Pros and Cons of Raising the Driving Age

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Teen driver with one hand on the wheel and a phone in the other hand.

Image: Fabio Principe, iStock

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) says drivers ages 16–24 are distracted by devices at higher rates than others.1 In fact, 7.7% of drivers in this age group were seen visibly manipulating handheld devices while driving in 2023—the highest since the NHTSA started tracking the trend in 2005. This pattern raises serious concerns about safety behind the wheel and strengthens some data-based arguments for raising the minimum driving age.

Arguments for raising the driving age

1. It could reduce fatal crashes

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the rate of fatal crashes per mile driven is nearly three times higher for teens aged 16 to 19 than it is for drivers over the age of 20. Raising the driving age to 18 could help lower the overall rate of fatal crashes—especially considering that younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes. The CDC reports that drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 are more likely to be distracted behind the wheel than older drivers. Nearly 1 in 10 of these younger drivers were distracted at the time of a crash.2

2. It could make teens more active

Removing the option to drive could cause more teens to walk, ride bikes, or use other active options to get places. This could cut back on teenage obesity levels by providing more opportunities for exercise.

3. 18-year-olds are more emotionally mature than 16-year-olds

Emotional maturity increases as we age, and it's thought that 18-year-olds are more likely to make smart decisions without giving in to peer pressure than 16-year-olds. The ability to resist distractions—especially device-related ones—could be stronger in older teens, reducing risky behaviors like texting or scrolling while driving.

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Arguments against raising the driving age

Here are two common arguments in favor of keeping things the same.

1. It would limit transportation options for teens

Teens may not be as physically active as they should be, but they're definitely busy. School, extracurricular activities, jobs, and social events usually require some form of transportation.

If teens can't drive themselves, the responsibility for transportation often falls to their parents—who may not have the time or ability—or to public transit, which may not be readily available. And with most American cities built with drivers in mind, walking or biking long distances may be neither practical nor safe.

All in all, fewer transportation options could limit the opportunities kids have for personal growth at a critical age.

2. Teen car crash stats would skew toward the new minimum age

The argument here is that the higher crash rates for 16- and 17-year-olds may simply be because they are new to driving and lack experience. Delaying the start of driving may delay that learning and shift the crash rates more toward the 18- and 19-year-olds.

Tools to help teens to become safe drivers

Whichever side of the argument you fall on, we encourage you to stay invested in your child’s safety as they learn to drive.

Consider these gadgets to keep them accountable: 

  • A vehicle gps tracker
  • A dash cam 
  • A driving safety app like Life360
  • If your teen has an iPhone or Apple Watch, make sure Crash Detection is active (it should be by default). It will call for help automatically, even if your child is unable to do so.
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NHTSA also recommends enabling a "Driver Mode" on smartphones—similar to "Airplane Mode"—and keeping phones out of sight and out of reach to reduce temptation. A little tech and a lot of guidance can go a long way in keeping teen drivers safe.


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Related pages on SafeWise

Sources

  1. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), "Driver Electronic Device Use in 2023." November 2024. Accessed March 26, 2025. 
  2. CDC, "Distracted Driving Risk Factors." April 2024. Accessed March 26, 2025. 

Disclaimers

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Cathy Habas
Written by
With over eight years of experience as a content writer, Cathy has a knack for untangling complex information. Her natural curiosity and ability to empathize help Cathy offer insightful, friendly advice. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident about a purchase, project, or topic. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She is a certified Safe Sleep Ambassador and has contributed to sites like Safety.com, Reviews.com, Hunker, and Thumbtack. Cathy’s pride and joy is her Appaloosa “Chacos.” She also likes to crochet while watching stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.

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