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Time to Raise Driving Age?

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 9, 2008 8:06 PM CDT

(Newser) – Is 16 too young to drive? A safety group today began a push to encourage states to follow the lead of Japan, China, Russia, and most of Europe by raising the legal age to 18, the Detroit Free Press reports. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for youths aged 15 to 20, and the numbers have been rising over the last decade.

It’s “a tough sell, but it’s an important enough issue to challenge the silence and at least consider changing the age at which we allow teenagers to get their licenses to drive,” said an official from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The group planned to release its report at a conference of the Governors Highway Safety Association.

A tow truck removes the remnants of an accident. (AP Photo)

A funeral for a victim of an automobile accident. (Getty Images)

Two crashed cars. (Getty Images)

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More Newser Stories

Brits Plan to Boost Speed Limit to 80 MPH

Limit of 70 is stifling economy, government argues

Driver Gets DWI After 11-Mile Ride Sans Tire

Oh, and he's been unlicensed since 1977. And couldn't keep right

Dead Teens' Final Texts Star in New Ad Campaign

Campaign pushes to stop texting while behind the wheel

Teens Cop to Texting and Driving—But Say Dad's Worse

No age limit for bad behavior behind wheel

950 Tries Later, Woman Passes Driving Test

Now all South Korean has to do is pass the physical test

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Time to Raise Driving Age?

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

driving • highways • driver's license • teenage drivers • teenager • automobile • Insurance Institute of Highway Safety

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Brits Plan to Boost Speed Limit to 80 MPH

Limit of 70 is stifling economy, government argues

Driver Gets DWI After 11-Mile Ride Sans Tire

Oh, and he's been unlicensed since 1977. And couldn't keep right

Dead Teens' Final Texts Star in New Ad Campaign

Campaign pushes to stop texting while behind the wheel

Teens Cop to Texting and Driving—But Say Dad's Worse

No age limit for bad behavior behind wheel

950 Tries Later, Woman Passes Driving Test

Now all South Korean has to do is pass the physical test

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?