Why is the driving age 16?

Question

I have an essay due tomorrow. Help!

Answer 1

So we can have these type of stats..........

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 3,490 drivers in this age group died in motor vehicle crashes in 2006 and an additional 272,000 were injured.

Drivers age 15- to 20-years old accounted for 12.9 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes and 16 percent of all the drivers involved in police-reported crashes.

Twenty-five percent of teen drivers killed were intoxicated. In 2002 (latest data available) the estimated economic cost of police-reported crashes involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 was $40.8 billion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov ).

Among licensed drivers, young people between the ages of 15 and 20 have the highest rate of fatal crashes relative to other age groups, including the elderly. In fact, the risk of being involved in a fatal crash for teens is three times greater than for drivers age 65 to 69.

Immaturity and lack of driving experience are the two main factors leading to the high crash rate among teens.

Answer 2

Thats an excellent question! But the real question should be,

" Why isnt the driving age 21?" Kids are not mature enough to be driving at 16.

Answer 3

because there are dumb-asses out

there that would run into things.

:)

Answer 4

Its 14 here but probably because a 10 year old cant see over the windsheild!

Answer 5

It's a tradition.  At 16, kids need to be able to get to work, and that's probably all there is to it.

I would agree that we have some strange ages for things.  Based on the best science has figured out, adulthood really starts at 25. So we have driving at 16, voting or joining the army at 18, and buying a beer at 21.  

I think if we had know then what we know now, they would never have dropped the age of majority to 18.  It's too soon.  Driving is different.  Some 16 year olds will die, but that's mostly from age-independent lack of experience.

Answer 6

i think some are mature by the time they're 14. i think it should ultimately be the parent's decision.