Pros and Cons of Raising the Driving Age

An ongoing topic of debate in the safety world has been whether the driving age should be raised. Typically, drivers need to be 16 or 17 to drive alone. There are some people, including politicians and safety experts, who want to raise the age to 18.

Potential teen drivers aren’t exactly thrilled with the idea, of course, but there are convincing arguments on both sides of the issue.

There are some data-based arguments to be made in favor of raising the minimum driving age.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the rate of fatal crashes per mile driven is nearly 3 times higher for teens aged 16 to 19 as it is for drivers over the age of 20.¹ It is thought that raising the driving age to 18 could help lower the overall rate of fatal crashes.

It is thought that removing the option to drive will 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.

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.

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

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

If the 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 transportation, which may not be readily available. And with most American cities being built with drivers in mind, walking or biking long distances may not be practical or safe either.

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

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

• How Do I Talk To My Teen About Driver Responsibility and Safety?
• What Are the Dangers of Texting and Driving?
• 5 Tips to Make You Safer on the Road
• Winter Driving Safety Tips
• Car Safety—Frequently Asked Questions