Teens - To Young to drive

[smc13]

I've seen articles in some newspapers recently suggesting that there is evidence that the portion of the brain used for making judgements, deciding values, and weighing risk and consequences doesn't mature till around 25 and because of this teens are to young to drive.

Here is one such article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52687-2005Jan31.html

" About as thick and wide as a silver dollar, this region distinguishes humans from other animals. From it, scientists believe, come judgments and values, long-term goals, the weighing of risks and consequences -- what parents call wisdom or common sense and what science calls "executive functions."

While society and tradition have placed the point of intellectual maturity, the "age of reason," years earlier, the study -- an international effort led by NIH's Institute of Mental Health and UCLA's Laboratory of Neuro Imaging -- shows it comes at about age 25.

The process is generally completed a year or two earlier in women but varies greatly from person to person. Why that is, Giedd said, "we still don't know." "

So teens, Should you be driving? Should you vote at 18? Should you be tried as an adult if you murder?

 

[Gunslinger08]

Yes, Yes, and Yes.

 

[FoBoT]

repeal the Twenty-Sixth Amendment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jjones]

If maturity of decision making were the qualifier for those things you are referring to, then I can think of a lot of people that shouldn't ever have the opportunity to to drive, vote or be tried as an adult.

 

[Glitchny]

Teens should be driving, should vote at 18 and whould be tried as adults if they murder. I know plenty of teens that are able to reason better than most of the people i know over 25. People learn their values and goals and risks through experience and through their surroundings, not just on thair brains. Dont see how a 25 y/o that has never driven is safer than a 18 y/o cept the 25 y/o will probally be more conifidant and make stupid mistakes.

 

[Gunslinger08]

You would also have to raise the minimum age for military service. If you can die for your country, you should atleast be able to vote on who sends you to Hell.

 

[arcenite]

While we're at it, if your glasses are thicker than your windsheild, you can't drive either.

 

[vood0g]

wow, i wont reach maturity for another 12 days. 🙂

 

[beer]

Everyone sucks when they first start driving. It would happen at 16 or 21 or 26. It's a skill like playing a sport that takes some time to adapt. And yes, if you think someone has to magically turn 25 to understand reason, you're deluding yourself. People are well on their way to doctoral degrees in their early 20s, and someone who is 40 can still be punching documents into Microsoft Word for a living. It's up to the person, not to some government-drawn line that seperates black from white.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: jjones
If maturity of decision making were the qualifier for those things you are referring to, then I can think of a lot of people that shouldn't ever have the opportunity to to drive, vote or be tried as an adult.

:thumbsup:

 

[DingDingDao]

Originally posted by: beer
Everyone sucks when they first start driving. It would happen at 16 or 21 or 26. It's a skill like playing a sport that takes some time to adapt. And yes, if you think someone has to magically turn 25 to understand reason, you're deluding yourself. People are well on their way to doctoral degrees in their early 20s, and someone who is 40 can still be punching documents into Microsoft Word for a living. It's up to the person, not to some government-drawn line that seperates black from white.

Bingo :thumbsup:
End of argument.

 

[smc13]

From reading these articles, what is being said is that a teens brain hasn't developed to the stage where they can make correct judgments. Because of this teens are much more likely to get into accidents. There are numurous studies done by auto insurance companies to back this up. Teens get into many more accidents then someone 25+ (though I've seen studies that indicate people in their 80s drive as poorly as teenagers).

Sure, there are exceptions. Yes, you can find 30 year olds who can't make sound judgements. Yes, there are 16 year olds that are wise beyond their years. But, those are exceptions. It is impossible to test everyone's brain functions before issuing driver's licenses, so going by an age makes sense. It seems that 16 is to young.

