Raising the minimum driving age to 21 for road safety

Teenage Driving

From day one, when a teenager reaches the age of 16 to 18, it has always been a dream to drive a car to school, to the mall or to a friend's house. It is at this point in time wherein driving turns into a fad rather than a skill, to impress, to flaunt and to enjoy, A usual part of adolescence. The car or any kind of vehicle becomes an accessory to a teenager caring only to his or her personal enjoyment and satisfaction. Most often, responsibilities are only secondary to an endless list of teenage pleasure and delight. The need for speed is a race against time and life. For them having to drive is an expression of freedom.

But for the caring parents of these teenagers, here is the real score as indicated by Dr. Dale Wisely, Ph.D (2005)., Clinical Psychologist.

"...nothing you will deal with as a parent will be more important, more life-and-death, than how your teenager uses -- and misuses -- a motor vehicle"

With the growing number of motor vehicle accidents involving teenagers and early adolescence, ages from 16 to 20, it is quite normal for people, especially for parents to be conscious in this frightening statistics. According to recent studies,

People age 16 to 20 make up only 5% of drivers and drive only 3% of all miles driven by all drivers. And yet they are involved in 15% of all traffic deaths.

And with the bigger probability of a 16, 17 and 18-year-old driver to be involved in a motor vehicle accident, many questions have been raised regarding issues on what would be the right and prescribed age to allow individuals to have a license. This paper would try to justify and substantiate the proposal to raise the age limit of 18 years old to 21 in acquiring a driver's license. It will also try to evaluate the usual and unusual behavior of a regular teenager behind the wheel and explore the possibilities on how to educate these young individuals on road courtesy, rules and the laws against road violations before they reach the age of 21.

The Proposal: Drivers License at 21

At present the minimum age requirement for a teenager to get his driver's license is at 18 years old. Americans and people from any nations consider 18 as an age of maturity and the acceptance of responsibilities both to himself and to the community. In some states, At 16, teens are allowed to have their learners permit in driving, thus this regular practice involves a teenager to be behind the wheel from the age of 16 and 18. Within this age teenagers engage themselves in leisure activities. Activities wherein a car is usually around to transport them in any place they choose. Most often than not, these activities are without the consent of their parents and guardians alike. Their usual behavior is set commonly to a solitary goal, and that is to have fun and enjoy life as it is. In the meantime the car is their ride towards freedom. With the rush of youthful adrenalin and the fast ride comes the risk of having an accident. With irresponsible driving this situation usually occur. The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that,

"There are two main reasons why teenage drivers are at increased risk for motor vehicle-related crashes that result in injury or death, Lack of driving experience and risk behavior of teenagers"

Also, according to AAP, teenager tends to be more of a risk taker, which are influenced mostly by their emotions, stress and peer pressure. Other reasons are the intake of liquor and other alcoholic beverages and the experimenting of recreational drugs impair their driving abilities.

With the grim fact that most teenagers die in a vehicular accident than any other single cause and with the data being handed down by government agencies monitoring this cases and accident. Issues arises, is 18 yrs old a stable age in which a teenager can be a responsible driver.

Is it not fit and proper to propose that the age of having driver's license be raised to the age of 21?

Yes!

According to Elizabeth Williamson Staff Writer of the Washington Post, that even though teenagers posses higher physical measures and considers teens as a "should be" one of greatest drivers because of their physical attributes. Problems still arises when it comes to road accidents and car crashes. Some researchers believe that this is rooted in the adolescent brain. This study denotes the unstable patterns that a usual teenager at the age of 18 demonstrates when driving. The lack of a clear judgment may cause fatal accident that most of the time leads to death. Is it safe to say that individuals who are 21 years old of age reveal a wider perspective behind the wheel?

A National Institutes of Health study suggests that the region of the brain that inhibits risky behavior is not fully formed until age 25, a finding with implications for a host of policies, including the nation's driving laws.

Our Stand

That a new law be created in changing the present age limit of 18 to 21 years old. With studies reflecting the instability of the brain and behavioral patterns of a teenager at the age of 18, the adjustment of three (3) years would be enough to develop their driving skills and clear judgment while driving on the road.

It is clearly stated in every reference herein that perils are always present in teenage driving especially those influenced by several factors such as emotions, stress and peer pressure. A 21 years old driver on the other hand can very much cope up with these troubles and obstacles while on the road. Studies shows that at this age up to 25 the human brain has already been developed and matured. Thus giving the driver an upper hand to protect his life.

The intake of liquor and the experimentation on illegal drugs is a serious matter that the law must also consider. The law, which prohibits 18 years old teens, must be at par to the age limit being enforced by the state. If the minimum requirement for individuals to drink alcoholic beverages is 21, then it would be better if the age limit of having a drivers license is also 21. We cannot prevent reality from happening, teenagers would consume alcohol with or without any law. It is for us to prevent them to be behind the wheel on the road to their deaths.

Yes, the other programs and proposals made by concerned groups mentioned in this paper have shown positive improvements in the behavior of teenagers in driving, but this solutions are only temporary. It would be best if we target on the cause of the problem in order to find the right solution, prioritizing prevention than the cure. Parents on the other hand might view this proposal positively since it is their primary concern that their children be not part of the growing statistics of victims of vehicular accidents.

The drastic measure in revising this current practice and policies involves much study and information gathering. It is up to those concern individuals in government to modify and adjust the present laws in driving.