tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15616028.post5044583908615586863..comments2023-07-14T00:50:57.144-05:00Comments on BeccA's Buzz: Should the driving age be raised?BeccA's Buzzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02069520711318300715noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15616028.post-18215795737110350342008-09-21T09:04:00.000-05:002008-09-21T09:04:00.000-05:00Should the mandatory driving age be raised? Shoul...Should the mandatory driving age be raised? Should we as drivers all cut down on the distractions around us, like radios, etc? These questions can only be answered by each of us individually. Personnally talking on a phone while driving makes me nervous. As a parent of a 17year old boy who is not ready to pass the driving part, I think about rasing driving ages and accidents which can happen to us all all the time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10312525250699718033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15616028.post-18420304584112253132008-09-18T22:41:00.000-05:002008-09-18T22:41:00.000-05:00I got my license at age 15 under a hardship rule. ...I got my license at age 15 under a hardship rule. I shudder at the thought of 15 year olds driving now with all the gadgets and distractions.<BR/><BR/>My 16 year old stepdaughter has her learner's permit, and she is nowhere near ready to drive on her own. I am all for extending the permit phase until age 18, but with so many 16 and 17 year olds working, it probably will never happen.<BR/><BR/>My oldest stepdaughter, age 19 now, was a pretty good driver, though she's had a few close calls, but the 16 year old? No way is she ready to be out on her own. We give her practice when we are with her. She might pass a driving test, but she's not ready in my eyes.<BR/><BR/>This was a very thought-provoking topic!Forgetfulonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895803172098820967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15616028.post-57542078160691846642008-09-18T21:35:00.000-05:002008-09-18T21:35:00.000-05:00Here's a novel concept -- at any age how about we ...Here's a novel concept -- at any age how about we decrease the distractions?! In some places (military bases and large corporation campuses in the US, and large portions of other countries) driving while talking on the phone is an ticketing offence. How many stupid things have you seen people do who were talking while driving? How many have you done yourself? Is it so important that you can't pull off to make the call or wait until you arrive?<BR/><BR/>As for experience at 18 vs. 16, it's more a matter of maturity than driving experience, the idea being that you won't be trying to show off or perhaps have a better appreciation for the responsibility you take on when you get behind the wheel of such a potentially dangerous machine.<BR/><BR/>That being said, I got my license at 16 and it wasn't soon enough. In the single-parent home I grew up in, it helped my mom out a lot that I could get myself places and could help out with errands and such. Perhaps there could be some sort of special circumstances application for really responsible kids (honor roll, etc?) who've had certified driving training and live in households where there is a need.<BR/><BR/>For what it's worth, I also had my first accident at 16. And that with a friend in the car, but I honestly think that had nothing to do with it--more that I was on the parking lot of a mall for the first time, and you all know how crazy that can be.<BR/><BR/>Just some thoughts.<BR/>AAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15616028.post-19871516326313116162008-09-18T18:34:00.000-05:002008-09-18T18:34:00.000-05:00I would be in full favor of a restricted license b...I would be in full favor of a restricted license between the ages of 16 and 18. Restricted meaning who could be in the vehicle, how many could be in the vehicle, times they couldn't drive before and after, and of course what they could not do while driving (using cell phone!!!). <BR/><BR/>I am 34, and I got my driver's license when I was 16. I was definitely not ready for that responsibility! <BR/><BR/>I understand some kids need the license to drive to work, and that is where I think a restricted one would work out well. Plus, it would give them plenty of experience before have full privileges. Just my opinion though. ;-)Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06574816176530792384noreply@blogger.com