PA trying to lower driver’s license age to 15 (Philadelphia: to rent, insurance)

[amattaro]

https://www.abc27.com/pennsylvania/p...iving-age/amp/

We are in an era of extended adolescence where less is expected of teens, not sure giving them this responsibility earlier is a good idea.

[2Q&Lrn&Hlp]

Aboout 2 yrs ago our car was totaled by a 16 yo w/ a learner's permit. Just out of school for the day he took his gf for a spin going too fast for a dry day, but it was intermittently raining all day. Slid right into the driver's door as we were waiting to turn out of a driveway. . . . It is my firm elief that everyone applying for a license to drive ANYTHING must first pass a very effective screening to reveal their Emotional Developmental Maturity. . . . If they can't say no to their desire to drive when drunk or worn out or show off or just be careless . . . they should NEVER be given a license to drive . . . no matter their age or education or anything else for that matter!

[Gerania]

Ha ha ha! My husband and I made our son wait until he was 17. He wasn't at all ready before that.

[North Beach Person]

And to think, here in Maryland there's legislation introduced every year to raise the age to either 18 or 21 (it depends on who drops the legislation first).

It's only gotten out of Committee once for a full vote and that was fifteen years ago.

[toobusytoday]

Isn't it 17 in NJ?. Fifteen is a horrible idea.

[BPP1999]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

Isn't it 17 in NJ?. Fifteen is a horrible idea.

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.

[Cloudy Dayz]

It sounds like a great idea, if they also move the age of a learner's permit down to 14. But to have the age for a learner's permit and a driver's license both set at 15 doesn't make sense. What do they expect 15 year olds to do? Get a driver's license without first having a learner's permit?

The goal should be to get the age for a learner's permit as low as possible to give kids more driving experience under parental supervision. The way it is now, many states make it so hard for minors to get driver's licenses, that most teens just wait until they are 18 to get a driver's license. Then suddenly they are adults driving everyday to work or school without any previous driving experience, and it shows.

[elnina]

Funny, when you think about the minimum age to rent a car. Most states - 20 y.o. and few states - 21 y.o.
Doesn't that mean - yup, you can get DL at 14, and wreck your car, not ours...

[jtab4994]

The two sponsors of the bill seem to have good intentions. They want their kids to get DL's so they can work.

But there's an easier solution. The kids can simply take Uber/Lyft to work for one summer, on days they can't get a ride or get picked up. At $14/hr and up for summer work, the kids can easily afford it and Uber will probably be cheaper than paying for gas, repairs, and insurance.

[RetireinPA]

Originally Posted by amattaro

https://www.abc27.com/pennsylvania/p...iving-age/amp/

We are in an era of extended adolescence where less is expected of teens, not sure giving them this responsibility earlier is a good idea.

I do not agree it is a good idea at all.