 

[Red Dawn]

Teens are a necessary evil. It's a learning stage where stupidity is forgiven because of youth. Once they hit 18 their stupidity isn't forgiven.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: DingDingDao

Originally posted by: beer
Everyone sucks when they first start driving. It would happen at 16 or 21 or 26. It's a skill like playing a sport that takes some time to adapt. And yes, if you think someone has to magically turn 25 to understand reason, you're deluding yourself. People are well on their way to doctoral degrees in their early 20s, and someone who is 40 can still be punching documents into Microsoft Word for a living. It's up to the person, not to some government-drawn line that seperates black from white.

Bingo :thumbsup:
End of argument.

Wrong. The mentality of a 16 year old is very different than that of a 21 year old or even an 18 year old. Nobody in the their right mind can possibly argue that 18 year olds are not immensely more mature than 16 year olds. Even though they have quite a ways to go in the maturity department, in most cases, they're still much better at reasoning, making value judgements, weighing risk, thinking ahead to compensating early for possible problems, being responsible for their actions, ad nauseum.

I am a FIRM believer that driver's licenses should NOT be issued to anyone under the age 18 --and if society continues to degrade at the current rate or worse, I may change my decision by raising that age.

A simple test asking people about recognizing signs and knowing what to do if someone's following you too closely are simply not enough.

You're "in control" of an approximately two THOUSAND pound vehicle in many cases, if not more, travelling at speeds in excess of over 95 feet PER SECOND. Christ, that's one hell of a responsibility and, frankly, teenagers are fvcking irresponsible idiots! When I become a parent, I'm not letting my children drive until they're 18 both for their own safety from the other fvcking irresponsible idiots on the road, and for the safety of those very same fvcking irresponsible idiots!

 

[Queasy]

Justice O'Connor made a salient point in her dissent of yesterday's ruling on executions for teens.

"The court's analysis is premised on differences in the aggregate between juveniles and adults, which frequently do not hold true when comparing individuals," she said. "Chronological age is not an unfailing measure of psychological development, and common experience suggests that many 17-year-olds are more mature than the average young 'adult.'"

If anything, I favor tougher testing and more training for anyone (yet especially teenagers) trying to get a license to drive. It's too easy to get a license right now. Perhaps the tougher testing and training will help develop their brains a little faster.

I remember a year or two after I got my license in Corpus Christi, TX, a law was passed that allowed teens who had simply passed their driver's ed course to get a license without any testing. This was a complete joke since the driver's ed courses were a complete joke as well. Traffic accidents involving teenagers increased dramatically soon after and the law was eventually repealed.

 

[Rhin0]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: DingDingDao

Originally posted by: beer
Everyone sucks when they first start driving. It would happen at 16 or 21 or 26. It's a skill like playing a sport that takes some time to adapt. And yes, if you think someone has to magically turn 25 to understand reason, you're deluding yourself. People are well on their way to doctoral degrees in their early 20s, and someone who is 40 can still be punching documents into Microsoft Word for a living. It's up to the person, not to some government-drawn line that seperates black from white.

Bingo :thumbsup:
End of argument.

Wrong. The mentality of a 16 year old is very different than that of a 21 year old or even an 18 year old. Nobody in the their right mind can possibly argue that 18 year olds are not immensely more mature than 16 year olds. Even though they have quite a ways to go in the maturity department, in most cases, they're still much better at reasoning, making value judgements, weighing risk, thinking ahead to compensating early for possible problems, being responsible for their actions, ad nauseum.

I am a FIRM believer that driver's licenses should NOT be issued to anyone under the age 18 --and if society continues to degrade at the current rate or worse, I may change my decision by raising that age.

A simple test asking people about recognizing signs and knowing what to do if someone's following you too closely are simply not enough.

You're "in control" of an approximately two THOUSAND pound vehicle in many cases, if not more, travelling at speeds in excess of over 95 feet PER SECOND. Christ, that's one hell of a responsibility and, frankly, teenagers are fvcking irresponsible idiots! When I become a parent, I'm not letting my children drive until they're 18 both for their own safety from the other fvcking irresponsible idiots on the road, and for the safety of those very same fvcking irresponsible idiots!

