Is The Driving Age In MA Too Young?

hey

BOB wrote:

hey

Thought provoking and insightful without being preachy or judgmental.

i have had my license since one week before my 17th birthday and have never had an accident or moving violation. Unlike my male driver friends who are constantly complaining about how high the rates of their insurances are. It is the same with teen drivers not all drive irresponsibly. As far as I know it is still up to the parents to sign for teens to drive. All parents need to do is determine whether or not their teen is responsible enough to drive. I have two adult children and one son who will be 16 this year. I did not sign for all three of them to drive just because they became of age. So this decision should be up to the parents. There are bus routes everywhere.

45 year old female driver wrote:

As far as I know it is still up to the parents to sign for teens to drive. All parents need to do is determine whether or not their teen is responsible enough to drive. I have two adult children and one son who will be 16 this year. I did not sign for all three of them to drive just because they became of age. So this decision should be up to the parents. There are bus routes everywhere.

First of all, not everyone lives near the bus. Second of all, how nice it is that you have the flexbility in your family to cart around the kids who don't have licences. A nanny maybe who cooks gourmet meals as well? Thirdly, I would not leave it in the hands of the parent to weight their biased view of their child's responsibility and maturity factors, against the reality of needing the kid to drive. I do think that the driving age is arbitrary and you are never going to find an age that suits everyone. But most parents NEED their kids to have a licence as soon as possible.
How nice that you have such a wonderful driving record. You must be very responsible.

First of all just because the bus route may not be around the corner doesn't mean its not close enough to walk to. Second of all I work two jobs and do not have the time to cart kids around. Thirdly, I would imagine if a kid is responsible enough to hold a job, you would hope they would also be responsible enough to drive. I still say leave it to the parents to make that decision, not all parents are bias some actually love their kids enough to make the right choice for them.

i live in the us and i think it a understanding b/c ppl think we r not responsible.

ok

im gayyyyyyyy

josh desai wrote:

im gayyyyyyyy

Tell us something we DONT know, mofo.

45 year old female driver wrote:

First of all just because the bus route may not be around the corner doesn't mean its not close enough to walk to. Second of all I work two jobs and do not have the time to cart kids around. Thirdly, I would imagine if a kid is responsible enough to hold a job, you would hope they would also be responsible enough to drive. I still say leave it to the parents to make that decision, not all parents are bias some actually love their kids enough to make the right choice for them.

Nope. No bus anywhere within a reasonable walking distance (I don't live in Belmont -- must be where the ISP is). We live out in the boonies. I don't think there is a connection between how much I love my kids and my ability to be unbiased in deciding how responsible they are. I know lots of really blind-eyed parents who love their kids to the death of them. You basically agree with my point then that people like us need our kids to be able to drive by a certain age because we need their help driving the rest of the kids around. So, even if we love our kids and question their responsibility level, we are probably forced into signing them up if we need their help driving.

Still, I think that you are right that parents need to weigh things carefully before they sign and maybe even should be reminded of that from time to time. Once your child gets their license you can't pull it from them (though you can take back the car keys I suppose).

Teach them that doing 90 mph to only get to bumper to bumper traffic is a waste of gas, doesn't get you to point B faster, and could back up the whole highway by creating an accident. In all, set your alarm and be more responsible and think of others who will be driving the same road.

Steve in Windham wrote:

You guys just dont get it. Its not the age, or the speed. Its the chicks !!
YES ! You know I'm right. Look, the next time you go out in a car, look for a woman driving, and just watch her. You will be amazed at the incredible stupidity and lack of logic. Its amazing !! Its sooo bad. I mean, how do you sit and look at a line of cars, wait for the cars to get right on top of you, and then pull out right in front of them, almost causiong an accident. AND THEN, give the guy who almost hit you a dirty look like its HIS fault !!!!!! Oh my GOD !!! I have seen this so many times, and its always a chick !!!!
We have to do something about this NOW !!
No more female drivers, period. I'm telling you, THIS is the answer.

