Moms Talk Q&A: Driving Age Raised to 18?

There has been some talk about changing the New York State driving age. It would mean that drivers born after a certain year would have to wait until after they turn 18 to get their driver's license.

In New York State one must be at least age 16 to apply for a learner's permit and be licensed. New York State junior license holders who are at least age 17 and have successfully completed driver's education, and hand-in a certificate of completion, may drive unrestricted anywhere in New York State, including New York City.

The reason for pushing back the eligible age to 18 (17 for getting a permit) is the theory that these teens will be more responsible when they are allowed to get behind the wheel.

Speeding, inexperience, and peer pressure are a few of the reasons teens suffer so many accidents today. The increased age to legally drive has a couple advantages in theory, such as decreasing the number of accidents and automobile fatalities (traffic fatalities is the number one killer of teenagers). Insurance rates would decrease and parental control would be extended to allow the teen more time to mature.

Some feel it’s a right of passage for teenagers to get their learners permit at 16 years of age because that is the way it has always been.  Having to wait until 18 in order to get your license would be unfair. Like a punishment for their potentially bad behavior, or for the irresponsibility of a few.  

But with the amount of cars on the road today, there is already increased danger, even for the more seasoned drivers.  Instead of raising the driving age to avoid accidents, should we take other steps to make the roads safer?  Should we focus more on educating our teens on the dangers apparent on the road, like distractions (phone/texting), driving while intoxicated, speeding and other risky behavior? Maybe we should start our driver’s education a few years earlier and make the road test a bit more difficult to pass. 

However it is handled, going forward we should give our youth responsibilities and have faith in them no matter what age they begin driving.