I feel that the driving age in Illinois should be raised.
The current driving age is 16.
I think it should be 18 for many reasons.
I am 14 years old.
In two more years I will be able to drive.
This seems like a very short time.
And I am very excited.
But I know some people who are not responsible enough to take control of a vehicle.
A lot of 16-year-olds do things that would not be parent-approved.
Such things include drugs and drinking.
These people also have a license.
I do not believe this is right.
People applying for licenses must take a driving test.
If they pass the test, they get their licenses.
Parents can hold out on letting their teenager drive if they don’t believe their child is responsible enough.
But parents don’t always know what is going on in their child’s life.
If their child drinks and one night decides to get into their brand-new car and drive home with a couple of friends, they are putting themselves and their friends in terrible danger.
When one consumes an alcoholic beverage, senses are slowed and a person may make judgments he or she would not necessarily make while driving sober.
Sixteen-year-olds are neither mentally nor physically mature enough to take full responsibility for their actions if they happen to get into an accident.
By raising the driving age to 18, we will not only be preventing accidents.
We will be saving lives.
