On a sidenote to this beginning discussion. What's with learner drivers who can't even make a simple turn being allowed on the streets in busy traffic? Is it just me, or doesn't it make more sense for there to be plenty of off-road training first before being put into traffic? I was licensed in NY when I was 16, but there were stipulations. For instance I couldn't drive after dark unless I had a note saying I was coming home from work or school. I don't know all about how getting a driving license when you are young works over here honestly; but kids CAN be responsible. But there should be limitations. I think in this day and age raising the age to drive to 18 is a bit of a stretch really. I mean, in places in the States (mainly in the South) you can get a permit (learner's) when you are 14 or 15.
in france u can get a drivers license at age 16 only if a parent is sitting next to u in the car. and otherwise u have to be 18 to get a regular license.we still are the worst drivers in the universe (considering the number of pple killed on the road), so yea i guess a tougher drivers license would be a good idea. or maybe one u have to take every other year or something like that
It would but can you imagine the cost of lessons once the land is found, for example a driving school or some new houses. The dark driving thing makes some sense, no-one is ever taught night driving, and its a whole different ballgame. Love examples of the southern states, you can marry your mother from the age of 5 there.
This discussion has started off sounding a little like a Harry Enfield 'Old Gits' sketch talking about kids who can't drive. My experience of driving on the British roads has told me that it isn't young people who are the hazzards but people in their twilight years. But lets also recognize that we may do all we can to stop them legally by increasing the age, or financially by quoting mad insurance prices but most will still go ahead and practice regardless becoming criminals from another mad law, then where would that eventually lead; to have a discussion about over-crowding in prisons? Are we not all talking our way into an over-regulated and a truly self imposed oppressed existence, I know this sounds far out and uncool man but I sincerely believe when I hear discussion about how we can stop this or that it is going to have a massive backlash.
well land here is definitely more of a commodity than in the States that is for sure. but there are parking lots and such still. i mean i learned how to drive first off in a church parking lot or the high school parking lot on a weekend when no one was around. sure beats the possible accident that could occur because a learner driver gets befuddled by how to turn left at a roundabout. the only way at least in NY you can drive at night under the age of 18 is if you have taken a driving course (As normally you don't need those in the States to get a license). there is a big difference though as you don't have to even open the hood (bonnet) in order to be given a driving license. and the tests are much easier. for one thing a written test in NY consists of 20 questions and you are allowed to get 40% of them wrong and still pass. and about the getting married to your mom at 5 ... you've got that wrong that's not all southern states ... just Texas.
Agree about the old drivers being a problem to the majority of road users, and there certainly is getting more of them and I would say they have less consideration for other road users than the young do. I think the proposal was brought up by someone who has lost a child to the driving of a young man, it does seem our society is littered with the after effects of these events, and quite a few families are usually involved. The only way to ensure responsibility is to make them buy and insure their own car, rather than get mummy and daddy to do it. Truth the state intervenes too much and we don't want any more rules but unless Joe Public accepts responsibility for himself and respect for others I'm afraid the state will have to keep stepping in, or at least consider doing so.
This I didn't know and you' ve humbled me. Lost in my rant and desire to let rip I sometimes do become a little insensitive to others and how my ranting points of view maybe seen or interpreted, but when their is death on the road it does come from all age groups, but obviously not in this particular event, sorry. You are absolutely right to recognize our need to have personal responsibility which is something I believe generally only comes with age. In the sense we need to experience the lows as with the ups in our lives to begin to understand how to gain real respect, which again for me can only come when we begin to demonstrate restraint and responsibiliy for one-anothor. 'Wisest is he who knows he knows nothing'. Socrates.
