New Driver Age Limit (high school, legal, floor) - City-Data Forum

rgomez912 · 03-01-2010, 03:25 PM

Heard about it again on the news. Just a simple 6 hour course instead of the long 3 month drivers ed class.

blkgiraffe · 03-02-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgomez912

Heard about it again on the news. Just a simple 6 hour course instead of the long 3 month drivers ed class.

No; not at all.

FarNorthDallas · 03-02-2010, 10:13 AM

What are you talking about? 21 years old? Teens can still get drivers licenses.

Here's what changed...
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/directo.../pr022510a.pdf
It impacts 18-24 year olds.

WillysB · 03-02-2010, 10:14 AM

View Poll Results: Do you think making the age limit 21 will do any good?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgomez912

Heard about it again on the news. Just a simple 6 hour course instead of the long 3 month drivers ed class.

Where do you get the age 21?

Texas Department of Public Safety (http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver_licensing_control/faq/answers_dl_id.htm#q21 - broken link)

Quote:

1) What is an instruction permit and what is the minimum age to obtain one?

An instruction permit allows a beginning driver to operate a vehicle with someone in the front seat that is 21 years of age or older and holds a valid license. The legal driving age in Texas is 15 years of age, no exceptions. Texas Transportation Code 521.222.

Should there be an effort to change the age to 21 then I'd say that's just ridiculous. I took Driver's Ed in the 9th grade, 1962, in Texas, age 14. Was sponsored by the school system. The driving part was in a sweet little Pontiac Tempest with a stick on the floor and a fifth in the glove box.

Been driving legally ever since, illegally since long before.

EasilyAmused · 03-02-2010, 11:29 AM

Nanny state.

Just make texting illegal for both adults and teens and this world will be a safer place. No way should typing in the car ever been allowed.

Dopo · 03-02-2010, 04:35 PM

Why stop at 21?
Make the driver age limit 21-70.

You want to take bad drivers off the road,
you might want to start with the 90 year old people that can't see what color of shoes they are wearing.

rgomez912 · 03-02-2010, 11:15 PM

Was a little in a hurry so posted quick. Not much of an effect but still will it make a difference? Even if texting is outlawed what will stop people from still doing it? You can't text in class but that does not stop kids from doing it. Even people in there 20s do wrong since some dude on the highway, looks like he was a businessman, was driving while reading the newspaper.

I'm 18 and just got my Class C and I still finding it hard to do anything else but drive while i'm on the road. Do not know how these people can drive while not even looking or paying attention.

Metro Matt · 03-02-2010, 11:17 PM

I say make it 18...15 & 16 year olds are just waaay too young & irresponsible to be driving.

Metro Matt · 03-02-2010, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Nanny state.

Just make texting illegal for both adults and teens and this world will be a safer place. No way should typing in the car ever been allowed.

But fooling with a radio or navi system is? They're all distractions that should be avoided by everyone no matter how old you are. If I see someone driving too slow in the fast lane while on a cell phone I'll usually speed up in front of them & cut them off.

loves2read · 03-03-2010, 09:18 AM

apparently the state in its wisdom has decided that there are so many applicants over the age of 17 (and out of high school) who are flocking to get an INITIAL TXDL that the local DPS offices are overwhelmed with giving tests and certifying drivers...
so it had decided that it is OK to have a PRIVATE company do the dirty work of ensuring that drivers are capable of passing the requirements for safe driving...

do you think that if one of these drivers has accident that results in severe injuries to others that the injured parties can sue the private company that certified them as qualified drivers????

there are so many drivers out there who are NOT doing a good job as drivers you don't need to separate into "too old" "too text oriented" "too aggressive"
just go "einey, meeny, miney, mo"--and bingo you are probably looking at driver guaranteed to break several laws, exhibit poor judgement, and endanger other drivers within 12 hours...