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Should the Driving Age Be 18?

Many teens count down the days until they can get behind the wheel. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen drivers are almost three times more likely to be in fatal accidents than those over 20. Some people say raising the driving age to 18 could decrease the number of car crashes involving teens. They also say making teens wait to get their licenses would encourage them to be more active by walking or biking instead of driving. But others say getting your license at a younger age is important for high schoolers who work part-time or help take care of siblings. What do you think? 

Yes

Yes, raising the driving age to 18 could enhance road safety. Research shows that the parts of the brain that are responsible for decision-making and impulse control continue maturing into your mid-20s. This may be a factor in the higher rate of accidents among younger drivers. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. A friend of mine was involved in a serious accident shortly after getting their license at 16. The crash was attributed to inexperience and distraction. If we’re concerned about younger teens needing to drive to work or to help their families, we should improve access to public transportation. Allowing teens’ brains to mature before they drive could lead to safer roads for everyone.

—Cameron Barclay, 10th-grader

No

No, Increasing the driving age to 18 won’t make teens safer drivers. For me, driving increases my sense of responsibility and self-worth. If anything, it has helped me mature and make good decisions. And many teens need their licenses. Some need to drive to help their families. They might also live in areas where it isn’t safe to walk alone. Plus, many high schools offer free driver’s education classes. If students have to wait until they’re 18 to get their licenses, they might already be out of school. Instead of raising the driving age, states could create incentives for safe driving. By empowering teens to be safer behind the wheel, we could revolutionize the way the world thinks about teenage drivers.

—Ruby Seidner, 11th-grader

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