What is the exact age for young americans to have mature responsibilities such as driving, voting, drinking, etc.? It’s important that lawmakers make decisions about the age of responsibility seriously. Studies show that young people who drink are more likely to be the victims of violent crime, to be involved in alcohol-related traffic accidents, develop alcohol problems in later life or commit suicide. How did lawmakers decide the age of responsibility and does it still apply to today’s society? Logic says that there is not a definite age when every teen or young adult is mature and capable of these responsibilities, but at some point we have to decide when it’s the right time to allow the average teen and young adult to take on bigger responsibilities. Everyday teen drivers get behind the wheel of a several thousand pound vehicle, and every four years new eighteen year olds vote for a new president of the United States. How would allowing these teens to drink alcohol affect either of these big responsibilities? When is a person ready to drive, vote or drink alcoholic drinks? New studies have been done that talk about brain growth in teens and young adults in their twenties that say the brain is still growing. They say a teens mind is very alert, but other times they are emotional and undisciplined. Statistics …show more content…
The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16-19-year-olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash. If teenagers were able to drink and drive at 16 years old, would traffic accidents and deaths go up or down? Well according to Ted Gregory “Researchers for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety say statistics back up the position that raising the driving age makes sense and would save