is 16 to young to drive?

When I first got my drivers license all you had to do was be able to pass about 25 questions and pass a driving test be able to parallel park. That was 50 years ago. You could get a learners permit at age 15. Taking a drivers training class at 15 lowered the cost of insurance. It was the same with my children. Then for my grandchildren a driving class was required as well as so many hours of driving with an adult over 21 with a license. The class was offered in the high schools and there are now companies that offer the class. All states have difference requirements. I have two granddaughters that as far as I'm concerned are getting to t he age for getting their license but in my opinion they are not mature enough to drive safely as they are very immature. As for for putting an age limit on senior citizen I don't agree. There are many people of every age that shouldn't have a license. Usually the older we get the more cautious we get. The news media jumps on any unusual accident that older citizens have. Yes there are senior citizens that should give up their license but not all are the same age. I have seen just as many idiots driving that are between 20 and 50 years old. I do agree that there should be some kind of test for senior citizens but it should also be in conjunction with their Dr. because they could be having a very good day and pass the test but the next day have a day with poor judgement. Some younger people also have days that they have poor judgement.

I had a license for a 125cc motorbike in France at 16 and got a motorbike license for 500 cc and more at 18, before my car driving license. I think that a 125cc is certainly more dangerous to drive than a big bike or a car, but there are very few accidents. I would not be against a car driving license at 16 years old : you need to take a lot of lessons in Europe, and it costs many money today as you said, so I do not know what I would not trust a 16 years old driver with a license. For me elderly people can be more dangerous and I think that they need at least a visit to a doctor every year after, let's say 75 years. I know a person continuing to drive at 90 years old and breaking a car in a road accident every year : I am quite sure that a doctor would not authorize him to drive.

I think 16 is too young. They are children for goodness sake driving with adults with much more experience. in Australia, they get a Provisional licence when they pass their driving test at 17. Then 3 years later they can get a full licence. The provisional licence is in 2 stages and imposes restrictions on younger drivers. People who have had their licence cancelled must also return to driving on a provisional licence. Over the age of 75, I believe, a driver has to have an annual medical. As well, once they are 85, they have to have a driving test every 2 years. This is the case in the state that I live in I believe. I think both these systems - for older and younger drives, are fair and appropriate.

Hello missy. I am from Romania and the driving age here is 18 as well. I do not have my licence yet, but they made it harder to get it as you now have to know CAR MECHANICS as well, along the 2-400 quiz questions from which they select your 26 questions at the test. And then there's also the psychological evaluation, the reflex test and the actual 30 hours of driving before the actual examination. The school is nowadays about 150$, and the examination is about 15$ if i recall correctly. I think even 16 years is okay, as long as there is a long psychological and reflex evaluation on the member that applies. I have seen crazy drivers of all ages so i don't think the 2 years is necessarily the thing that should block a person to drive.

As for me 16 is not "too" young, but still young to drive. When they impose that one should be 18 years old before she/he could drive it is because the obligations should only lies to those who are no longer considered minors.

no 16 is the correct to start driving u can have a learners license at that age and you should try and learn all the skills of driving because driving takes time to get used to and u have to build confidence in yourself which also takes a little bit of time

I think 16 may be to young and yeah there should probably needs to be a cut off. But the rules now are simple. Pay 50 dollars answer a few questions go to driving school and behave in front of the instructors. My thing is what happens when the instructors aren't looking or the teens get behind the wheel without anybody. Look up the facts and more teens get in more accidents because of distracted driving, ie; cell phones and radios.

hello missy, My son is only 13 when he learned how to drive and even drive much better than i. Here in my country 16 is already allowed to have a drivers license provided that he/she can passed some series of tests (written exams for roads/traffic signs)and actual driving tests. In my opinion,that depends on each person. Some older people even drive drastically,or doesn't follow road/driving laws. So,i guess,it's all about discipline and attitude that matters. have a great day

I feel that for driving speaking,16 year old may be your a bit ,because 16 years means that he is not a adult,he may lack of maturity,a little impulse,more make mistake,so it is still a little immature!

I think 16 is a good age but it would be good if America had a school for people to go to where they have to practice driving for a couple months. I don't have a a license yet because I can't get no one to teach me. They have driving schools here that are a joke. My son had to go to one when he was 15 and it didn't teach him anything. He only drove like 5 times and it cost $400 to take the class and it was required. It would be cool if they had a driving school to teach me like they do in Germany.It sounds like a good idea on the learning aspect. I do think they should test older peoples eye sight and maybe other things everytime they go to renew there license to make sure they can see very good to drive but to cut them off from driving when they get a certain age they shouldn't.

for me, 16 years old is not too young to drive. i first started driving when i was 16 years old (in my country, the legal age to drive is 17 years old, so my driving lisence was bribed). and the one who taught me how to drive was my mom.. haha.. anyway, i was pretty good at driving (despite the bribed lisence and the "somewhat-not-qualified driving instructor), but in the end i ended up having a really bad car accidents. i'll be happy to show you pictures of my car if you're interested, causey cousin took some pictures of it. then people kept telling me i was too young to drive. but for me, i've been driving for half a year nicely (despite not in a legal age to drive yet), and i had an accident in "one day", then suddenly, all my driving skills were written off and i was suddenly to young to drive? hell, i still think 16 years old are not too young to drive. all you need is courage and don't panic too easily.

