Too Much, Too Soon – What’s The Minimum Age for Responsibility?

[slims]

i'v done stupid stuff when i was younger and still do, and i'll probably continue to do so for a long time. I dont think age is a factor to an extent.

 

[DV2000NJ]

We have three kids who all got their licenses at 16 and had virtually zero driving issues. ANY segment of society has a few who think they are bulletproof. If you move the age up... they will just get into trouble at a later age.

What we need in this country is better driver education and a much more difficult to attain driver's license.

It would also help if parents didn't give little Johnny (or Susie) a 400HP car to go learn how to drive in.

Bingo.

I know 4.5 years ago (when I started driving) I sure as HELL couldn't have handled my truck with as much power as it has now.

 

[Darkanion]

You can just as dead in a cracker box with 100hp under the hood as you can in a safer car with 400hp under the hood.. I agree, though, that starting kiddos out in less power vehicles with safety features (it's not like they're going to go away.. They might as well get used to how ABS feels when it kicks in, how traction control feels when it steps in, etc.) and better driver's education is better than "you've never driven before? Here are the keys to a shiny new Camaro SS.. go up on the canyon roads and figure out how to drive it!"

 

[nubuilder]

Steve, WI has something close.

15 1/2 = learners permit - must have parrent or someone over 18 with at all times when driving
16 = license - probational period - 9 months = 1 passenger maximum allowed that is not a family member; you can have as many family members as you want in the vehicle

After the 9 months, you have a full, regular license.


My brother and I both learned on small/midsize sedans. You don't just start a new driver out in anything that has power (V6's are OK if that's all that's available, but 4cyl would be better). New drivers should be exposed to both small cars and vans/full-size trucks (at least for an hour of driving) just so they see what it is like and therefore have a better understanding of how the vehicle characteristics change so they know how big vehicles handle/stop when they see them driving down the road. Defensive driving (anticipating and seeing ahead of you) will keep you safer.

 

[dietz4ibanez]

I got my license when I was 16 and I (knock on wood) have never been in a wreck. I have had 7 tickets since 2003..

A lot of my friends failed there driving test a couple times... I aced it the first time...
I feel if you fail the first time it should be a 1-2 year penantly to get your license. Most of those friends have total their car at least once at their stupidity.

One thing that I think helped me was I used to work at camps and I drove the camp van or truck to perform my work on camp property.

I will be letting my kids drive early around 12... It takes time to build that confidence to make a good observant driver..

On another note with the tickets I got this year I had to change my economy tune to keep me under 100... It was a good and bad feeling when the dealer saw that I had my truck over 130... I could have been put in jail and lost my license for this...

I think I am going to reduce my economy tune to 80 or 60... I get way to much enjoyment making those mustang GT owners cry and if I reduce the power and know it can't be done I won't try...

I got to make time for the drag strip

 

[Texas Jim]

I know it was different then...but...
When I was growing up...you could get a "FULL" license...not restricted in any way...at 14.
Which I did...

 

[nubuilder]

I got my license when I was 16 and I (knock on wood) have never been in a wreck.

A lot of my friends failed there driving test a couple times... I aced it the first time...
I feel if you fail the first time it should be a 1-2 year penantly to get your license. Most of those friends have total their car at least once at their stupidity. Some instructors are just hard asses and fail everyone (there's one of those at our DMV).

One thing that I think helped me was I used to work at camps and I drove the camp van or truck to perform my work on camp property. I learned at 12 or 13 by driving at the airport by the T-hangers with my dad. No traffic to deal with and open spaces. My brother first drove in a farm field in an 80's Suburban. Apparently he punched it to the floor right off the bat!

I will be letting my kids drive early around 12... It takes time to build that confidence to make a good observant driver. That's the key. LOOK!

Red stuff.

 

[agjake11]

Steve, WI has something close.

15 1/2 = learners permit - must have parrent or someone over 18 with at all times when driving
16 = license - probational period - 9 months = 1 passenger maximum allowed that is not a family member; you can have as many family members as you want in the vehicle

After the 9 months, you have a full, regular license.


My brother and I both learned on small/midsize sedans. You don't just start a new driver out in anything that has power (V6's are OK if that's all that's available, but 4cyl would be better). New drivers should be exposed to both small cars and vans/full-size trucks (at least for an hour of driving) just so they see what it is like and therefore have a better understanding of how the vehicle characteristics change so they know how big vehicles handle/stop when they see them driving down the road. Defensive driving (anticipating and seeing ahead of you) will keep you safer.

In TX its 15 for a permit with drivers ED and then 16 for the license (min 6 months of permit) and if you get 2 or more tickets within a yr before your 18 your license is revoked for 6 months plus

I agree though i learned on my current truck and there was not option for a "fast" vehicle when i got my first car. basically i was looking for reg cab v6 trucks so i couldnt haul everyone around and that was my parents way of controlling me being a dumb kid ( which i was/ still am)

i also think with all the conviences in modern vehicles that focus isnt on driving now days its about what else is going on stereo etc. there was a requirement for me also of 6 months of clear driving before i could upgrade my stereo. for me with a manual shift i had to focus on driving otherwise i wasnt going anywhere and thats a skill thats few and far between now days. i taught most all my friend how to drive a manual.

 

[nubuilder]

i also think with all the conviences in modern vehicles that focus isnt on driving now days its about what else is going on stereo etc. there was a requirement for me also of 6 months of clear driving before i could upgrade my stereo. for me with a manual shift i had to focus on driving otherwise i wasnt going anywhere and thats a skill thats few and far between now days. i taught most all my friend how to drive a manual.

My first truck (when I was 16 1/2) was a '94 S10 2.2L 5spd RCSB, didn't even have A/C, power windows, or locks; only had AM/FM-cassette player (oh yeah, it was thumpin!
New cars have way too many "conveniences". 90% of my high school class didn't know how to drive a manual, let alone what it was. To me, it was an easy way for people not to borrow my truck!

 

[Darkanion]

I know it was different then...but...
When I was growing up...you could get a "FULL" license...not restricted in any way...at 14.
Which I did...

Yeah... And we see how you turned out!