Teenagers today are getting more dumb all the time and a lot less responsible. My friends brother has two younger brothers and they are just ignorant. It is astounding how STUPID they are...

 

[rh71]

driving is mostly about experience but unfortunately teens are given a shot at this experience while they are still influenced by a lot of unfavorable factors at that age (16/17 yo).

You can either have irresponsible and inexperienced teens or just inexperienced 20-year olds (but how will they get to work?). I don't think you can win either way.

 

[Jeff7181]

Insurance companies and car rental agencies agree that until you're 25, you're not a responsible driver.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Insurance companies and car rental agencies agree that until you're 25, you're not a responsible driver.

bah, I got a whopping $40 discount once I reached 25. Screw them and their thinking.

 

[vi edit]

I understand the concept of "any new driver is a risk", but I agree with others that there is a lot of maturing that takes place between the ages of 16 and 21 that can and will affect decisions made behind the wheel of a vehicle.

I'm all for graduated license programs the restrict driving privledges until you are 18.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Insurance companies and car rental agencies agree that until you're 25, you're not a responsible driver.

bah, I got a whopping $40 discount once I reached 25. Screw them and their thinking.

Mine was 40%. Your insurance company just sucks.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Rhin0

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: DingDingDao

Originally posted by: beer
Everyone sucks when they first start driving. It would happen at 16 or 21 or 26. It's a skill like playing a sport that takes some time to adapt. And yes, if you think someone has to magically turn 25 to understand reason, you're deluding yourself. People are well on their way to doctoral degrees in their early 20s, and someone who is 40 can still be punching documents into Microsoft Word for a living. It's up to the person, not to some government-drawn line that seperates black from white.

Bingo :thumbsup:
End of argument.

Wrong. The mentality of a 16 year old is very different than that of a 21 year old or even an 18 year old. Nobody in the their right mind can possibly argue that 18 year olds are not immensely more mature than 16 year olds. Even though they have quite a ways to go in the maturity department, in most cases, they're still much better at reasoning, making value judgements, weighing risk, thinking ahead to compensating early for possible problems, being responsible for their actions, ad nauseum.

I am a FIRM believer that driver's licenses should NOT be issued to anyone under the age 18 --and if society continues to degrade at the current rate or worse, I may change my decision by raising that age.

A simple test asking people about recognizing signs and knowing what to do if someone's following you too closely are simply not enough.

You're "in control" of an approximately two THOUSAND pound vehicle in many cases, if not more, travelling at speeds in excess of over 95 feet PER SECOND. Christ, that's one hell of a responsibility and, frankly, teenagers are fvcking irresponsible idiots! When I become a parent, I'm not letting my children drive until they're 18 both for their own safety from the other fvcking irresponsible idiots on the road, and for the safety of those very same fvcking irresponsible idiots!

Teenagers today are getting more dumb all the time and a lot less responsible. My friends brother has two younger brothers and they are just ignorant. It is astounding how STUPID they are...

Wait... which are they? Ignorant or stupid? Ignorant implies that they just lack knowledge... stupid implies that they lack the ability to gain knowledge.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Insurance companies and car rental agencies agree that until you're 25, you're not a responsible driver.

bah, I got a whopping $40 discount once I reached 25. Screw them and their thinking.

I'm 23 and my car insurance dropped from $1500 to $1300 this year because of my credit rating and driving record. I can't wait to see how much it drops when I hit 25!

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: rh71
driving is mostly about experience but unfortunately teens are given a shot at this experience while they are still influenced by a lot of unfavorable factors at that age (16/17 yo).

You can either have irresponsible and inexperienced teens or just inexperienced 20-year olds (but how will they get to work?). I don't think you can win either way.

Driving is not a staple of life. It's a privilage that makes life easier. I have a kickass job and I don't drive right now. I haven't driven for quite some time.

 

[andylawcc]

where's the spelling nazis at?