Age limit for driving (split off from Age limit for voting)

[BiG D]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

[mod]Thread split[/mod]

[...]
Same for the limit on driving, i don't think you're responsible enough at 16 to drive a vehicle, you'd see a lot of accidents.

On the driving thing, I really don't think it matters. I'd say a 16 year old with 0 driving experience is just as likely to get in an accident as a 20 year old with 0 driving experience. With driving, experience is the only way to go, close calls and (unfortunately) accidents are the best way to learn.

 

[Fuzzy Bunny]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

I've found that Beetle Adventure Racing and Mario Kart are excellent tutors for driving.

 

[Carth]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

On the driving thing, I really don't think it matters. I'd say a 16 year old with 0 driving experience is just as likely to get in an accident as a 20 year old with 0 driving experience. With driving, experience is the only way to go, close calls and (unfortunately) accidents are the best way to learn.

I disagree. The fact is, the older you are, the better a driver you'll be (until senility of course). Now you can argue it's because of experience, but in fact a 30 year old driving for the first time will probably be safer than the average 18 year old. Seriously, I don't know about your country, but the 18 year olds here drive at 70mph down a thin country road, or 50mph on a road with a 20mph speedlimit, humps in the road, and cars parked on both sides so that only one car can get past (we have small roads here).

I've been in cars with these people. I feared for my life. They put their foot flat out, accelerate loads and brake loads, you get thrown about in the car so much. They pass their test because all they have to do is drive responisbly for the instructor, it doesn't mean they have to once they've passed it.

And I would guess that your stastic about the chance of getting in an accident is wrong too. I don't know, but I imagine most accidents will be among younger people. Why else do you think people over 50 can get cheaper car insurance?

 

[Carth]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

I've been in cars with these people. I feared for my life. They put their foot flat out, accelerate loads and brake loads, you get thrown about in the car so much. They pass their test because all they have to do is drive responisbly for the instructor, it doesn't mean they have to once they've passed it.

Btw, I would point out that they aren't bad drivers, to be able to drive like that they are good at it, they change gears fast, know how to drive better than a timid driver. They just choose not to drive responsibly, and put themselves and others at risk.

 

[BiG D]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

I imagine most accidents will be among younger people. Why else do you think people over 50 can get cheaper car insurance?

Because people over 50 have been driving for thirty years. Don't let people drive until they're 50, and I wouldn't think the stats would turn out quite the same.

In my eyes, your first year or two of driving is going to be dangerous, no matter what age you are. (Unless we're talking something stupid like letting 9 year olds drive, then this whole thing really doesn't apply.)

 

[Pestcontrol]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

I think Carth hit the nail on the head here, i've had the same experiences. Just because you can drive responsibly for your tutor, doesn't mean you'll drive responsibly all the time when he isn't there. That's exactly what all these people do. And it's what you won't do when you're older.

Cars are often not rented to people under 21.

 

[DeZmond]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

Insurance premiums for young drivers are ludicrous these days (in the thousands of pounds region!) so that keeps off quite a number of younger drivers.

 

[BiG D]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

And it's what you won't do when you're older.

That is simply untrue. I know plenty of adults who drive like maniacs (and always have.) Sometimes an accident will set them straight. Sometimes it won't. If they don't learn from it, that's when their ability to drive needs to be questioned.

 

[Carth]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

I think a policy of "let people have a near death experience and then they'll drive better" is a bad one. People do get more mature BiG D, you'll have to face it. In general, a 16 year old is going to be immature, and a hazard on the roads, when compared with a 30 year old, if they both had just learnt to drive.

We're talking in general terms here; on average. Of course there are exceptions, you get 40 year olds who drive like maniacs, perhaps they didn't live enough when they were younger. But in general, the younger people will be more dangerous drivers.

 

[BiG D]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

We're talking in general terms here; on average. Of course there are exceptions, you get 40 year olds who drive like maniacs

That's my whole point. In my experience, those 40 year olds are the exact same ones who were a hazard on the road in their teens. Nothing has changed.

 

[Carth]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

No, you're wrong. Most of those unruly 18-year-old drivers turn into good drivers later in life. Otherwise practically every driver would still be driving like it.

 

[BiG D]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

No, you're wrong. Most of those unruly 18-year-old drivers turn into good drivers later in life. Otherwise practically every driver would still be driving like it.

Or they've had a near miss of some sort and have learned their lesson...

 

[Pestcontrol]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

Big_D, you cannot deny that on average the psyche of an 18 year old is different from that of an older person. This reflects itself in driving habits. Don't make me dig up statistics.

Maybe you live in too remote an area to notice, but its true.

 

[BiG D]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

If the statistics prove that it is in fact age, and not overall driving experience at fault I'd love to see them...

 

[Pestcontrol]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2006/01/12/the_right_driving_age/

Sixteen-year-old drivers crash at three times the rate of novice 17-year-old drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Your turn.

 

[BiG D]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

When it's time to get behind the wheel, young reflexes don't mean much without experience.

That article supports what I've been saying the whole time about experience

 

[Pestcontrol]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

I've found some more articles that bring up a long list of reasons in addition to inexperience that work specifically for young drivers.

In the bit i quoted, novices of 16 were compared to novices of 17, it assumes both are equally (in)experienced, yet the 16yr olds cause way more accidents. Age is the only factor there.

Yes experience matters a lot, but young age matters yet more.

Why do you think authorities see the high death rates as a problem with young drivers specifically, and not just novice ones?

 

[BiG D]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

Because 98% of novice drivers are young drivers?

The article did bring up a point about the average 16 year old not having the mental reaction or somesuch to properly drive. That's interesting, and it may explain the 16 vs. 17 stat. But you can't tell me that 17 year old are significantly more mature and able to handle the responsibility. There's a lot of factors in there. Perhaps the kids gunning to drive the second they turn 16 are a problem. The ones that take their time and really don't care and wait till they're 17 might be overall better drivers. Stuff like that.

It would be interesting to see a study of people who don't drive until they turn 30 or something, so we can get a proper comparison.

 

[Pestcontrol]

That's what i've been looking for, but hard data comparing novice drivers from all ages i have not found yet. Maybe the outcome is too obvious.

This may be something, A Finnish study:

Young novice drivers and especially young male drivers showed more problems connected to the higher hierarchical levels of driving behaviour than middle-aged novice drivers.

And the lowest age-group they had there was 18-20, you can bet on it a 16-18 group would perform yet worse.

 

[Taffy]

Re: Age limit for voting... TO CHANGE!

And I would guess that your stastic about the chance of getting in an accident is wrong too. I don't know, but I imagine most accidents will be among younger people. Why else do you think people over 50 can get cheaper car insurance?

Because most 50 year olds have lots of experience behind the wheel. n00b drivers, no matter what age, usually get the highest quotes, which is why you get better deals with the more no claims bonus you have. For example, a 25 year old with 4 years no claims would probably get a better quote than a 50 year old with little or zero no claims bonus.