008 at 3:50 am
    GMJ says:
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    The last thing I nwould want to do is send my child off to college at 18 where he?she will learn to drive.
    At 16 I am involved with that learning, and my underage children had to answer to me for thier actions. This may not happen if they are the age of majority when they are first allowed to drive

  • September 10, 2008 at 3:55 am
    SFOInsuranceLady says:
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    RS, you make a good point about taking away the experience from parents who are “hands on” with their children. But as it is now, in California, you can get your permit at 15, and be licenesed at 16. This is not enough time to teach your kids proactively (I took 2 years with my girls practicing). If the legal age to drive is 18, getting your permit at 16 would make more sense as you would have plenty of time to educate and teach your kids. I still say raising the driving age would help tremendously.

    So, kids at school don’t like using a shuttle and public transportation…too bad. Driving is a right, not a priviledge. Raising the driving age will also raise the permit age and give kids more time to learn how to handle a 2,000 pound weapon.

    As for lowering the drinking age….what are they thinking? That’s legalized homicide! :)

  • September 10, 2008 at 3:58 am
    SFOInsuranceLady says:
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    wudchuck, amen!

    BTW, when our girls are around, we all have dinner together at the dinner table.
    Nice……….Always have and always will

  • September 10, 2008 at 4:36 am
    Learn Responsibility says:
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    And why are kids maturing more slowly, because mommy and daddy are hovering over them, fighting their battles and trying to PROTECT them from all the bad things that could happen.

    You want a kid to mature, let them live life. Sometimes you have to get bit to know the dog bites.

    If you never let kids take responsibility or have any, they will never be responsible. Start early and let them face the consequences for their actions. When they get in trouble at school, let them face the consequences (don’t try to get them out of it).

    Same applies in other areas of life. Stop babying them and they will stop acting like babys. Then they will learn what responsibility and consequences are and they will be mature enough to drive.

    Responsibility is learned as is maturity. There is no age, it’s training and expereince.

  • September 10, 2008 at 4:46 am
    wudchuck says:
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    imagine, that we don’t take responsibility of our kids?! um…under the law, we do up to the age of 18. many states, allow any damage your kid has done to be sued against the parent/guardian. as parents, we should be making them responsible. how many parents actually make their kids do chores? clean bathroom, bedroom, do laundry or dishes? anyone let their kid cut the grass anymore? we can make them responsible – yes! we ourselves, need to show them that being lazy is not being responsible. showing them that we care and are concerned will show them we are responsible. think of it this way, when your child was hurt, who took them to the hospital? they came to you for a kiss on the cut or a bandaid. my daughter wanted me to hold her while she gets a shot, even at the age of 18. so who is being responsible? showing them is a great way, remember afterall it is a priviledge to drive a vehicle and not a right!

  • September 10, 2008 at 4:47 am
    Learn Responsibility says:
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    Oh, and by the way – taking the time to plan and teach responsibility and maturity takes involved parents who will also model the behavior.

    Teaching is not ignoring – it’s taking the time to point out the dangers, the consequences, the right and the wrong. Then you meter our responsibility as it is earned.

    But when done right and started early (it’s never too early to teach responsibilty)16 is as good an age as any.

    Watching the kid you love take responsibility and face consequences may be the hardest thing for any parent to do; but if you truly love them you will train them through it, not get them out of it. It’s the lazy parent that teaches their kid to avoid responsibility – cause it’s easier to complain than train.

    To punish those of us that were ourselves taught and now teach responsibility and maturity because of lazy folks…well, you decide what’s right about that.

  • September 10, 2008 at 4:58 am
    SFL says:
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    To all those people who are for raising the driving age you have the right to keep your kid from driving until they are 18. You have the right to keep your kids from a million different things.

    Please do not force this on my own.

  • September 10, 2008 at 6:37 am
    Its about consequences says:
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    Learn Responsibility…You are correct. Children can and will learn responsibility if they are forced to face up to the consequences of their actions. Even as toddlers children should be taught about consequences for their actions.

    I think getting a permit which carries restrictions such as driving only with another licensed adult driver for a year before they get their license at 16 works best. A year of practice driving with another licensed adult will force them to get supervised practice before driving alone.

  • September 11, 2008 at 7:28 am
    Dread says:
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    Public backlash won’t be about saving lives or safer drivers….it’s all about convenience. Most parents can’t wait to stop having to spend their time driving kids everywhere, particularly when both parent work. While everyone agrees it’s a good idea to raise the age, it won’t happen. I do like the suggestion that a new driver spend a year with a licensed driver (over the age of 21)to learn good driving habits and get immediate feedback.

  • September 11, 2008 at 9:20 am
    Stat Guy says:
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    The real issue is that teens are not as mentally and emotionally mature as they used to be. My parents went to work at 14, especially to help with WW II, and I moved out on my own at 17. Many kids today stay at home with mom and dad until they are almost 30! they take their time growing up, concentrating on PLAYING at grown up, drinking, smoking, having sex but without any real sense of self accountability, control or responsibility. That is why teens are having a hard time about being able to drive safely: they think it is easy, so they drive while texting, yakking on the phone, and showing off the car to all of their friends; none of them are ready to move on to the next level. But I think that there are many good laws out there already and we should just make them more uniform across the country. No phone, text, no more than one other passenger, earlier curfew. Those who need a car to work or go to school should be limited in the time and radius. As someone said, just tossing the keys to them is not enough parental guidance to make any difference at all….

