Driving Age Essay, Research Paper

The dramatic increase in teen accidents has lead major portions of the public to favor the driving age to be raised to 18. The direct concern is over 16 and 17-year-old drivers if they are responsible and experienced enough to drive on the road. Most San Diego citizens agree that accidents involving teen drivers are their lack of judgment and irresponsibility as a driver, and as well as their lack of experience and poor attention to details. I believe the sky rocketing increase in teen accidents may decrease if the driving age is raised to 18.

Teenagers between the ages of 16 and 17 years of age are more prone to get in a car accident then an 18 or 19-year-old driver. There is a small percent of teens on the road that obey the traffic laws, but there are many teen drivers that are reckless and showoffs. They rather gamble their life away drag racing down the freeway or down the street then acting responsible and mature while driving. The consequences of unsafe or irresponsible teen driving a count for 77% of automobile accidents. Parents and other supporters may argue that there is no difference between an 18-year-old driver to a 16 or 17 year old driver between the amount of experience they have. Officials say a 16 and 17 year old driver simply lack the driving experience that can guide them in making split-second decisions, also they are more likely to take a risk then adults are.

It will be much safer to drive or cross the street in neighborhoods if the driving age is raised to 18. Many citizens, especially parents with toddlers playing in a neighborhood would complain to police about teen drivers driving recklessly. Feeling abandoned the police would tell the parents that they can t do any thing about it unless an offense or behavior occurred in their presence, even then their was little they can do. Another problem is that teens would race down neighborhoods in the middle of the night to avoid getting caught by police leaving citizens awake at night from the roaring sounds of engines and exhaust pipes. Some people that may disagree are people that believe that there are already reckless drivers all ready on the road, and people are just targeting teenagers because of their mythical notorious ways. In a matter fact officals claim most of those reckless drivers on the road are teenagers look in for a good time by racing and purposely running over private propriety, and as well as having dangerous parties down streets and in neighborhoods called cruise n.

No more DUI teens driving down the road and maybe less attends to drug and alcohol related parties. A nation wide pole has conducted that 37% of teen fatalities are caused by drinking associated with driving, even this statistic does not change the minds of millions of teenage drivers not to drive home intoxicated. Teens obtain the alcohol from alcohol and drug related parties, teens under the age of 18 usually attend these types of parties and use their vehicles to attend types of parties. Raising the driving age to 18 may not end these types parties but it may minimize the attends of teens under 18 and may save some lives. Critics that might disagree are those that believe teenagers are responsible enough to avoid these types of temptation and can deal with peer-pressure. Also they might believe that there is no difference between a DUI adult and a DUI teenager. When a teenager is faced with this type of pressure they usually follow the wrong path, believing they will look cooler in front their friends. Also it is illegal for any one to drink under the age of 21 or drive under the influence under the 0-tolerance law, by raising the driving age to 18 it will lessen the chance of a 16 or 17 year old to obtain alcohol and drive home drunk.

By raising the driving age to 18 there will be a decrease in teen accidents and teen fatalities involving car accidents. As well as safer roads to drive through and safer and more quiet neighborhoods for kids to play in. People may argue about this issue and the inconvenience it places parents, but it s mainly for their safety and others around them driving.