This is a post from early on in this thread. I think it hits the nail on the head. This guy obviously knows what he's talking about.

Check your facts with insurance companies. Highest number of accidents? Teens. Highest number of drunk drivers? Teens. No, they are not old enough. Raise the driving age. So what is wrong with public transportation? Save some lives.

Sally wrote:

Check your facts with insurance companies. Highest number of accidents? Teens. Highest number of drunk drivers? Teens. No, they are not old enough. Raise the driving age. So what is wrong with public transportation? Save some lives.

Check the facts with your local cops and local auto mechanics. Highest number of incredible bonehead moves? Chicks. Highest number of tailgaters? Chicks. Highest number of brake pads that are worn out in one third of the time that they are supposed to be? Chicks. Highest number of drivers that make other drivers say "WTF!" ? Chicks. Highest number of accidents caused while on the cell phone? Chicks. Highest number of accidents related to exclaimations of "Why would ANYONE do THAT?" Chicks.
Lower the driving age to 14, start mandatory DAILY drivers ed classes in school at 12, and only let males drive. Problem solved.
C'mon guys, who's with me !?!?

Tom the Frog wrote:

<quoted text>
Check the facts with your local cops and local auto mechanics. Highest number of incredible bonehead moves? Chicks. Highest number of tailgaters? Chicks. Highest number of brake pads that are worn out in one third of the time that they are supposed to be? Chicks. Highest number of drivers that make other drivers say "WTF!" ? Chicks. Highest number of accidents caused while on the cell phone? Chicks. Highest number of You are accidents related to exclaimations of "Why would ANYONE do THAT?" Chicks.
Lower the driving age to 14, start mandatory DAILY drivers ed classes in school at 12, and only let males drive. Problem solved.
C'mon guys, who's with me !?!?

Im with you !!!
100 percent correct !!

Tom the Frog wrote:

<quoted text>
Check the facts with your local cops and local auto mechanics. Highest number of incredible bonehead moves? Chicks. Highest number of tailgaters? Chicks. Highest number of brake pads that are worn out in one third of the time that they are supposed to be? Chicks. Highest number of drivers that make other drivers say "WTF!" ? Chicks. Highest number of accidents caused while on the cell phone? Chicks. Highest number of accidents related to exclaimations of "Why would ANYONE do THAT?" Chicks.
Lower the driving age to 14, start mandatory DAILY drivers ed classes in school at 12, and only let males drive. Problem solved.
C'mon guys, who's with me !?!?

Wait, please: You are telling me that COPS and AUTO MECHANICHS have the ability to analyze the frequency of accidents caused by completely uncapturable data such as:

- "incredible bonehead moves" (whatever the Fl_lCK that means)
- Highest number of drivers that make other drivers say "WTF!"
- Highest number of accidents related to exclaimations of "Why would ANYONE do THAT?"

What did they ask someone, "Did the other person say WTF by any chance?" before taking the car in for repair? Why on earth are they repairing cars and running detail. They should be curing cancer. What do you say Sun Reader? Time for a new job?

PS - Casual observation: You are right. Nine times out of ten I get cut off by some woman driving an SUV, talking on her cell phone.

I think the driving age shud be highered coz youger drivers like goin fast and breakin the speed limits coz they think they look "cool" and they even have races in their cars which even more dangerous!!!

heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllll lllllllllllllllllooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooo my name is bob would any1 like 2 meet bill?
just right a coment if you want 2 meet him remeber to do this in the next 48 hours bibi telly tubby bibi telly tubby bibi
thank you
Bob

I dont really care what its like in australia, no offense. But the driving laws just need to be stricter on drug and alcohol and drug abuse most teen accidents are caused for this reason. dont raise the age limit.. its not going to do much. plus we already hav the 2nd highest age in the country. It would be a complete joke if they raised it higher.