Too young to drive?
What’s the right age: 15? 16? 17? Older?By Connie Cartmell, ccartmell@mariettatimes.com
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What is the appropiate age for teens to start driving?The ongoing debate over whether a 16-year-old is mature or skilled enough to drive a car is continuing, this time under the scrutiny of a national auto safety group.
"We have some young drivers who are very capable. Their reaction time is quicker than an adult's," said Mark Edgell, business owner and a professional trucker 32 years. "The biggest problem I see with teens is they need to stay focused."
Using a cell phone (especially texting) eating, talking to friends, and playing loud music all contribute to a lack of focus in driving and crashes, experts say.
Recently the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a research organization funded by the auto insurance industry, called on all states to hike the age for getting a driver's license to 17 or even 18.
Car crashes are the leading cause of death among teens and the group says that raising the driving age saves lives.
Edgell, owner of Edgell-Jackson Trucking on Ohio 7, has three adult children and has helped each learn to drive at 16. Edgell isn't sold on the idea of hiking the licensing age.
"I think to increase the driver's license age to 17 wouldn't help matters any," he said.
According to the National Highway Administration, more than 5,000 U.S. teens die each year in car crashes. The rate of crashes, fatal and nonfatal, per mile driven for 16-year-old drivers is almost 10 times the rate for driver ages 30 to 59, reports show.
Safety experts think the death rate can be reduced, just by giving teenagers another year to mature.
"We have some young drivers who are very capable, but some drive too fast," Edgell said. "Some older drivers drive too slow. There is no rhyme or reason to it."
When an 80,000-pound truck is on the highway, a 3,500-pound car is no match for it, he said. Most people, especially teens with little driving experience, don't recognize the danger.
"Teens can do fine, but the main thing is to keep a clear head and keep the vehicle under control," Edgell said.
In New Jersey, teens do not get a driver's license until 17. Studies have shown that the overall rate of teens killed in vehicle crashes in New Jersey has been consistently lower than in states where 16 is the required age.
In recent weeks this region has suffered a string of serious car crashes where young drivers were at the wheel.
Two teens died in Belpre in August when the unlicensed driver lost control in early morning hours, while a second crash on Jennings Hill Road earlier this month, caused numerous injuries to teens when the teen driver also lost control of the car and went off the road. There were no fatalities in this crash.
"I knew some of the kids involved in the Jennings Hill accident," said Norma Schob, a driver's education instructor in Marietta since 1981. "Their parents didn't know they were in the car."
Schob said changing the licensing age from 16 to 17 should be given a chance.
"At least for three years to see how it works out," she said. "Give it a little chance. Statistics could be checked after that to see if it has made a difference."
She understands that many parents simply don't have the time to chauffeur their teens to school activities or sports practices.
"It's a lot easier when the kids can drive," she said.
Students in her driver's education class talk about the consequences of poor judgment and bad driving skills.
"I've had former students who lost their lives in accidents and had one young man paralyzed for life. But, kids don't realize you don't always die in an accident," Schob said. "Kids think they are invincible."
Still, for teens, waiting an additional year for a driver's license - often considered a rite of passage - is a tough sell.
Williamstown High School students Mark Board, 17, and Bobby Stanley, 17, both play sports and because of after-school practices and carrying bulky equipment, must drive to school every day.
"Some people are mature enough to drive at 16, others are not," Board, a football player from Waverly, W.Va., said. "I rode with my brother part-time last year, but this year I'm driving myself. You've got to set rules in the car if others are riding with you."
Stanley, of Boaz, W.VA., a soccer player, agrees with leaving the licensing age 16, but likes the idea of certain "restrictions" for student drivers.
"I like that there is a curfew of 11 p.m. and that younger drivers aren't allowed to use a cell phone," Stanley said. "I also like that only two people (outside family) can ride with you."
