New Institute report: Raising the driving age would save lives

[Teamster]

ARLINGTON, VA — Most US states allow driving at age 16, 16½, or somewhere in between. A new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report focuses on the costs in terms of lives of allowing licensure sooner rather than later. The message is that licensing at later ages would substantially reduce crashes involving teen drivers. The same conclusion has been reached in other countries. Teens in Great Britain and most Australian states can't get their licenses until they turn 17, for example. In most EU countries it's 18. The Institute's new report is being released at the annual meeting of the Governors Highway Safety Association.

http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr090908.html

[Chicken Hauler]

Originally Posted by Teamster

http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr090908.html

"Licensed" teen crashes would drop to 0% if the legal age to get a driver's license was 20 years old. I could save these companies so much time on research.

I thought it was interesting that the driving ages for:

South Dakota 14 1⁄4

Idaho 15

Montana 15

Mississippi 15 1⁄2

New Mexico 15 1⁄2

South Carolina 15 1⁄2

Were so low.

[LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE]

I believe, that the minimum age should be a subjective application. Many individuals are more mature, and capable at different ages. I have been riding motorcycles since 5 years old.

Don't get me wrong, This could be done on a case by case basis, with the parents permission. With special insurances in place.