Driver's licenses

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Curious.  I say Same as current (16).

[Frodo]

18 should be the new minimum age -until then teenagers should not be driving any vehicle unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, and should not have any passengers except for their parent or guardian until they're at least 21 years old. 

[Jake]

Don't be dumb. I'll say 15 with the current standards, though a further test should be required at 18.

[bullmoose88]

I'd agree with 18....though jake's plan doesn't seem unreasonable.

What really needs to be done, in conjunction with restrictions on youth...is more restrictions/oversight/review of elderly drivers.

[John Dibble]

15 for learner's permit, 16 for license with restrictions, and 18 with no restrictions - basically the way Georgia does it.

[dazzleman]

I don't see a particular reason to change the driving age.  Whatever the driving age is will seem too young to some people.  But experience has to start somewhere.

I think the road tests in general should be harder, and that penalties for real safety violations (as opposed to tickets for violating speed limits that are artificially low) should be a lot harsher.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

15 current standards

[jerusalemcar5]

I think the road tests in general should be harder, and that penalties for real safety violations (as opposed to tickets for violating speed limits that are artificially low) should be a lot harsher.

^^I completely agree.  And for this, I say with a strict road test, anybody able to pass it should be able to drive.

If you can pass a road test and competently drive with no violations, what the hell does your age have to do with it?

[Boris]

Current standard, but requiring more hours behind the wheel as a requirement to get a license. I could be wrong, but I believe that there is a pretty strong correlation between amount of experience and driver has and the probability if they're going to get in an accident. As a sixteen year old driver, I strongly oppose all attempts to raise the age to 18

[nini2287]

I'd say:

16-Learner's Permit
17-Unrestricted Driver's License with a harder test
Above 55:  Every 5 years-test
Above 70:  Every 2 years-test

I also say 2 DUIs or 2 major at-fault accidents in a 5 year span should result in a 6 month license suspension.  Another one after that:  2 year to life suspension depending on the nature of the offenses.

[jerusalemcar5]

I think the road tests in general should be harder, and that penalties for real safety violations (as opposed to tickets for violating speed limits that are artificially low) should be a lot harsher.

^^I completely agree.  And for this, I say with a strict road test, anybody able to pass it should be able to drive.

If you can pass a road test and competently drive with no violations, what the hell does your age have to do with it?

I thought I would add mandatory road test when you go to replace an expiring license.  And like I said before, make road tests stricter for this as well.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

I don't see what's wrong with having it at 16, and no higher.

For years, it was 16 in my state. And 16 used to mean 16. Which meant a full license.

The sharp increase in traffic fatalities among our young people happened after additional restrictions started being imposed.

However, I would like to see a federal law requiring states to revoke the driver's license of anyone guilty of bullying.

[MODU]

Current, though Virginia was thinking about 10-15 years ago to bump it up to 18.  

[YRABNNRM]

Making it any higher than 16 to get your first step would be insane.

[jerusalemcar5]

Alright someone refute this please!:

a)Much stricter road tests to replace the jokes we have now

b)Mandatory road tests throughout your life (intervals set appropriately)

c)Make it easier to suspend/revoke licenses for speeding, accidents, DWIs, running reds and other safety violations

d)Using these tough new standards, abolish the driving age and base someone's driving abiltiies on the person and thei mental capacities/qualifications instead of an arbitrary number

[7,052,770]

15.  Test every 5 years with EVERYONE

[Erc]

15.  Test every 5 years with EVERYONE

Then God help those who have forgotten how to parallel park.

[AkSaber]

I like Alaska's laws. 14 for a learner's permit, and 16 for the license.

[MODU]

b)Mandatory road tests throughout your life (intervals set appropriately)

I've been calling for this for years.  It's one thing to know and be tested on your driving when you are a teenager.  It is something totally different to be tested (both on paper and in the car) when you are an adult.  So many people forget the basics like "What do you do when the lights at the intersection are flashing" that it causes more accidents than running a stop sign around here.  I bet 10% of the adult population would fail the exam today after years of driving.

[7,052,770]

A few years ago, a stoplight was out, which means you're supposed to treat the intersection as a 4-way stop.  My dad did so, and some woman came up and hit him, and didn't even know the rule.  She tried to say that it was his fault because she was on the main street and pulled out in the front of him.  The thing is...she really thought she was right.  If she had been taking driving tests every few years throughout her life she'd've known that rule, not looked stupid to a cop, and not had to repair my dad's car, and cause a lot of inconvenience.

[Wakie]

15.  Test every 5 years with EVERYONE

Then God help those who have forgotten how to parallel park.

If you can't pass the test you shouldn't be on the road.  Forcing everyone to retake the test will

1) Force those who haven't learned the changes in the laws of the road to learn them.

2) Will take those who are now physically or mentally incapable of driving safely off the road.

3) Have the long term effect of lowering the insurance rates for EVERYONE (fewer accidents).

[John Dibble]

b)Mandatory road tests throughout your life (intervals set appropriately)

I've been calling for this for years.

Tell you what - I'll agree to it when you can drastically reduce the waiting time at most DMVs.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

18 should be the new minimum age -until then teenagers should not be driving any vehicle unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, and should not have any passengers except for their parent or guardian until they're at least 21 years old. 

Why?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

15 for learner's permit, 16 for license with restrictions, and 18 with no restrictions - basically the way Georgia does it.

MI too

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

15.  Test every 5 years with EVERYONE

One problem, in MI, drivers testers are required to fail a certain %--so that would inevitably mean failing perfectly fine drivers to fulfill the quota (this HAS happened), or we'd leave it up to the Secretary of Service (GOD HELP US ALL--it takes 5 hrs. just to get a pic. taken to GET your license.)