Minimum Driving Age

The issue of the minimum appropriate driving age provokes controversy between those opposed to allowing teenagers younger than 18 and those who believe that there is no justification for depriving younger teenagers of the opportunities for which driving privileges are so often necessary. Currently, the minimum driving age in varies from state to state, as do the rues and distinctions about the extent of those privileges. For example, in Georgia, 15-year-olds are eligible for full driving privileges; meanwhile, states such as New York allow learner's permits at the age of 16 and only limited-privilege licenses at the age of 17.

The Argument for Higher Age Limits

The principal argument for maintaining a higher minimum driving age (i.e. 18) is that the youngest drivers are responsible for a disproportionately high number of vehicular accidents and that much of the reason is directly a function of age-related levels of...
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