Student Journal: Raise driving age for teens and save lives!

Anne-Gerard Flynn | By Anne-Gerard Flynn |
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on December 03, 2008 at 6:33 AM, updated December 03, 2008 at 6:42 AM

Nicolle E. Walkowicz

Statistics show that 6,000 young people die in car crashes annually, and 300,000 teens get injured in car crashes each year.

Granby Jr.-Sr. High School

Fifteen, sixteen - it's just too early for a teenager to get injured or even die.

The driving age needs to be changed because most teen deaths are caused by car accidents.

Most teens aren't physically or even emotionally ready for driving.

Also, most teens can't handle the responsibility of driving a car.

The main problem with most teens is that they are not focused on the future - they're focused on NOW.

If the teen driving age gets raised, it would mean fewer teenagers would die each year and a lot less parents would have to worry about their children leaving the house and coming home safe.

You probably think that drugs, alcohol, diseases and the occasional ear crash cause most teen deaths.

If you think that, then you are wrong.


The teenagers that get injured usually end up in critical condition.


In 2003, more than 3,500 teens were killed in car crashes, just in the South alone.

Some of these accidents could have had different outcomes, especially if teens would have worn their seat belts.

Along with their higher rate of involvement in fatal crashes, 16 year olds make driving errors, exceed speed limits, run off roads, and roll their vehicles over at higher rates than do older drivers involved in fatal crashes ).

Another reason why the driving age needs to be changed is because teenagers aren't physically ready to be put behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Research shows that the part of the brain that weighs risks and controls impulsive behavior isn't fully developed until age 25.

Other than that, a teen's mind isn't always focused on the driving aspect of the privilege.

Teenage minds are usually focused on what they are going to do on that specific day.

Although most teens think their driving is average, their driving ability doesn't always match what their mind says it can do.

Are teenagers really ready for the responsibility of driving a car?

Most parents say that their teenagers are not ready.

Most teens cannot commit to the responsibility of feeding their own pets or cleaning their own rooms, let alone driving a vehicle.

This is because they are too preoccupied with other things in their day-to-day lives.

Between school, jobs, family and friends, there isn't enough time for concentrating on the road.

Most teens end up being involved in car accidents because they are talking on the cell phone, texting, or adjusting the music in the vehicle.

Even with all of the deaths, some teenagers want the driving age to be lowered, if that makes any sense.

Most teenagers think that they are ready to take on the responsibility of driving a vehicle.

These teens only want a car and a license so that they can be "cool" and go wherever they want.

If they would actually look at all the evidence and research, 1 don't think that they would be rushing driving at such a young age. They aren't just putting themselves in danger, but other people as well.

The main point is - do you really want your teenager driving the car with a friend around the age of 16 - 17? Come on - they text while driving, they talk on the cell phone, they eat while driving, they adjust the music and some even put on make-up while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.

While trying to do the above-mentioned items, do you really think that their minds are focused on driving the car?

Do you seriously want your teen in the same car with someone who isn't even looking at the road or watching their rate of speed 100 percent of the time? I do not think you would. This is why the driving age needs to be raised.

Submitting teacher for Student Journal: Joan Vohl Hamilton