By Amanda Epstein
In a city like Miami it is impossible to maneuver around efficiently without a car. The long distances, sporadic bus stops and inconvenient routes that end short of popular destinations all make mobility and independence painfully difficult for teenagers.
Current Florida laws allow 15-year-olds a driving permit and 16-year-olds a restricted license. While 16 might be a young age to handle the responsibility that independent driving entails, only responsibility itself will teach kids how to become competent, mature adults. Plus, learning how to drive at a younger age will, with the the proper instruction, make better drivers for the future. If it is easier to learn something when you’re young, would this reasoning not apply to driving?
A younger driving age isn’t only beneficial to teenagers. Due to cautious parents who distrust the public transportation system and lazy children who refuse to take the bus, parents are too often forced to become personal chauffeurs for their kids.
Immature and irresponsible people can be found at all ages. Why should we prevent all the responsible 15 and 16-year-olds from having the privilege of driving, when we let irresponsible 21-year-olds, for instance, drive?
Over the past five years there have been approximately 16,342 deaths in Florida related to drunk driving, and in comparison, only 3,143 related to inexperienced drivers, according to the Florida Highway Patrol Agency. When a teen first begins driving, he is recommended to have as few distractions as possible in the car. As he progresses in experience, he is able to handle more and more. However, the thrill of drinking that comes legally at the age of 21 provides ample distraction to divert one’s attention from the road.
Who’s to say, then, that we should prevent teenagers from driving, and not older people who, for example, have access to alcohol? No one.
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