At the age of 16, Pennsylvania allows citizens to get their learners permits. After 50 hours of supervised driving by a licensed guardian over the age of 18, students can take their driver’s tests. If they fail the driver’s tests, they can retake the test in seven days with a $35 payment. Many other states have a lower driving age with fewer preliminary cautions. Pennsylvania should lower the permit age to 15 so that people can have their license before their sixteenth birthday, and they can legally drive without a guardian.
In the state of Idaho, citizens can get their learner’s permit at 14 and have their license at the age of 16. In Pennsylvania, citizens will not have their full license until they are 17. Idaho in 2012 had zero teenage driver fatalities, while in 2012 Pennsylvania had 6. Just because Pennsylvania citizens are one year older than Idaho drivers does not make them any better. This even shows that Idaho teenage drivers are better. Also if Pennsylvania citizens could get their permit on their fifteenth birthday then that would allow them to have more practice time.
Teenagers have many responsibilities. Many students have after school commitments, such as; sports practice, band, doctor’s appointments and various other after school clubs. It would be a lot easier if students could drive themselves home rather than having their parents adjust their work schedule, because many times it isn’t possible for their schedules to be changed. Ninth graders especially have growing responsibility. Since this is their first year of high school, they gain many new responsibilities. Since the ninth graders are still considered high schoolers some practice with the high school; it can be hard to have to try and keep up with the tenth and eleventh graders because they all seem to be traveling together, while the ninth graders are in a completely separate building. If students could drive by their ninth grade year, it would be a lot easier to keep up with the other high schoolers.
The state of Pennsylvania should lower the driving age, so that students can get their license by their sixteenth birthday. By the age of 15, people have matured and should be able to have the responsibility of driving. Many other states allow people to get their permit’s when they are fourteen or fifteen. If Pennsylvania would allow citizens to get their permits when they are fifteen then that could offer drivers more experience.
WILLIAM M. • May 15, 2014 at 6:49 pm
I disagree most of you are not mature enough to drive a car. Most of you would get in an accident the first time you get in an accident. You are not mature enough believe it or not
LUKE U. • May 15, 2014 at 6:47 pm
I like the new driving age, i hope they will do it
TYLER S. • May 15, 2014 at 1:21 pm
I disagree I think kids need to mature before they get the responsibility to drive.
KAYBIA D. • May 13, 2014 at 4:24 pm
I agree with this.
BRITTNEY F. • May 13, 2014 at 1:01 pm
I don’t agree with this article, people these days are too immature.
HAYDEN T. • May 9, 2014 at 4:43 pm
I think they should keep it the same because by that time everyone is mature
LINDSAY H. • May 8, 2014 at 4:11 am
I totally agree with this!
LAKIN S. • May 2, 2014 at 11:26 pm
the legal age for driving should be at 18 because, adults are more mature then teenagers( which is my point.)
DYLAN I. • Apr 30, 2014 at 7:40 pm
This is true and needs to be done
SETH F. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:44 pm
this is all true.Driving rules in Pennsylvania are too strict. they need to lower it to 15, or maybe even 14! anyone who agrees with any of my comments, be sure to reply to me! I want to see those replies go up to well over 20!
DRAVEN K. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:41 pm
I agree with this article because parents shouldn’t have to change their schedule cause of the driving age is 16 it should be a little younger age to drive like 15 an I think that will save gas for parents as well.
SETH F. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:40 pm
Also, it would be nice to drive weeks after you turn 16.If you get a car for your sixteenth birthday, you don’t want to wait like 4 months to get a permit.Who does want to wait?I
JARRETT K. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:39 pm
I agree with have a driving license before your sixteenth birthday because if you wanted to go to the mall you wouldn’t have to ask your parents because you will already have your driving license so you will be able to drive yourself and maybe take a friend with you to the mall so you aren’t always bugging your parents. But I also disagree because what if you have a short extensive span and your not paying attention to the road and there is a collision and someone or even you get severely injured and have to go to the hospital and people regret it because they will not be able to drive because of the collision they got in into and because of the severe injuries.
Leah Dreibelbis • May 1, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Thank you for the comment Jarrett! I can definitely see both sides of the argument. Many people do have short attention spans, but not only 14 and 15 year old have this. Many adults also have short attention spans and can become distracted easily.
MATTHEW L. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:38 pm
I disagree even though it would be cool to drive because it would be dangerous for teens under 16 to be driving
JULIET B. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:36 pm
I think there can be advantages and disadvantages to changing the age for driving, if you put a fifteen year old car on there own just because of a licence they could go to far I mean that’s when most of the drug temptations start. The advantage is you wont have to wait in the cold or in the hot for your parents to come and you will become more responsible. The disadvantage of this is money, kids will have to start working to pay for the car or beg their parents for it.
EMILY B. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:36 pm
I agree with this amazingly written article.(my English teacher would be proud)I personally would love to have my drivers permit at the age of 15. Freedom for me! WOO HOO!!! Anyways, it shows teenagers what being a teenager is about:Becoming mature, and living your life to it’s fullest with no regrets. So yes, I definitely agree.
Leah Dreibelbis • Apr 30, 2014 at 2:53 pm
Thanks for the comment Emily!
BOYD D. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:35 pm
I agree with this article we should be able by at least age of 15 because all we have to do is get into it so there won’t be any more accidents even though we are younger. Also I want my Lamborghini Aventador.
