Answer:
When you were younger, did you ever ask your parents to drive you to your destinations, however they would say no? Growing up, children wait and wait until the day comes when they are finally sixteen and driving. They can now take themselves wherever they choose without relying on someone else. The law is deciding to increase the minimum driving age to eighteen. If the age does change, teenagers will have to wait longer until they are able to drive on their own. It can also affect many things that have already been established. Teen life, parent life, and teenagers’ independence will be greatly affected.
Teenagers benefit from driving at sixteen. Getting a driver’s license early allows teens to work, enjoy extracurricular activities, and gain experience to prepare them for life after school. Teenagers who are employed learn how to function in a workplace. Employers prefer potential workers who have experience. Working gives teens a small fluid income. Teenagers who earn money learn valuable skills of saving money and personal finance. Along with having the ability to drive to work, teens with licenses can drive to extracurricular activities. Clubs and sports allow kids to discover and develop talents and interests. Adolescents find future careers in extracurricular activities. In addition, teens gain independence and life experience from driving. If the minimum driving age were to be raised to eighteen, many high school students would not be able to drive before they go to college. Driving is necessary for college. In order for college students to travel to classes, jobs, and housing, driving is a needed skill. The minimum driving age should not be changed.
While this issue affects teens, it also has an effect on the parents. Parents welcome their children’s independence. However, they appreciate it for different reasons. First, it allows parents to spend more time at work without making plans for their kids. This is especially useful when students live outside the bus area. Parents should not need to use their entire lunch break to drive their children home. Another reason teenagers should be able to drive at sixteen is so they can arrive at their extra curricular activities whenever needed. It saves parents from taking time off work to drive their children back and forth from school activities. If teenagers are able to drive, they can pick up younger siblings as well as drive themselves home. Finally, driving allows teenagers to transport themselves to and from jobs. Depending on the economic situation of the family, it could be helpful to have a small amount of easy income into the family for support. Teenagers who drive benefit their entire families.
Parents, lawmakers, and even teenagers believe it is safer to wait until the age of eighteen. The opposition considers waiting until eighteen will teach teens responsibility and lower the chance of risk while driving. In driver's education, students are taught that during the first month of owning their license, new drivers are three times more likely to get into an accident. By waiting, new drivers will have more practice and experience driving. Sixteen year olds are more reckless and ill-prepared. At the age of eighteen, teenagers are more responsible and ready for maturity as they have finished their high school years and are going into college.
Although the opposition believes young drivers are hazardous, the scenario would be similar to if teens had to wait until the age of eighteen. Due to waiting two more years for a license, teens will be restricted from traveling, causing a heavy reliance upon parents. Parents or guardians will have to leave their own occupation in order to help the child reach their destination. Parental jobs would become strained or even lost. Opportunities to make more money would disappear, hurting families’ incomes and their financial status.
In conclusion, the minimum driving age should not be raised from the age of sixteen. The effect on teens and their families would be too harsh. The independence that teens gain from driving at an early age allows them to obtain experience in the workplace and on the road. Furthermore, shortening their time on the road may result in more crashes. Parents of teens should not be obligated to drive them to every after-school event, every weekend game, or to work. In order for teens to learn the skills necessary for life after high school, the driving age needs to remain the same.