  • September 11, 2008 at 9:29 am
    RS says:
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    Dread, don’t assume that all of us agree. We don’t. It’s a terrible idea to raise the age. I have not seen any statistical substantiation proving that teen deaths will come down if the driving age is amended to the emancipation age of 18. Where is this proof?

  • September 11, 2008 at 9:30 am
    Stat Guy says:
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    You are so correct about the elder drivers; yesterday, an older woman drove onto a four lane highway from a side road, without stopping at the stop sign, or signaling, without regard for approaching traffic, forcing three cars to hit their brakes, and others moved over to the left lane when it was clear, only to pass a old biddy who couldn’t see out over the steering wheel and who was clearly oblivious to the rest of the traffic around her; the only reason no accident occurred is because all the other drivers were paying attention and prevented a collision. That woman should not have been on the road any more than a 10 year old…that’s about her speed as far as driving skill….

  • September 11, 2008 at 9:42 am
    Stat Guy says:
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    In Pennsylvania, the law refers to “operator’s priviledges” and I believe that to be the case everywhere; it is not a “right”, that is, constitutionally mandated; instead it is a well-regulated priviledge which can be suspended/revoked; you cannot revoke a right….BTW, my folks only had one car for our family of 10 children; none of us got our licenses until we BOUGHT OUR OWN cars….I didn’t get mine until I was 23! I hitched rides home for the holidays with other students by using the bulletin boards at the student union; worked OK for me; I even had a girlriend who didn’t drive but we managed to attend all kinds of parties, concerts, dinner dates etc. You adjust your life to the opportunities you make for yourself, not those given to you.

  • September 11, 2008 at 9:43 am
    the old man says:
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    Well said!

  • September 11, 2008 at 11:51 am
    Reality Check says:
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    NJ Stats.
    First of all, the stats were from a study done in the 1990’s. Cell phones and especially texting were less common back then so I question using those results to justify actions in 2008.
    Secondly, if NJ doesn’t permit 16 year-olds to drive, then the number of 16 & 17 year-olds on the road should be 1/2 of that in Connecticut. Therefore, NJ deaths of 16 & 17 year-old drivers should be 1/2 or less than the Connecticut rate. Well, well, Connecticut’s rate was 26 while NJ’s was more than 1/2 that at 16. Using this stat alone, 16 year-olds should be able to drive.

    One other thing – should kids learn to drink (legally) before they can drive or after they have learned to drive? I’ll pick after every time.

  • September 11, 2008 at 12:23 pm
    Mark says:
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    “…it is not a “right”, that is, constitutionally mandated;”

    Before you go spouting off about the Constitution, you should learn more about it. The Constitution does not give us rights; it PROTECTS rights we are endowed with by our Creator.

    As far as increasing the driving age to 18, why not 21? How about 25? What’s the reasoning behind 18? In ten years the stats will show that more 18 to 21 year olds die in crashes than 25 year olds, so then we’ll be discussing increasing the driving age to 25.

    It appears to me what is happening is a concerted effort by some to increase the age of adulthood one piece at a time. The end goal is to increase the age of adulthood high enough so that college education would be completed while the person still falls under the responsibility of the parents. The completion of college will then be mandated, and paid for by the taxpayers. That plan is already being discussed.

    We can not sequester our children away, and protect them from all dangers. We have to teach them to be wary, but at some point we must let them go. Children do not mature as quickly as they used to because they are over protected. I mean, come on! You still hold your 18 year old when she gets a shot! “Mommy, it hurts!”

  • September 11, 2008 at 1:48 am
    cheli says:
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    I do not agree with raising the age that a teen can get a license, but i do think there should be a mandatory curfew and the driving test should consist of more than a ten minute drive on a deserted road. I think they should HAVE to take a drivers ed course.

  • September 11, 2008 at 2:04 am
    SFOInsuranceLady says:
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    I agree with you both that we have to let our kids learn how to be responsible and “let go” of our kids. This is not about coddling our kids. It’s about statisitics. Automobile accidents being the #1 cause of death in teens? That’s obscene! Would the #2 cause of death in teens be under-age drinking? Parents today are already too permissive when it comes to disciplining their kids. That is why I say that many (not all) parents are lazy. Maybe if more parents were proactive in their children’s lives we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

    I still say 15 is too young to hold a permit – even in CA (I think it’s now 15 1/2), even though you must drive for 50 hours with an adult over 25. (Kind of sounds like CE classes in CA-right? You would think for driver’s licenses it would be at least double the time…after all, can you kill someone with your broker license??????) :)

    Even so, I hear that the new restricitions on youthful drivers (16-17 yo’s) has been making a difference in the unmber of injury accidents. Another idea would be to extend those restrictions for another year.

    Now, what do we do about all those adults who (in Calfiornia – SFO in particular) refuse to use a blue-tooth device while driving? *sigh….*

  • September 11, 2008 at 2:35 am
    Shield says:
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    I agree. Make the driving age 17 1/2.



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