There is a lot of variation in ageantesting to get your drivers licence, depending on which country/state you come from. My youngest daughter got her licence at 15 in NZ. They have a restircted licence system over there where you have to do a written test first , then a basic driving test. Once you get your resitricted there are a whole lot of rules you have to follow e,g, no passangers, restircted hours on road. Once you have driven for 12 months, I think it is, or have done a defensive driving test then you can sit your full licence which is another more comprehensive driving test. This all sounds good . I have to say it was a godsend for me when she got her licence as it relieved me from the megga hours in the car taking her to sports training sessions. The only issue I have with these early ages for driving licences is that the brain in not full developed until the early twenties . It is not the ability to drive that is in question it is the ability to process situations rapidly that is more the issue. Like all brain development some people mature more rapidly than others so it is diffuclt to really say what is a better age, although with the brain development issue in mind it would seem later rather than earlier would be sensible. This also applies to the elderly. Brain deterioration also occurs at different rates in different people.It is not hte ability to drive that is a problem with the elderly it is the response time in a dangerous situation. I saw a programme on a state in the US where they have a test situation for the elderly to test their abilities. I agree with the idea that we all have good and bad days but if the bad day is the day that you have to respond to a dangerous sitatuation then you have to be able to do it regardless. It is very hard for family memebrs to tell their parent that they are not capable of driving any longer. So I liked the idea of having an independnet body making the decision for the family.

16-year-old is already no longer small,already considered a mature young man,and have their own ideas and practice,society has a certain degree of understanding.Driving license is approved,but also a proof of the driver a sense of responsibility,I think 16 years is entirely possible to take a driver's license,as long as conditions allow.

I'm from Philippines, and i think that 16 is somehow too young to drive. first it's too expensive to get a license ofcourse 16 yr old dude can't even have a descent job in order to get a license unless he's a rich kid. plus a 16 yr old is definitely a super aggressive and adventurous one so he's an accident prone... maybe he can wait a little more 18 can be a perfect age for driving :)

I guess it depends on the individual. I think that some shouldn't be driving at 16. While some are okay to drive in my opinion. Everyone is different and can handle it in different ways.

I think this all depends on the maturity of the individual. Some teens are ready before they are 16. Some are not ready until much later. Getting on the road too soon is not a benefit to anyone. Driving when we are mature enough to handle the responsibility is the age to consider a license.

Actually you are right. It is very younger age. Because in my country too, you have to be 18 years old to get a license and start driving. But do you know one thing ? I started driving when i was 15 years old. Now i am 18 years old and i have my license now. So i too broke the rule. But the rule is that you have to be 18 years old.you can start driving now, but not very at high speed, just i am saying to have a practice till you are 18. till that ime i am sure that you will have a great experience and you will pass the licensing exam and then have a license. After that you can drive freedomly but well !

I think 16 is the right age to be honest. I started at 18, and have been driving for 3 years now. (I live in the uk) I think the expense of driving is ridiculous, but its probably comparable to the amount ...i dont know.... a cucumber has gone up in price? it all seems comparable to me. The insurance, road tax etc etc is a rip off, and its very hard for young people to afford. In the uk es[peically, there is very little allowance for young drivers. They try to keep them off the road for as long as possible. And in general, i feel the road restrictions and rules in the UK are MUCh stronger than everywhere else in the world. Its almost as if once yu pay for the freedom of getting around, the government try their best to stop you using it. At 16, you're probably being pushed to get a job, and make something of yourself. Imagine how much easier this is if you can drive. Getting to and from work, being able to apply further afield, and to be honest, you're also contributing to the economy by paying the road tax and VAT on petrol. On the other end of the scale, old people driving can be bloody dangerous! I think they should have to retake their test every so often, and if they are not deemed fit to drive, thats when they're bus pass is sent out. The roads have gotten busier, and some elderely people still think they own them. I would say im alot more cautious than an elderely driver at junctions and islands. respect for your elders doesnt apply at traffic lights lol Finally, id say 90% of driving is common sense. We dont need speed restrictions, or cameras, we dont need millions spent on road signs, and we dont need experiences of driving in all weather types before we should be allowed on the road. Imagine africans waiting to expeience driving in the snow?! I think every country is becoming to controlling. 16+ is fine to drive, unless you have a disability not alloowing you to, or you are a chav boy racer and dont use youre new found freedom for useful or necessary things.

I think it depends on the teenager. Some are more responsible than others. Some are so immature these days at 16 others are not.