The Age of Responsibility
Driving had become an imperative, dramatic part of every modernized country, especially America. In order to minimize damage and maximize efficiency, many states have instated a wide variety of age restricting driving laws. However, many other states have lagged behind in this effort. For example, states such as Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Florida have given licensing procedures to teenagers of fifteen years of age and full licenses to sixteen year olds. Having allowed young teens to drive, however, poses many risks and have set a terrible example for highly populated states, such as New Jersey. Teenagers are generally impulsive, immature, and rash - causing them to not always think in advance of their actions. Often, they text while driving or test their
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Texting distracts drivers from focusing on the road for a short period of time. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (September 09, 2007) "Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves." The actual danger is much worse; it is impossible to keep one's eyes on a phone and the road. Essentially, one is blind. In Maryland, the U.S. Department of transportation conducted a driving test with drivers who were asked to text and drive around cones with inflated dolls as people. Normally, they passed fine, but, while texting and driving, they completely failed. Afterwards, the drivers said, "I had thought I could text and drive, but, after the results showed up, I realized just how impossible that would be." Although the results apply to experienced drivers, teenager's inexperience amplify the problem. Additionally, approximately fifty percent of teenagers driver while texting. Through increasing age requirements, teenage drivers are given more time to mature. As a result, they will understand the risks and, more likely, drive