Personally I think it should be raised to 18

Don't forget to take they're cell phones away also when they are driving. The law should not allow people to drive and talk on the phone at the same time but lets at least start with the kids.

The government should not be able to tell people not to use thier cell phones in a car. It should be a common sense decision. Keep the government out of our lives! SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

Once again, government want to write laws to punish everyone for the stupidity of a few.

What about the kid who doesn't use his cell phone, and has a better reaction rate and vision than most of the local citizens?

Parents need to be at the forefront.

Where are all these little young people getting these vehicles to get killed or have accidents in? Got the license at sixteen, 1953, rented vehicle for test, my money. Drove my first real vehicles in 1955, all military stuff, including Tanks, overseas. 1956, 57, A Nash , A Buick, A 49 Ford, bought them all myself, learned about and bought insurance with the first vehicle, the Nash. Didn't need no parents babysitting me, I had 2 tons of steel, that was my responsibilities. Don't pass the buck to my parents, I was racing, legally in Kansas, in 1956, did not have to call Mommy and Daddy. What can I tell you, treat a child like a child, they will drive, like a child, Oh, MAKE SURE YOU BUY FOR THEM AND PAY FOR IT, A CELL PHONE!!!!!! Then tell the law about their sad accidents.

Raising the driving age means more driving for parents who just don't have the time.

Why not try more driver education first?

Michigan changed their laws to some of the toughest in the country several years ago after their teen driver death rate climbed dramatically.

In Michigan, you can still get a driver license at 16, but you can only drive with a licensed parent or legal guardian until you're 18. At 18, you can drive by yourself, but if you get into an accident that is your fault or get a moving violation of 3 points or more, you go back to having to drive with a licensed parent or guardian until you're 21. And, at any time after getting your license at 16, if you get a DUI, you lose your license until you're 21.

Kinda on the tough side, but I see some validity in what they're trying to do.

Re: Post #6 - It doesn't necessarily mean parents would have to drive more. It would just mean that teens would have to get a little more creative about how they get around. Walking is always a viable option, as is riding a bike. Or, if it's too far to do either one of those, there is plenty of good, reliable public transportation in Lee and Collier Counties.

Driving is not a "right", as is mentioned in the article. It is a priviledge. And, the second teens forget that (or the second parents let them forget it), is when the problems begin.

Something we saw in England last year I thought was good. For the first year after getting a license, the driver's car had a license plate had a big "L" for "Learner" on it. As we understood it, this was regardless of age.

Here is an interesting stat;

According to American Family Insurance the most accident claims are;
#1 Driver under 25 driving over 65 mph

#2 Driver over 65 driving under 25 mph

Re: Post #11 - That is interesting.

I've been a proponent for a long time that once you reach age 65, a driver license must be renewed at a minimum every other year (to include vision and hearing tests), rather than the standard length of time for younger drivers.

Conversely, I've also been a proponent of raising the minimum driving age and requiring more time as a "probationary" driver before getting a permanent license, as well.

If we raise the age requirement for a drivers license, then we should, also, mandate eye exams and driver's testing for anyone over 70 years of age. Test them every 4 years. Our roads would be much safer as a result... take it from this driver who helplessly watched a woman in her 80's, her head just barely above the steering wheel, back right into my car at Publix while I stood their with my grocery cart yelling at her to stop. After she hit my car, she tried to drive off as if nothing happened.... my car could have been a pedestrian; think about it.

WOW # 14 is a very bitter person, and comments like that scare the heck out of me. I know many very responsible teen drivers, but it is easier to punish the majority, saves time. People seem to forget that they were 16 once, and I am sure all adults now were perfect 16 year old drivers. Hipocracy at its best.

As a parent and as someone that started driving at the age of 16, i think it is too young to drive. that being said, i think there are more accidents with 16yr olds because, it is the first year of driving. if it is changed to 17, the same numbers will apply to age 17.
i see the issue of talking and texting on the phones but that is also older people as well.
i had to go to a mandatory semester of driver's ed and had to pass, in order to get my license.

