As shown in this graph, experience has more of an effect on accidents than does age. There is still a positive trend that implies that younger drivers are more susceptible to accidents (this could also be due to the fact that younger drivers have less experience), but the rate of accidents only slightly decreases with age whereas it drastically decreases with experience (at least at first) and then levels out.

I think the focus of an amendment to the current laws should be on the required supervised drive time before one can test for/receive a license regardless of age.

Another quick fact from the site, "research shows that accident liability is reduced by nearly half after two years driving experience."

No. 18 year olds have many more places to drive to, what with being adults, moving out, going to college, etc. 16 year olds are still young and still are required to go to high school, the majority stay local to their parents and school. Receiving your license at 16 gives you more time to drive and gain experience on the road in a safer environment. When you're 18, you won't have as much time to learn the basic lessons only experience can give you about driving.

I say no because I feel certain it wouldn't make a difference. 16 is a decent age to start driving, especially when alcohol is still prohibited for another 5 years, and it leaves 5 years for them to learn to drive safely, with ease. We all know when we first start driving it feels really freaky and we pretty much suck at it. But after at least 6 months of driving on your own, it starts to feel natural and we do better. Granted, some people don't take it seriously and are doing really stupid stuff while driving (like drinking, or applying make up, or talking on their phone). But if we postponed it to 18, that means having, well, 18 year olds that drive like crap all over the place. And at 18, they're more likely to do stupider stuff because they're older and will have better access, compared to a 16 yr old still living with their parents who are making their rules still. There's more control letting a 16 year old drive, than an 18 year old. It'd be nice if all 18 year olds were mature, but really, I think the majority are dumber than most 16 year olds.

16 is the experience you get and learn instead of waiting and getting late to school and jobs.

isn't it the point of the driving test to make sure that you're good enough to be on the roads? i don't think it makes it any safer if you're two years older.

Because it should be their parents disisson

The driving age shouldn't be increased, but the requirements and tests should definately be more difficult. By difficult I mean that the process should require more time between the permit and license, in Maryland it takes about 1 1/2-2 years atleast to get your license, especially if you are underage. A graduated system would definately be an improvement to the majority of the systems now.

If you want to make the roads safer... add a minimum years to Drivers Ed

I think this would not be so much of a hard hit in NJ. We get our licenses at 17 anyway. What's another year? :) But driving is not automatically learned with age, it is a skill that is honed through practice. We all had to drive a car for the first time at some point.

Well I'd be fucked if i didn't have my licence. My parents left home as soon as i turned 17 :)

I'm going to say no, because frankly, what difference will it make? A lot of people here are noting that people will be 'more mature' at eighteen. It's two years difference. At fifteen (well, almost), I know some really mature sixteen year olds and really immature eighteen year olds. I was driven to school many times last year by my friend's neighbour (who was seventeen), who was perfectly responsible.

I also notice a lot of people noting that many teens die in crashes every year. If you raise it to eighteen, then won't more eighteen year olds die? It's all about experience, not age. People need to realize that physical size or age don't necessarily change your maturity.

At almost fifteen, I've been told many times that I'm extremely mature for my age. But then there's those kids who act out and seem extremely immature at eighteen, sometimes even older.

So really, what difference does age make? It's about maturity, which isn't measured in age, but in...well, maturity. And driving is about EXPERIENCE, not age.

No, because there are teens who are mature and know how to handle responsibility. Therefore we shouldn't ruin it for the ones who have waited for the day they get their license. On the other hand, the irresponsible teens should take 3 courses of driver's training and make them understand how important it is to take precaution when driving. We shouldn't raise the driving age but make the requirements stricter.

By the time were 18 we'll be in college! How are you suppose to have time to learn to drive while your balancing college cousres?!? Also we need many hours driving with our parents and we can't get that while were away in college. 16 is the perfect age

if people are scared to have young drivers out during rush hour traffic it really isnt a big issue. most school get out aroung 3 and most kids either go home right away or go to work. most kids will only be out getting things unless it is a weekend when a lot of teeens have free range.

ummm i don't think so .....most places won't hire you unless you have a drivers license. and there are lots of 16 year olds that need a job at 16.

As long as you don't have as much public transport as Euroope raising the driving age to European standards would imprison 16-18 year olds.

Listen people im only 13 and i believe it should stay at 16 because amongst with what others are saying as of a 16 year old will have more experience up to 2 years

And at 18 you have balance everything you do college,jobs,extracurricular activities etc. A high-schooler only has their education which we get out around 3:00 or so and then our jobs which start after school or later in the day leaving plenty of time for practice even if it's not exactly our parents with us we'll have a grandpa or grandma even uncle to help us (parents would be best).

Dude........................................................................................................................................................................

well i live out in the country and go into a town school which is a forty minute drive and it takes even loneger on the bus i also go to dancing three times a week and play basket ball which means my mum or dad have to drive me there and pick me up i was hoping to get my licence as soon as possible so i can drive my self.

wrong I think they need to keep it the same cause when you turn 18 you would have to do the same thing that you would when your 16. Plus there is no reduction on death rates. so it would be helpful for the 16 year olds to have there license because it helps them go back and forth to work and school. Most kids go to college when they are 18 and if they changed the law to 18 to get your license then your kids will be going out with no experience and probably no one else will help them learn to drive. ask yourself did you get your license at 16 if you did. did you have a job. if you did how did those license help you. they got you back and forth didn't. They shouldn't take away the right for the 16 year old's they have been waiting on that. Some kids have that set as a goal to get their licenses when they turn 16 and do they suppose to do that if you make the age to 18. As a parent would love to see my kid get her goals set and accomplish them by the time they said if they can now i won't force it. but you know what i mean.

if 16 and 17 year old can`t drive to school or work, which will screw up the economy because there is jobs that tenns need to do cuz adults are too fat.

the people like driving i know a 14 year old who canot wait to drive if you higher it he;ll have to wait till collage i know i would not want that

I think that the driving age should not be raised to 18 because then the drivers will not become more experienced for the road and resulting in crashes........also pointing out that no matter what you do people will still get into car crashes and raising the age will not matter. also if you have to wait intill you are 18 then youcannot buya car sooner then the economy will get worse..