Lowering the Driving Age: Why We Should. | Teen Ink

Lowering the Driving Age: Why We Should.

October 16, 2009
By Kalina Krabel BRONZE, East Setauket, New York
Kalina Krabel BRONZE, East Setauket, New York
2 articles 0 photos 0 comments

All over the country, teens are learning how to drive and using this skill in everyday activities. Whether it’s driving to school, work, or running errands, a car always comes in handy to make daily tasks easier for the entire family. When you are still in high school, independence on the road is important. This is one of the many reasons that New York State should consider lowering the driving age.
Not only will this grant young Americans to learn the rules of the road earlier, it will teach them responsibility at an early age and they will fully benefit from this alteration in the law.

In other states all over America, many teens have the opportunity to get their full license at age 16. In the state of New York, you are only permitted to get your Learners permit at 16. Not only is this an unfair advantage for the teens of New York, it gives New Yorkers less practice, and is unreasonable. Many of the driving laws in the United States vary from state to state, but I think it is important that we see a unity in the rules of the road. If one state allows a full license at age 16, this law should be carried over to the all other states.
Of course teens should be thoroughly tested before receiving a driving license of any kind. A suggestion that would help both the law and teens would be to test teens at age 16, but at a high level of expertise. If they could pass this grueling driving exam, they will be granted their full license. This test would include multiple choice, writing, and a road test in which the test-taker must show the state that they have control on the road. The only way to become a better driver is to practice, and study the rules of the road. If you are committed to these things you should be granted the right to drive. If at any point, this licensed teen driver fails to follow the law, a license suspension can be enforced, guaranteeing safe roads.
As a teen personally impacted by this law, I do believe that if you can prove that you are a safe driver, you should be granted the right to exercise your abilities on the road. It is obvious that not all teens are ready to drive at 16, which is why a more demanding test would separate those who are ready, from those who are not. It would make life a lot easier for parents, as well as teach responsibility to teens all across the US.



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This article has 37 comments.


tomiya2019 said...
on Mar. 17 2021 at 11:22 am
tomiya2019, Pearl City, Il, Illinois
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I think you should get your permit at 14 and you license at 15.

justdustin said...
on May. 7 2019 at 9:44 am
justdustin, Fortdoge, Iowa
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i think it should be 13 because the 13 year old can handle it

Chaosmarine said...
on May. 9 2018 at 9:47 pm
Chaosmarine,
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
helped me a lot with my speech, thx a ton

benjabby1 said...
on Mar. 24 2017 at 11:05 am
benjabby1,
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
I think the limit should be lowered to at least 15 because if u are at secondary school and live miles away... why waist your money on getting a bus to school? we are responsible enough at 15 at least and you get more experience from driving and you should be a better driver! I just don't get why u need to be 17 to drive a car.. there is plenty of young driver sessions when you can reach the pedals.. why cant you just do that? its just stupid!

on Feb. 2 2017 at 2:52 pm
21aunruh@cgrove417.org,
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
Same here Kiara

Tommy1234 said...
on Sep. 21 2016 at 5:30 pm
This influenced me a lot and also you are awesome and also it helped me in my homework.

on Jun. 1 2016 at 11:17 am
@loula wrong subject person

;) lol said...
on May. 30 2016 at 3:06 am
thanks guys this helped a load with my essay :D

TNTCtrm said...
on May. 24 2016 at 9:03 pm
Drive around your yard... So in other words you can drive where most of traffic laws aren't enforced. Good on you, but are you ready for the real road where there are other people and you have to be watching everywhere at the same time? Just having to worry about yourself and not having to worry about the law is not that hard.

TNTCtrm said...
on May. 24 2016 at 9:01 pm
Umm, no. Most of us spelled correctly in elementary school. I personally would not trust my elementary school self, or even my junior high school self, to drive me somewhere.

Mr bubbles said...
on May. 21 2016 at 11:36 pm
the reason they make you wait till the person is 15-16 years of age to get the learners is the human brain is not full developed till the age of 25 and if we are lowing the driving age that puts more of an age difference between "13" and 25 and and to do that would further raise the death rate then what it is now. and if we would allow 13 year olds drive on our roads whats to stop them driving above the speed limit getting a fine and not paying it going to court and being let off because we cant legally arrest people under the age of 16.

SoapNoah said...
on Apr. 27 2016 at 2:26 pm
Yes it should be lowwerd

GamerCat said...
on Apr. 13 2016 at 2:46 pm
GamerCat,
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
You can now tag other users by using "@".

erbybhyu said...
on Jan. 4 2016 at 11:19 am
i agree it should

sexycuban said...
on Dec. 8 2015 at 4:10 pm
sexycuban,
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
hey guys...

Loula said...
on Dec. 6 2015 at 1:40 pm
I liked what you have written, I have been so touched by your speech and I totally agree on what you have mentioned. I think we can end world hunger if we cooperate because its not a matter of insufficiency in food but a matter of distribusion

on May. 26 2015 at 10:27 pm
I also agree I'm 12 but I know rules of the road and I think it's a great idea when you can learn to drive at 16 or lower (13 maybe). But they only let us drive at 15-16 they might only teach driving at a lower age to help if someone has a medical problem or something else that's very important. This is my opinion if you have something else to add please reply. Thanks

ian6 said...
on May. 14 2015 at 12:35 pm
and how many crashes were there besides teens. all people look at are the numbers on teens not adults or anybody else

on May. 8 2015 at 6:51 pm
i just want the driving age lowered

ludwinglegod said...
on Apr. 21 2015 at 11:21 am
How old are you? You have to be 14 or 16 or older to drive.