http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... /1012/news
I, for one, think this is a dumbass idea. I am not affected, as I would have my license by then (and I would be sure I would be grandfathered in), but raising the driving age would only have drivers learn how to drive at an older age. If we were to raise the driving age to 30, chances are these first-time drivers would not be too good at driving either.The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety today is releasing a report encouraging higher driving ages at a conference of the Governors Highway Safety Association in Scottsdale, Ariz. The institute notes that most of Europe as well as China, Japan, Russia and Brazil allow people to start driving at age 18. The agency, funded by the insurance industry, says several U.S. states have tried but failed to boost the age to 17 or 18.
Admittedly, my age group has problems with texting (I hate texting, myself) and other distractions in the vehicle, but the longer we are on the road, the more we learn. Maturity can come with age, but more often than not it has to do with the individual. Give out large fines and tickets for these problems, and take away licenses for these problems, but raising the age solves nothing, except for pissing off a lot of kids.
Funny thing is, this is being pushed forward by an Insurance-Industry backed group. Wonder where the motive came from?
I drove to Regina more than once with my Father fast asleep in the passenger side. I still remember the nudges for passing and brakes and one particular man's reaction when I passed him. He had to do a double take as he saw a little boy driving a '63 Chevy Impala with the Father fast asleep in the passenger side. I was also trained how to crack open beers on the bottom of the metal dash and the proper ways to keep the bottle below dash level so the Law doesn't see it. When I was 14 my Dad made me drive a 1957 Dump Truck across the City, through downtown, to the train yards to pick up two train cars full of Plaster of Paris for his business. I had no training this time and had to learn about standards, split axles, and double shifting on the fly. I went about two weeks before my Mom caught me and he had to hire a goof that ended up claiming compensation after one days work. By the time I got to High School driving was pretty easy for me and the novelty had worn off so. I was well aware of the idiots on the road and had been dealing with them for a while now. Waiting till your 18 means the kid is going to be pumped up with hormones, raring to go and not aware or even caring about the pitfalls out there. Here if you are 15 and pass a high school driving course you get a learner's permit that allows you to drive with a licensed driver. By the time they are 18 they are very aware of the road, and accidents with these groups are usually way lower than those that have started driving with no school. I have seen kids texting while they are driving and have dodged a few teens now that aren't paying attention. Its scary as most seem oblivious to the fact they almost died or could have killed someone. I swear if someone hit me while texting they would have to get their phone surgically removed from their arse. And the insurance agency's motive is money.
