Graduated licensing systems are goign to come everywehere. They just make sense, so it's a matter of how the ages and qualifications are set
Raising the driving age – for Halloween
· By: Drivers.com staff
· Date: 2007-09-19
Comments (17) Join conversation
A report from Britain says the UK is considering a 21 years age requirement for a driving license - a scary thought for teenagers just passing 16 and bearing down on the current driving age of 17.
Rumors that the driving age is going to be raised are a kind of hazing ritual for teens everywhere who are approaching driving age. They go around every year. It's easy to imagine that they're started by benignly malicious older teens who already have their driving licenses comfortably in their pockets and just can't resist deflating the rising excitement in their younger siblings.
However, the headlines in the British press about 21 years referred to a poll conducted on the web site of Motorpoint, the UK's largest car supermarket, in which 66% of respondents thought raising the driving age from 17 to 21 would be a good idea.
The driving-age reality is that Britain's House of Commons transport committee is looking at the possibility of raising the minimum legal driving age just to 18, and this because research by the Department for Transport suggests that a 12-month learning period would save up to 1,000 deaths and serious injuries and up to 7,000 casualties a year. That’s a powerful incentive to raise the age requirement.
However, as it stands now Britain’s 16-yr-olds can relax. Any changes are at the proposal stage right now and it will likely take at least a year or two for anything to happen.
A consultation paper to be published this autumn will suggest a 12-month training period for new drivers and a zero alcohol limit for newly-qualified drivers of all ages for the first year. Motorway driving restrictions are also in the cards.
On the other hand, the UK government recognizes the mobility needs of young people. It will probably reject proposals to ban young drivers from taking their friends along as passengers, as has happened in other jurisdictions which introduced graduated driver licensing systems.
The Association of British Insurers, which is pressuring UK members of parliament to bring in the new measures, argues that 50,000 17-year-olds pass the driving test every year with less than six months behind-the-wheel experience.
"If the learning period takes place in the spring and summer months, many of these drivers may obtain a full licence having never driven in ice or snow, or even in the dark," said a spokesman for the insurers.
One recently-qualified driver disagreed with the age increase. In comments to a TimesOnline article Amrik Thomas, who says he passed his test 3 years ago, reckoned that it isn't age that’s the problem but lack of training. "Modern cars accelerate quickly, brake quickly, handle well and can give a false sense of security," Thomas wrote.
He suggests two measures to improve safety:
- Restrict cars of newly qualified people to around 45-50hp per tonne.
- Restrict young people driving by themselves or (with) friends. "Such as to drive a car when you have passed your test, you must drive on your own during daylight hours or with someone over 25 with a full driving license during hours of dark or with passengers."
Britain, according to the TimesOnline article, is one of very few EU countries to allow 17-year-olds to hold a full driving licence. As in many other jurisdictions, particularly North America, raising the driving ages brings up prickly economic and social issues that are tough for politicians to deal with, especially in rural areas.
About 70 per cent of 17-year-old motorists drive themselves to work, according to the Times article.
Comments
Walter H, on Monday, 24. September 2007 at 02:06 PM
ayman, on Friday, 28. September 2007 at 02:07 PM
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Ron, on Thursday, 04. October 2007 at 02:48 AM
The UK should look at introducing a graduated licensing system like New Zealand's
Lee, on Thursday, 18. October 2007 at 05:01 PM
cant u lot leave anything alone!!
Ashley, on Wednesday, 24. October 2007 at 10:42 AM
Ashley writes:
Hi,im a highschool student and i just turned 16. a very scary thought for my grandmother to let me lose with my car, however it a very big expectation to turn 16 and be able toimmediatly drive. I completely understand the fact that young adults such as myself are not fully matured and grown however if we dont get the experience now then were else? Some adultscan not afford to drive their children around until they are 18 or 21 , what do those parentsdo? Do we make a hardship license for these children, then how is that fair?
Ashley
Eva, on Friday, 02. November 2007 at 06:31 PM
Hey Im Eva and I'm 15, I think you shouldn't make the age to drive, raise upto 21 because at the age of 18 people start going to work or university, so they need a car to take them to those places. It wouldnt be fair to go on busses or trains everyday. And you cant rely on your parents to go take ya soo .... it's a very bad idea.
mCraW, on Tuesday, 01. January 2008 at 11:11 PM
w.e shud drive at 16, then when u get to 18 and start LOOOOOONG distances u can have up 2 a year n alfs experience, SAFER
dave, on Tuesday, 01. January 2008 at 11:14 PM
17, be easyest to fit in schedule
Sami!i, on Tuesday, 01. January 2008 at 11:21 PM
we are always tought that you learn more younger and adapt better younger, so why wait utill were older? complete hypacritical i say 17 not all young people speed, i agree with "mCraW" 16 would give increased time to gain experiance, 16 gives a substantial amount of time to become experienced and you could learn in the 6 week holidays saving the jepurdisation of education, something the goverments always moaning about
Karen, on Sunday, 20. January 2008 at 08:42 AM
If the governmet is going to raise the age of learning to drive to make a difference, then they should raise it to 21. However this has serious implications on young adults starting work and further education, wiht regards to jobs, mobility etc.
I think the age is ok left at 17. If the government wants to make a positive difference then they should make it law that, under the age of 21, the driver should not be allowed to have a car of more than 1000cc, or less.
chris, high wycombe, on Tuesday, 29. January 2008 at 06:04 AM
I am almost 17 and this thought is really annoying. I am going to be going university when im 18 if the driving age is moved me and other young people wont be able 2 get anywhere i live in the south near london but am going to uni in newcastle how am i supposed 2 visit places? buses or trains? everyday i have enough financial problems with uni without needed to spend loads on transport everyday. Also people complain young drivers dont have enough experiance we get experiance by driving. If the age is moved it wont stop people without experiance driving it will just make people without experiance 21 instead of 17 at least we get experiance before we start work now.
khalid, on Tuesday, 04. March 2008 at 01:28 PM
thank you very mush i'm khalid mohamed el-bery
khalid bery, on Wednesday, 05. March 2008 at 06:49 AM
thank you very mush i'm khalid mohamed el-bery
Dave, on Saturday, 26. April 2008 at 07:39 PM
Leave it as it is... 17 is a reasonable age to start driving considering in the US you can start once your 16!!
Manda, on Wednesday, 07. May 2008 at 10:15 AM
:) i think that 16 is a good age for teens to be able to get their licence.
marylandboy, on Thursday, 22. May 2008 at 12:55 PM
Well first think its very wrong too change the rules it really doesnt make sense too me.Some ppl will need there license to get around too places li8ke me im going to college and imma need A CAR!! no matter what imma need one so dont change it.
byrain adam, on Thursday, 29. May 2008 at 12:16 PM
i hate this idea. aint aint no gd hw am i gona take me crew out and drink
