High accident rate
The most straight forward reason for driving age should be raised is that teenagers are most likely to cause an accident by being immature, inexperienced, speeding, drinking, and getting distracted. According to the report from Ministry of Transport, drivers in the 15-19 year age group are approximately two times more likely to be involved in fatal or injury crashes compare to the drivers in 20-24 year age group. The report says, “15-19 year-old drivers make up just 6 percent of all licensed car drivers. Yet, between 2008 and 2010, 15–19 year-old drivers accounted for 14 percent of all drivers involved in minor injury crashes, 14 percent of drivers in serious injury crashes, and 13 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes”
It is not only in New Zealand that younger driver tend to cause more accident, but also it has similar trends in United States. There are statistics showed that “over the 5000 teenagers die each year in car accident, 3000 of them didn’t have their seat belts on; fatality rate for teenagers compared to adults is 4 to 1.”
Therefore, by increase the driving age, it is very likely to reduce accident and number of death.
I agree with your post. It's good to see lots of evidence especially statistics one. Most of teenager minds are not able to link cause with effect and therefore are not mature enough to hold a drivers licence.
ReplyDeleteIt has been shown that a lot of youth are not aware of their actions and drink driving, by increasing this age, the number of car crashes should decrease:)
I don't think the age should be changed, but I do think that something should be done. Why not bring in specific classes into the NZ classrooms to teach and guide the newer drivers? They would benefit and learn if they are taught. I do like your use of stats and facts though.
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ReplyDeleteI feel the driving safety or not is really depends on the different personality.As my experience that driving on the road everyday, i have saw many of adult that not skillful for driving. some of them using talking on the phone, some of them trying to attract people by speeding up on queen st.
ReplyDeleteI think the best way to avoid the accident rate is the way that government restricts the road test as well as give people a good teaching.
But according to your links and explaination for sure that teenagers have more risk to happen the accident than adult. Thank you!