Graduated licensing, which has become standard across the country in the past decade, requires teens to spend more time driving with a parent or other responsible adult before they go solo. Though these rules are sometimes difficult to enforce, many states tie more stringent standards to declining teen crash rates.
In Ohio, teens must be 15 1/2 years old to get a learner's permit and must hold that permit at least six months before taking a driver's license examination. He or she must be 16 to take the driver's license examination.
If the driver has a permit, only the parent, legal guardian, or driver instructor may ride in the car with him, and if the licensed driver is under 18, all passengers must wear a seat belt, according to Bill Ollom, a driver's examiner with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, District 7 post at Marietta.
The Associated Press contributed.
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peppie
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09-17-08 6:12 PM
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Hey, Totonka, I ride the CABL bus too. That is to funny. Actually, with the routes the bus runs, those living in town really don't need to do local driving. Of course, if in town teens rode the bus, they would have to walk up and/or down the high school and middle school hills. That may be a bit to much for their feet to do.
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thinkingoutloud
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09-17-08 6:04 PM
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16 is fine most of us took the drivers test when we were 16. I also believe that everyone should take a written test every 5-10 years in order to keep their license so that people can be reminded about the laws of the road...such as speed limits, stopping for people in the cross walks, wearing seat belts, using turn signals, reading road signs and dealing with road rage. This would be a refresher in addition to the eye check. Maybe a regular reminder would make all drivers pay attention more and help keep our roads safe.
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MartyMarachino
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09-17-08 5:14 PM
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I'm with you, Beef. I have been plowed twice by old people driving. (At least they have decent insurance). Teens hurt themselves and other teens. Seniors drive huge cars so when they make a mistake they are less hurt than others they hit. Over 65s should have to retake the test, not just a little eye check either!
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beeflovers
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09-17-08 3:25 PM
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and tell the truth i am more afaird of 50-80 year olds then teenage drives.. I have been hit three time by that age group and almost wreck I could not even count the time by this age group.. I don't see people wanting to put laws on them... not is because the one wanting these laws are one in this age groups.... I also don't believe in this law about how many passager in a car.. I have daughters and I would feel alot better if they was out on a double date together and by thenmselves.. at least they would be there for each other.. i know what it is like to be almost raped when you are teenaged girl.... and so it needed to look at in a bigger picture then just 5,000 death how many teenages do we have in ohio oe national??? come on people lets find something else to do with our time then pick so more on teens.. the old folks have taken all the fun out of the area don't take the driving too....
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beeflovers
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09-17-08 3:17 PM
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well i believe that 16 year olds are very able to drive.. When I was 16 I was the first out of my class to get their licence and I did just fine. I was a athlete and I had many places to go and my parents worked so it was nice that I could drive. It was also nice to drive when something went wrong like a party and I didn't want to be there no more I could leave and not get in trouble. But people need to look at the large picture there is more teenage driving then other ages. Yes there is low % of teenage have wrecks.that needs to be looked at I know this well sound bad but 5,000 teens is not a huge % of the teenage population... come on people open your eyes and see it just the insurance company don't want to pay out on the teenages... that all that is.. and another thing when i was in school the one who mostly wreck was kids that mom and dad put in a sport car... why in the world would a parent do that...why punish the other population of teens and parents for the low % of 5,000...
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Francia
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09-17-08 12:47 PM
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My uncle was driving at age 9, my father not much older. Less cars then, worse roads, but no big highways. Times change. My grandson will receive his drivers license the day he turns 16 (provided he passes the test). This was due to the fact that he was able to take Drivers Ed early. My husband never took drivers ed (sometimes one can tell..). I took Drivers Ed (free then). Chronological age is not same as maturity. Parents should reinforce their rules, though peer pressure can often intercept this. I say, let the law stand as is, and then pray, pray, pray.
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flintknapper
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09-17-08 11:22 AM
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Agreed that enforcement is really the key. For years there were seat belt laws but little to no enforcement. They eventually started enforcing, so maybe the same with these other 'laws' - and I like RiverQueen's idea of how to back this. What teenager is going to take the chance of losing their wheels for the next year or two?
