Raise the age for drivers licenses
To the editor:
The percentage of teens involved in car accidents is sky rocketing as the days surpass. It is apparent that the age 16 is too juvenile to obtain a driver’s license at. Teenagers do not recognize the others they put at risk when poor driving is chosen. Countless things absorb their attention. The No. 1 issue is cell phones. I, as a teen driver, understand the temptation to answer calls and texts while driving. Unfortunately, more than half do so. That very moment is when you put your life and others at risk. More than just cell phones there are fidgeting with the radio, and talking to the passengers in your vehicle. One hundred and five percent of your attention should be on the road at all times.
Along with being distracted, comes not obeying traffic laws. The young age and being new to driving formulates teen drivers to overlook traffic laws. We enjoy driving fast for the adrenaline rush, not stopping completely at stop signs and running yellow turning red stop lights to be rebels, and cutting people off to be first. These are the foundation of what causes car accidents. Teens do not have much experience but we insist we do.
Numerous solutions for this situation can be positioned into effect. First off, we could increase the age when teenagers start driving. This provides them with more time to gain experience before they are on their own. As well, the DMV can construct a more challenging driving exam to analyze the teen’s true ability to drive. Car accidents are life threatening and we should do everything possible to prevent them, starting with moving up the age limit to drive.
Ashley Nieves
Cape Coral