Raising driving age?

**YellowDog** · 4th March 2010, 20:41

I spoke wth a buddy of mine with 2 teenage sons tonight over a couple of beers.

I asked him what he thought about the raising of the drivign age to 16.

He recons that it should be raised to 21.

I asked him why?

He says that his kids are so hooked on superfast driving and crashing video games that he is terrified what they will not be able to distinguish between fantacy and reality in a real car.

Just anoter point of view that I had not considered.

Hopefully the driving test would prevent such people from passing.

**huff3r** · 4th March 2010, 21:01

Originally Posted by YellowDog

I spoke wth a buddy of mine with 2 teenage sons tonight over a couple of beers.

I asked him what he thought about the raising of the drivign age to 16.

He recons that it should be raised to 21.

I asked him why?

He says that his kids are so hooked on superfast driving and crashing video games that he is terrified what they will not be able to distinguish between fantacy and reality in a real car.

Just anoter point of view that I had not considered.

Hopefully the driving test would prevent such people from passing.

I'm hooked on those games too, have been for years. Real life is diffirent. I've played GTA, doesnt mean im gonna go round shooting people and starting gang wars

I think most people can quite easily distinguish between video games and reality!

Driving a real car fast around a racetrack is heaps easier

**YellowDog** · 5th March 2010, 05:00

I like GTA too

**Tink** · 5th March 2010, 05:21

Without reading the WHOLE thread.... put them all in cars that have no power... .like a 250cc motorbike,... they should not legally be allowed to own a high powered car till there 40... you know the age when we all want something.... and can afford it, and are going thru a mid life crisis. But in reality .... I am sick of idiots in cars or bikes that can't shave or reach the pedals that overtake me doing 20km plus over the 110km police catchment. Putting the age up is not the answer, but a start. I started driving at 16 on a full licence... in the country... on the motorways, with a english intructor, touch wood no accidents.

**JimO** · 5th March 2010, 08:56

Originally Posted by Rocketgal68

Without reading the WHOLE thread.... put them all in cars that have no power... .like a 250cc motorbike,... they should not legally be allowed to own a high powered car till there 40... you know the age when we all want something.... and can afford it, and are going thru a mid life crisis. But in reality .... I am sick of idiots in cars or bikes that can't shave or reach the pedals that overtake me doing 20km plus over the 110km police catchment. Putting the age up is not the answer, but a start. I started driving at 16 on a full licence... in the country... on the motorways, with a english intructor, touch wood no accidents.

well there is 250s then there is 250s

**Ixion** · 5th March 2010, 09:27

Originally Posted by jimjim

well there is 250s then there is 250s

Yes, but the only two stroke car is the Trabant !

**Swoop** · 5th March 2010, 11:27

Originally Posted by peasea

... I insisted on professional training so that I didn't pass on my bad habits. (Should I have any, that is.) Professionally run courses should be compulsory along with Defensive Driving etc.

This scares me in some ways. I have seen MANY instances where the driving school car is sitting in the centre lane of the motorway, dawdling along with the student driving.
Do they not teach "Keep left" any more?

It appears as if some driving instructors are passing on their bad habits as well.

**EJK** · 5th March 2010, 11:32

18 seems alright. Just in time for teritary education/ apprenticeship/ or internship.

**YellowDog** · 5th March 2010, 16:01

Originally Posted by EJK

18 seems alright. Just in time for teritary education/ apprenticeship/ or internship.

18 is the legal age of full responsibility as an adult in the eyes of the law.

Sort of makes sense!

**peasea** · 5th March 2010, 17:49

Originally Posted by Swoop

This scares me in some ways. I have seen MANY instances where the driving school car is sitting in the centre lane of the motorway, dawdling along with the student driving.
Do they not teach "Keep left" any more?

It appears as if some driving instructors are passing on their bad habits as well.

That IS scary. However, from the feedback my daughter gave me about the things she was being taught I thought she must have had a good instructor. Some training is surely better than none though., considering the instructors MUST be at a certain (respectable) level to be in their chosen field.