KIERA C. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:34 pm
I think the learning permit age should be 14 like Idahos.I think teens need more independence
NIKALI C. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:34 pm
i think 15 year olds should be able to get there permit because everyone knows theres a first time for everything
KYRAH M. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:33 pm
I completely disagree. Some teenagers nowadays cannot handle the responsibility. I don’t think others realize that once you’re on the road, you’re not putting your OWN life at risk. You’re putting yours AND others’ at risk. Regardless of what other states do, it makes sense that the state of Pennsylvania should NOT lower the age for driving. It would be disastrous.
HANNAH L. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:33 pm
I think it’s a good idea. It’s a good idea because if your parents work and can’t get your schedule changed then you can just drive to the place that you need to go with out your parents help. Also you would have to make sure you are careful when you drive in case we are allowed to start driving at the age of 15. Many people think we should get our licenses but you would have to be very careful if the law is passed. I hope it is do you?
TAYLOR F. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:32 pm
I do agree with this article.
That you should be 15 to get your permit and then at 16 get your drivings license.
NOAH C. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:32 pm
I dont agree with this because what is the sense in driving when you are 14 you wont even a have a car to drive let alone places you need to go in a car.
KADIN L. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:31 pm
i agree with the article because u may miss the bus and your mom + dad can’t drive u to school and u can miss the bus because of after school clubs so u can just drive 2 school and back
SETH F. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:31 pm
I agree that you should get your permit at 15 so that you can get your licence by the time you are 16.It is not fair that other countries can get their permits by 14 or 15.I don’t see why we can’t do the same.
ALYSSA N. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:30 pm
I agree with the new driving age. Student could drive themselves instead of parents adjusting their work schedules.
BRIAN R. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:30 pm
I agree as well,but it is really dumb that you can’t get your license after you pass the test.
MATTHEW L. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:29 pm
I agree because im gonna be getting myself a Bugatti. 😀
Leah Dreibelbis • Apr 30, 2014 at 2:51 pm
are you going to wake up in a new bugatti?
KIERA C. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:29 pm
I Think the learners permit age should 14 like Idaho because i think teens need more independence.
BRENDEN P. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:28 pm
I think that, this is a good idea because in case of kids needing something they don’t have to have their parents get it for them
BOYD D. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:26 pm
I agree this with article we should be able by at least age of 15 thank you
BRIAN R. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:24 pm
I agree as well
TRENTON W. • Apr 29, 2014 at 4:14 pm
i agree with this article
KAHRAE F. • Apr 29, 2014 at 4:10 pm
i agree with this
ALEXANDER C. • Apr 29, 2014 at 4:07 pm
I think that changing it would be a great idea, and it would help parents with work schedules.
JOSEPH M. • Apr 29, 2014 at 2:52 pm
I agree that Pennsylvania should lower the driving age to 15 so students get practice with driving before taking the test.
BOYD D. • Apr 29, 2014 at 6:40 pm
hi joey i agree with you.
BRADEN M. • Apr 29, 2014 at 2:51 pm
I think that if we changed this law, we could make life much easier and fun. I could imagine having my drivers license early, and I think it would give me a chance to be more social. Also it would save my parents a lot of time running me around. Additionally, we could start learning how to manage money with gas prices being so high! There are downfalls to this but I think the benefits far overcome them.
CORIHNA H. • Apr 29, 2014 at 1:54 pm
Changing this law would not only be beneficial to young drivers, but to parents with little time in their schedule.:)
ELAINA S. • Apr 29, 2014 at 1:54 pm
This could be a good idea, but there also could be more accidents. The rate of accidents could increase, and that’s not good. Some kids think you only live once (YOLO), which you do but you also are only a certain age once so kids think that if they are 15 they can do certain things to show off, or be cool.
I can see both ways but i think its better to be older, if your son or daughter gets hurt they are young and you don’t want that.
DESIREE D. • Apr 29, 2014 at 1:49 pm
I can’t understand that a 14 year old in Idaho can have their permit but I do understand a 15 year old getting a permit. Us 14 year olds aren’t fully developed and we do not have very good hand-eye coordination.
NATHAN B. • Apr 29, 2014 at 1:48 pm
People these days aren’t mature enough. They shouldn’t lower the age. Teenagers already scare people enough by their bad driving habits. Even though some are mature we shouldn’t make exceptions.
Leah Dreibelbis • Apr 30, 2014 at 2:48 pm
Well how come students are able to have jobs at 15? Having a job requires maturity.
JULIA D. • Apr 29, 2014 at 1:48 pm
i totally agree with this article!! it was so fun to read, i enjoyed it.
TAKERA J. • Apr 29, 2014 at 1:46 pm
True, younger students could develop new responsibilities, but people driving at such a young age could be extremely dangerous to the people around them. I feel that students should be required to be at least 16 before they can be on the road.
ISAIAH B. • Apr 29, 2014 at 1:43 pm
i agree would give us more practice by the time we are 16 and we will be all ready. Also it would help are parents when we have after school activities.
MOLLY P. • Apr 29, 2014 at 1:41 pm
I strongly agree with the statement that a 15 year old should have their driving permit.
JACOB H. • Apr 29, 2014 at 1:40 pm
I think they should lower the age limit to drive.
JAMES L. • Apr 29, 2014 at 12:29 pm
I agree with this statement so I can drive my brothers, sister, and I to school instead of my mom.
JON O. • Apr 29, 2014 at 12:28 pm
i agree to get a permit when i am 15
DARRIEN K. • Apr 29, 2014 at 12:27 pm
I agree with this
DYLAN C. • Apr 29, 2014 at 12:22 pm
I like the new driving age