Leave the age at 16 but make the old people get annual DOT physicals which should include a list of medications. I see so many spaced out old people it is scary, yes it is an old argument, that is what makes it good. Less overly medicated old people driving makes our roads safer.

I believe it's called natural selection.

Just like the slowest gazzel gets eaten by the lion...

...so the most under qualified, incapable, and distracted (cell phones) drivers will be removed from the herd.

It's the Circle of Life.

Cars kill people?

BAN ALL THE CARS!!

I love that so many people forget that they were young once too. I'm 18 and I've never been involved in an accident and I've never gotten a ticket or have been pulled over. To group anyone under the age of 21 and label them as bad drivers is ignorant. I know people my age who are horrible drivers but their parents don't do anything about it. My mom told me that she would help me get a car but if I messed up it was on me and I would have to take care of it on my own. I know that some people have brought up the idea that we should walk but what about all of the young people who are killed in hit and run accidents due to drunk drivers well over the age of 21. Now, I'm sure that some of you are going to say that young people shouldn't be out late at night when drunk drivers are on the roads. My cousin was hit by a drunk driver at 10:30 in the morning. I think that the age limit should remain the same but after the driver has proven to be unfit behind the wheel that they should be taken off the road. I understand that in some cases it only takes one time to screw up, but if the consequences are more severe than I feel that EVERYONE will drive safer.

Hang out in a high school parking lot and see the lack of maturity behind the wheel. Speeding thru pkg lots, coming in on 2 wheels. I almost got hit by a kid pulling in on two wheels the other morning at Barron Collier.

Raise it to 18. Keep the roads safe.

Of course, raise the age to 18. There's at least 3 times more cars on the roads these days anyway since the 50's, 60's and 70's and less cars on the road is always good. Those school buses have plenty of space available. But to think that the kids will be safer riding bikes or walking around need to remember Florida is one of the most dangerous places in the country for bikers and pedestrians and until decent mass transit is available along with decent pathways for non-motorized travel, safety will not be maximized.

I agree, raise it to 18.

Whoo! grumpy Rock?

I got my license at 16, paid for my own car, helped pay for the insurance, and fixed/maintained my vehicle as necessary. I also had a job, and had to take on a second job to bust my a** through college.

You up the driving age to 18, then the accident rate for 18 year olds will go up. Like number 11 pointed out, the old people are just as dangerous ad the teenagers. I was in the Publix parking lot the other day and this old lady in her Cadillac backed out, right into my shopping cart and me and then had the gall to get out and start yelling at me for the scratches on her bumper.

Just read a story on CNN about a 90 year old lady in Miami who drove her new car into a pole killing herself and almost killing her son! She thought the break pedal was the gas. I looked in the news and saw no stories of any teen drivers killing anybody today! Lets keep track.

P.S. Rockford you are a pathetic old person. I grew up here dealing with crumudgeons like you. Scroodge is about all I can say.

Good points.

Take a minute and think,
how many times have you had a driving problem with a teenager and how many times you had a problem with an elderly driver?

For me, in Naples, it's at least 20 to 1 elderly drivers more then kids.

Caliban, so your standard for keeping track will be news coverage of accidents? Glad the insurance companies keep better track of stats than that. News will cover the unusual or sensational.

And for all who think "elderly" is 65 or older, I suppose you will be there to take your parents and grandparents around when they grow soooo old? LOL, like your age will never progress?

On my grandparents' farm we didn't need a license to drive...all we needed to do was to be able to reach the pedals. I was tall, so I got to drive before my older brother. ...and about that still in the back barn...LS, well better than a brewski.

(only kidding folks, no revenuers need investigate my gramps)

I say instead of raising the minimum they need to make a maximum. My neighbor is so old she can barely see or walk, let alone remember where she is. Yet she just got her new license in the mail.
They need to make people retake the test every so many years. Renewing a license by mail is a joke and endangers everyone.

Nplschick, hang out in a church parking lot and watch all the olds ones almost try to kill themselves getting out of the parking lot for a Perkin's/IHOP/some other old-people hang-out. It is just about on par with the H.S. parking lot.

I guess then we should ban them all. Take away all driving rights. Hell, in that case maybe all licenses should be revoked and we should all just walk from point A to point B.