English

Anita Cobb

EN101

Grantham University

March 07, 2016

The minimum driving age should not be raised to 18 or 21

Many in the public quarters each and every other day ask this question in the United States (US). It is undeniably a ridiculous question whether the minimum driving age should be raised to 18 or 21 years. I mean, is there a guarantee that someone allover a sudden becomes mature after hitting their 18th year birthday? Or is there a possibility of a magic transition? What makes increasing the driving minimum age tame accidents? I presume there is no magic transition and that 18 is just another number of the years in the lifespan therefore the driving minimum age should not be raised as it will not reduce the high rate of accidents.

The truth should be told that it is absolutely rare for people to reach maturity no matter the length of their lifespan or how many times they drive on the road. In fact 16-year olds are able to aptly take instructions because they have been in a learning atmosphere and therefore are keen to comprehend road rules. As opposed to their 18-year olds, 16-year olds are not allowed to drink and drive and this puts them in a better position to adhere to road rules as at no legal point will they drink and drive, quite dangerous. Additionally, there is no age difference between 16-year olds and 18-year olds who are claimed to be the better drivers. It is imperative to note that key to test the driving minimum age is drive-testing that should be conducted after a number of years say half a decade to test road skills and ability to adhere to road rules.

If the age is raised does it simply that if 17-year old teenagers who need to go to work or attend classes should seek the help of a chauffeur to ensure that they attend their jobs or go to school? It would therefore be unfair to deny 16-year olds the privilege of enjoying their own rides by simply raising the minimum driving age to 18 or 21. Letting the driving minimum age remain or alternatively lowered is a good idea as teenagers working or schooling will have guaranteed punctuality as opposed to inconveniences of using taxis or buses. Further, their parents may be ill or unable to accompany them all the time as this is the critical transitioning age to adulthood hence privacy is required above assuming new life responsibilities.

For active participation, the minimum age should not be raised above 16 as teenagers are able to go to jobs and mingle with the adults getting insights of an entrepreneurial economy. Owing to the need for the teenagers to drive to workplaces and forum rising the driving age would otherwise result to delayed entrepreneurial spirit which is detrimental to the economy. It is acknowledgeable that anyone can cause an accident if they drive carelessly and this proves that rising the driving age would not alter anything but a waste of time in drafting retrogressive driving policies. It should be comprehended that 16-year olds are just new drivers on the road and therefore punishing a learner who is inexperienced is totally unfair as nobody learns instantly. Otherwise, if rising the driving age will salvage then the 18-year olds will too have a learning phase implying accidents deferred.

In conclusion, the driving minimum should not be raised and instead prior learning should commence as early as teenage starts. Just like any other learner driver, teens would cause an accident because they are learning therefore this should not be a discriminative rule to exclude teens from driving. Moreover, teenagers should be given the privilege to drive as this will reduce their dependence on their parents or guardians for driving to appointments, schools or job places. People should realize that if responsibility is bestowed to the teenagers at the tender age, definitely in their adulthood life they will be more cautious and responsible both socially and economic-wise. Therefore, increasing the minimum driving age is not the solution to road carnages witnessed across the US. Indeed the most effective way is sensitizing drivers on the repercussions of reckless driving so as to minimize if not terminate road accidents.