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Indian
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09-17-08 11:03 AM
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Has anyone ever been picked up for driving while talking on a cell phone? Has any teen been stopped for having too many other teens in the car? Enforcement to any law is the cure. Laws that go unenforced are not worth the paper they are written on. I say inconvenience the parents a lttile. Make them responsible for their children, and maybe the children can learn some responsibility; through osmosis if nothing else. It is sad to say, parents can do the job. Most parents do; the rest of them are killing our society.
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peppie
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09-17-08 10:52 AM
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I am sad to say that on todays road, you can't just drive your own car safely, you have to be on the lookout for the other drivers as well. Can't blame all the careless driving on the young people.
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flintknapper
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09-17-08 10:48 AM
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I grew up in Jersey and it didnt kill any of us to wait to 17. (And kept us from driving in Manhatten where the age limit, at least at that time, was 18) And right on samy07 - BAN CELL PHONE FROM CARS! PERIOD! If we have a problem with people driving drunk because their reaction time and attention are reduced, and cell phones do the same, why do they have different levels of acceptability. Every year of age at this stage in human development can mean a huge jump in the maturity and attitude needed to drive safely.
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clyde83
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09-17-08 10:12 AM
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I agree with not being able to get your permit until you are 16. And even at that, have a 3-6 month waiting period to do driver's ed. Both my boys got their licenses at 16, and both are good drivers. However, some of their friends are not. AND my son's friend was in an accident, where he was driving fine and a 53 year old man crossed the center line and totaled the young man's car and injured him badly. In this case, it was the experienced driver who was driving irresponsibly!
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peppie
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09-17-08 9:48 AM
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I think that when a teen is old enough to drive, they should have a job to pay their part of the auto insurance, maintenance, gas and any other auto expenses that will arise when they start driving. I was this way with mine and it helped them realize that there was more to driving then sitting behind the steering wheel. Also, they had to maintain a B grade average or they would lose driving privileges for that grading period. It took only once for them to have to ride in mom's taxi for several weeks, to decide they had to meet all my requirements to drive.
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RiverQueen
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09-17-08 9:39 AM
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I agree with BuckeyeGal. Why don't they just go back to the old system of permit at 16. I like the limit passengers and no cell phone laws. I think it should be backed by revolking liscense until 18 if an offense occurred while not complying to these laws.
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samy07
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09-17-08 9:27 AM
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I was surprised when my sons began to drive. The one who was always most responsible had the accident. The one that I was certain would cause us to be canceled by my insurance company, had none. I think that limiting the number of kids in a car is a good idea and most importantly, NO CELL PHONES while driving. Of course, I believe that should be the case for everyone, not just new drivers.
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Himalayan
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09-17-08 9:24 AM
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Where do these kids get the money to drive nice PTO Cruisers, the gas, the insurance and the tires to put these cars on the road everyday to school? If they had to pay for some of these expenses they would know the value of their privilege. I think they should leave the age at 16 - but just saying they also need responsibility.
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BuckeyeGal
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09-17-08 9:18 AM
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They should do away with allowing permits at age 15 1/2. Many kids get their liscense just as they turn 16. If the State questions the maturity level of a 16 why this law? You would think a 16 1/2 year old is a little more mature. It was the law when we, parents, were teens. It was a law that wasn't in need of fixing.
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ladynoogs
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09-17-08 8:49 AM
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I think they should leave it the way it is. I'm glad they have the graduated licsense now. I was a pretty responsible teen driver.. and our son has to prove to us he is responisble before he gets his permit. I think ultimiatly each parent needs to make sure their child is mature enough before allowing the lincense. That being said i know some 20-70 year olds who arent mature or skilled enough to drive. Besides i think the enormous cost to take driving school is helping cut down on teen drivers to. Back when i was in school it was practically free, now i think its 200 bucks.
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