PA trying to lower driver’s license age to 15 (rent, houses)

[Craziaskowboi]

Personally, I think the legal age of all adult activities should be increased to 25.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by Craziaskowboi

Personally, I think the legal age of all adult activities should be increased to 25.

Okay, but driving is not an adult activity, any more than riding a bike is. It's just a form of transportation. Kids need transportation, just like adults do.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by BPP1999

Agree. Sad that a Philadelphia legislator is sponsoring this bill. Apparently, it’s difficult for kids to get to work. I guess it’s easier to lower the driving age, and more difficult to be a productive politician and actually attempt to fix SEPTA.

The last thing Philadelphia needs is teens driving at a younger age... And I thought the same thing about SEPTA.

And we made it this far with a minimum driving age of 16, whether the intention on paper is good, just leave it alone.

[gg]

The younger the better to a point. Kids learn faster at a young age. I was taught at 13 and was a superior driver to my classmates by a lot. I thought most of them to drive a stick. It won’t pass of course, but I’m for it. 13 for learners permit would be great.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by gg

The younger the better to a point. Kids learn faster at a young age. I was taught at 13 and was a superior driver to my classmates by a lot. I thought most of them to drive a stick. It won’t pass of course, but I’m for it. 13 for learners permit would be great.

Exactly. I started driving at age 8 sitting on my dad's lap and steering. Yes, that was legal in those days. By the time I got a learners permit, driving was second nature to me. There are children as young as 5 years old driving vehicles on farms in virtually every state.

The real problem is throwing 18 year olds behind the wheel with little to no driving experience.

[gus2]

Lots of places have kids getting their permits the second they turn 15, but research has shown that more teens are waiting to get their license.

The teenage rite of passage of rushing to the DMV on your birthday to get that plastic card that represents freedom has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. Data collected from the Federal Highway Administration and analyzed by Green Car Congress showed that in 2018 approximately 61% of 18-year-olds in the U.S. had a driver’s license, down from 80% percent in 1983. The number of 16-year-olds with licenses decreased from 46% to 25% in the same period.

The trend that began with millennials has been amplified by Generation Z, with teens citing myriad reasons for putting off or avoiding getting a driver license. Some prefer more environmentally friendly transportation options, some found driving too stressful and some just don't care about cars.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ving/48148523/

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by gus2

Lots of places have kids getting their permits the second they turn 15, but research has shown that more teens are waiting to get their license.


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ving/48148523/

Kids in Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, and North and South Dakota, get their Learner's Permits at 14. Kids in Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and North and South Dakota get Restricted Licenses at 15. This Pennsylvania law won't be setting any precedents.

The reason most young people are waiting longer is because of the difficulty in getting a driver's license before their 18th birthday. In most cases there are many restrictions on a minor's license. To get an unrestricted license they generally have to take expensive driver training courses. Or they can just wait and walk into the DMV on their 18th birthday, and walk out with an unrestricted license. They don't know how to drive, but they have a driver's license when they turn 18.

Legal Driving Age by State

[2nd trick op]

In fact, 14- and 15-year olds can be licensed to drive in more states than not, but only under a limited set of well-defined circumstances.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=14-yea...rive&FORM=SSRE

The underlying reason lies in agriculture. Farm youngsters typically learn to operate a tractor (which is not much different from a riding lawn mower) around the age of twelve, and the law cannot prevent a farm family from operating a motor vehicle on their own property, And here in Pennsylvania, if that property is spread over multiple locations, farm boys may use locally-maintained public roads (but not state highways) to get between the properties. This system has operated for over a century, and I see no reason to change it now.

[steel7]

Not a good idea. Why not just lower the legal age to purchase alcohol to 19 while they are at it. (sarcasm).

[Tweb66]

Hmm, if we lower the age requirement, probably means fewer of our stolen cars will be wrapped around a tree. Glass half full? I am forever grateful that I don't have a Hyundai/Kia, stealing them is all the rage.