Would raising the minimum legal driving age to 18 reduce the number of accidents?

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17 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
65% of users

  • Young drivers are inexperienced and cause a large proportion of accidents, so raising the age should reduce accident numbers.

    Statistically, teenagers are very likely to get into automobile accidents, perhaps because they have not fully developed cognitively and through lack of experience. In addition to requiring more hours practicing with a licensed driver, increasing the minimum legal driving age to 18 would take these drivers off the road, and prevent countless accidents and deaths.

    Yes SpikyWesley

  • Mathematically speaking, raising the minimum driving age to 18 would reduce the number of drivers on the road, thereby reducing the number of accidents.

    One must logically come to the conclusion that reducing the number of drivers in a given space would reduce the number of possibilities for accidents. By raising the minimum driving age to 18, you also take the youngest and most inexperienced drivers off the road, thus reducing the potential for accidents. Albeit, this would mean that 18-year-old drivers would be inexperienced, but the fact remains that you would have fewer drivers on the road. Further, you would have fewer total drivers in the 16-24 year old age group, which is the group primarily responsible for the largest number of automobile accidents per year.

    Yes DerangedGil33

  • i think you are all right

    the age of 16 is simply not mature enough. Why do 16 year old need to drive anyway..

    Yes Anonymous

  • yes

    because they have more time to think about the dangers of driving

    Yes Anonymous

  • Raising the minimum age of driving to 18 would prevent a large amount of accidents because younger drivers aren't as matured.

    It's simple science that the adult brain doesn't fully mature until the person is in their 20's. Raising the minimum age of driving to 18 would be a good step to furthering road safety. Many accidents are caused by careless young drivers, especially if other young people are in the car with them. Hopefully by the time they are 18 they will be responsible enough to drive safely.

    Yes RayEar

  • Yes, statistics show that younger drivers have more accidents.

    Absolutely, raising the age to 18 would save many lives and prevent many accidents. Statistics show that young, inexperienced drivers have a higher rate of accidents than those in older age groups. This is especially true of teenage boys. They do not have enough experience or wisdom, and sometimes,not enough self control to be good drivers.

    Yes NettN355

  • Raising the minimum legal driving age to eighteen will ensure that the drivers are more responsible, thus reducing accidents.

    Older people are more responsible. An eighteen year old will weigh the pros and cons of his actions. This attitude ensures good civic sense. youngsters are safe and sensible drivers. Their careful driving reduces accidents on the roads. Thus,increasing the minimum driving age to eighteen makes good sense.

    Yes Sk8brdrSalom

  • Yes, I do think that raising the minimum legal driving age to 18 will reduce the number of accidents as there will be older and more responsible people on the roads.

    People who are 18 and above are more mature and responsible than 16 and 17 year olds. They might drive more responsibly and less rashly which will reduce the number of accidents on the roads. So I think a minimum legal driving age of 18 is a good way to do that.

    Yes danoneeno

  • Yes, those extra couple of years can help as people get a little more mature and responsible.

    Raising the driving age to 18 might help a lot. When a bunch of 16 year olds are driving around together, they are very irresponsible. They don't pay attention, I believe this has been proven, they don't understand the impact their youth and lack of attention can have. They need to know the consequences that unsafe, immature driving can have. Those extra years of life an offer a bit of experience to take along on the road.

    Yes PinkMych

  • I believe raising the driving age to 18 would reduce the number of accidents mainly because kids are to immature to be driving at 16.

    There have been studies done that teenagers' bodies and minds are changing dramatically at the ages of 15-17, and they have many distractions and find it difficult to concentrate on one task at a time. That is why there would be less accidents if they raise the driving age to 18.

    Yes MycCra2ii

  • Yes, I agree because raising the age bar will mean that there will be more responsible and mature drivers behind the wheel and hence lesser accidents.

    Though there are a number of other factors other than age that causes accidents, I consider age as one of the chief factors responsible for a lot of road rage. Raising the age bar will mean more level headed people driving. We will have lesser people involved in bike racing and drunken driving on the roads. A good number of rash driving cases involve youngsters. Even another two or three years of age adds a fair degree of maturity to an individual; so the administration may try this for a few years and examine the statistics after a three year period. That will give a clear indication that this is a prudent thought.

    Yes SmarterTabby
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No
35% of users

  • No, I do not think raising the minimum age of driving to 18 would reduce the number of accidents, because age is just a number.

    No, I do not think that raising the minimum age of driving to 18 would reduce the number of accidents, because age is just a number. Also, accidents happen, no matter what. By allowing individuals to start driving at 16, it teaches them responsibility, so they can thrive when they reach 18 years old.

    No SecondNoel50

  • A License Is What Every Teen Waits For!

    They Can't Wait Until Their 16th Birthday. A Driver's License Is The Best Gift, Along With A Car, A Teenager Could Get. Getting To Go Places On Their Own. And 16 Year Olds Can Be Mature And Responsible. I Know Tons Of 18 Year Olds Who Are Completely Immature. The 16 Year Olds I Know Are More Responsible And Mature. Don't Raise The Age!

    No Anonymous

  • Many teenagers under 18 are very responsible drivers, often more so than their adult counterparts.

    There is no reason to believe that increasing the legal driving age would have any effect on the resulting number of accidents. Unless it can be proved that a preponderant amount of accidents are the fault of drivers under the age of 18 this will be of no value in decreasing the number of accidents.

    No MariaR

  • Raising the minimum legal driving to 18 would not reduce the number of accidents, because it would only move the number of accidents to a higher age group.

    Raising the minimum legal driving to 18 would not reduce the number of accidents, because the number of accidents accredited to inexperienced drivers would move from the 16-18 age range to the 18-20 age range. The accident rate may actually increase, because the older drivers are more likely to be involved in drinking and driving. Combining inexperienced drivers with drinking and driving is an invitation to an accident.

    No JamieM

  • I oppose raising the legal driving age to 18 because the maturity level of individuals that age is not significantly higher than their 16 year old peers.

    Accidents among teens are devastating and many. However, what is needed is a better educational system including scare tactics such as graphic films of wreckage and victims lying dead and broken on the side of the road. Raising the legal driving age will only create hardships for those youngsters who need to work and for their parents who, overwhelmed with their own work and home responsibilities, would be burdened even further trying to haul their kids around.

    No N3vinFace

  • Raising the legal limit of driving would not do much

    Because people who are planning to drive would start driving education at higher ages, and therefore have the same experience. Although hand-eye coordination would increase at later ages.

    No Anonymous
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Would raising the minimum legal driving age to 18 reduce the number of accidents?
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