Minimum driving age in states

[Hybrid-Of-Souls]

Sometimes I wonder why it can't be the same in every state. I moved from Michigan, where the minimun age to drive is about 14 3/4 (for a permit anyway). Now in NJ, it's about 15-16. Why can't states totally agree on one single minimum age for drivers? Is it because of the conditions? Daily accidents? Drunk drivers everywhere?

Oh, and go to MI if you want to start driving early.

[BeFell]

I've never been to either place but just off the top of my head could it be that Michigan has more rural areas and farm land than someplace like maybe New Jersey?

Just a thought.

[IllustriousPotentate]

Why?

1. Because states issue drivers licenses, they are the ones that set the minimum age, not the federal government. Therefore, ages can differ after politicians promise to change them in an election promise.

2. States have varying road conditions. States that have lots of rural roads with little traffic, like in the Midwest or West, can afford to have younger drivers than states with lots of urban areas with heavy traffic. It's why the minimum driving age in New York City is higher than the state of New York. Moreover, urban areas offer more transportation options, such as bus service, that youths can use instead of driving. In rural areas however, driving is pretty much the only way to get around, barring a long bike ride. (Or horse ride :-) )

[BeFell]

Also 1/4 of a year, or three months as we call it out West, is not a very big difference. Now if you had a difference like 13 and 17 that might be enough to raise a couple of eyebrows.

[IllustriousPotentate]

In addendum, I personally feel the minimum licensing age should be 18, and only then after having a learner's permit for 2 years. However, I also feel that, if there is somesort of mitigating circumstance (i.e. a disabled parent, etc.), that a judge should be able to grant licenses at an earlier age, dependent, of course, on the applicant passing all standard road and written tests.

[BeFell]

At 10/10/06 11:34 PM, IllustriousPotentate wrote: In addendum, I personally feel the minimum licensing age should be 18, and only then after having a learner's permit for 2 years. However, I also feel that, if there is somesort of mitigating circumstance (i.e. a disabled parent, etc.), that a judge should be able to grant licenses at an earlier age, dependent, of course, on the applicant passing all standard road and written tests.

You don't trust kids with able bodied parents to drive before adulthood but you do expect a cripple to have a tighter rein? Why don't you just make the restriction of the permit, must be accompanied by legal guardian?

[IllustriousPotentate]

At 10/10/06 11:42 PM, BeFell wrote:
You don't trust kids with able bodied parents to drive before adulthood but you do expect a cripple to have a tighter rein? Why don't you just make the restriction of the permit, must be accompanied by legal guardian?

Why?

[BeFell]

At 10/10/06 11:43 PM, IllustriousPotentate wrote:

At 10/10/06 11:42 PM, BeFell wrote:
You don't trust kids with able bodied parents to drive before adulthood but you do expect a cripple to have a tighter rein? Why don't you just make the restriction of the permit, must be accompanied by legal guardian?

Why?

Why do you want the driving age to be 18. Kids don't get in trouble when Mom or Dad is in the front street stomping the imaginary brake. They get in trouble when they have a car full of friends talking one their cell phones with the radio turned up. Under your system nobody would be able to drive by themselves except the child of the Crippletons. When they get in a wreck because they suddenly find themself the most popular kid and school and discover they don't drive so good going down the road getting a bj, how are their gimp parents going to get to the hospital to kick their ass? In other words, there is no reason the rules can't be the same for everyone.

[IllustriousPotentate]

At 10/10/06 11:53 PM, BeFell wrote: Why do you want the driving age to be 18. Kids don't get in trouble when Mom or Dad is in the front street stomping the imaginary brake.

All the more reason to have a longer learners period.

In other words, there is no reason the rules can't be the same for everyone.

But there would be restrictions placed on those licenses, of course. No driving after a certain time except in an emergency as defined by the court, no passengers outside their immediate family, etc. It's not as if the judge just says "Oh, your parents are crippled? Here's carte blanche to do whatever."

Which would you rather have? A few 17 year olds with limited licenses transporting their handicapped parents or guardians around, or your tax dollars paying some social service bureaucracy hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to haul them around in fancy shuttle buses?

[BeFell]

At 10/11/06 12:05 AM, IllustriousPotentate wrote: But there would be restrictions placed on those licenses, of course. No driving after a certain time except in an emergency as defined by the court, no passengers outside their immediate family, etc. It's not as if the judge just says "Oh, your parents are crippled? Here's carte blanche to do whatever."

Wouldn't all of that be covered if your restriction that you want to place on everyone simply required a legal guardian to be in the vehicle?

Which would you rather have? A few 17 year olds with limited licenses transporting their handicapped parents or guardians around, or your tax dollars paying some social service bureaucracy hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to haul them around in fancy shuttle buses?

Using your same argument wouldn't it be more prudent to have a simple rule that applies to everyone and accomadates the cripples rather than bogging down court systems with people trying get exemptions because Dad stubbed his toe?

[IllustriousPotentate]

At 10/11/06 12:30 AM, BeFell wrote: Wouldn't all of that be covered if your restriction that you want to place on everyone simply required a legal guardian to be in the vehicle?

But there wouldn't be a requirement for the exemptions to have a legal guardian. Why should the exempt teen have to load up his parent's wheelchair, prosthetic limbs, oxygen tank, and everything just to drive into town to pick up milk and bread? Moreover the point of having a guardian in the car in a learners permit is to teach the driver how to drive. If the disabled person isn't disabled enough to prevent them from teaching the person how to drive, then they aren't disabled enough for their child to be exempt.

Using your same argument wouldn't it be more prudent to have a simple rule that applies to everyone and accomadates the cripples rather than bogging down court systems with people trying get exemptions because Dad stubbed his toe?

Either way, your example or mine, there's still a bloated bureaucracy. At least the one I offer promotes a higher degree of independence from government. Besides, you would have to have valid proof, such as a bill of health, disability certification, etc. before you would even be allowed to have a hearing. A judge would only hear those cases that actually warrant consideration, not some guy breaking his toe.

[fahrenheit]

The constitution, thats why.

[GoryBlizzard]

At 10/10/06 11:10 PM, Hybrid-Of-Souls wrote: Why can't states totally agree on one single minimum age for drivers? Is it because of the conditions?

You just hit the nail on the head.

Each state has varies when it comes to driving conditions. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to let a young teen drive in a densely populated state with lots of traffic on the road.

[troubles1]

for all our safety I would love the driving age when not with someone 21 years of age be 18. allot of teenagers can't even ride a bike yet we allow them to handle a machine that has the potential to kill a lot of innocent family's?

[HoboPorn]

It's mainly because diffrent states have worse drivers then others and have looked at past statistics on the accidents that accur in that state, and they look at what ages they tend to happen in and the one with the lowest that is still a reasonable age is made the minimum driving limit.

Thats what I think anyways.

[Jesus-made-me-do-it]

what does it matter. A lot of 14-16 year olds cant afford cars in the first place.