Sep 9, 2008 7:27 pm US/Eastern
Insurance Think Tank Wants Driving Age Raised
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Government statistics show that the biggest killer of teenagers is automobile accidents.
WJZ
Government statistics show that the biggest killer of teenagers is automobile accidents. With that in mind, an insurance think tank is recommending a solution.
But as
Mike Schuh reports, it's not an entirely popular one.
Only 14% of our fellow drivers are teens but they account for 30% of the total cost of car crashes. An insurance think tank wants to lower that figure by raising the minimum age to get behind the wheel.
They say 18 is when Europeans are able to drive and their crash statistics are lower.
"Teenagers don't seem to get it. They think they're invincible. They think they're immortal," said Patrick Francis with Roland Park Driving School.
Francis supports the move.
"Teenagers have four times as many accidents as people over 21," he said. "Number one killer of teens is teens in cars. The number two isn't even close. It's the number one killer of teenagers."
Outside Kenwood High in Essex, one parent supports such a change.
"It would be a lot less worry. I wouldn't want my 16-year-old driving. A bunch of nuts out there," said Terry Moore, who has a 13-year-old daughter.
Not all parents support the higher age. With busy schedules, some need their kids to drive. And, quite predictably, there's another group not too thrilled by this idea.
"I think they should leave it," said teen Rebecca Romero.
At 17, Rachel Carter says her first accident wasn't her fault.
"You get more experience if you start driving at 16, than if you start driving at 18," she said.
No legislator has proposed such a law in Maryland. The insurance industry is merely trying to get the idea rolling.
In Maryland, beginning drivers can't drive after 11 at night and can't have other teens in the car. More responsibilities are given as they grow more experienced.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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