Play it Safe: Drive at 18

As Maryland considers increasing the minimum driving age to 18, parents and teens around the country have begun to ponder the issue. For those over 18, the argument is easy. If teenagers are allowed to vote and serve their country at 18, that should be the age they learn to drive. But for those under 18, the reasons for keeping the driving age at 16 seem obvious, too.

It’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of the freedom that comes with being handed the keys to your very first car. But hindsight is 20-20, and in this situation, older really is better. A 2005 study from the National Institutes of Health found that 16-year-old brains are far from fully developed in the areas in charge of impulse control. This is also evidenced in reports from the National Highway Traffic Administration that found that 16-year-old drivers are three times as likely to get in a crash as 17-year-old drivers.

Yearning for the freedom to have your own car and be able to do what you want when you want is completely understandable; freedom plays a key factor in everyone’s happiness. But that doesn’t mean that it’s right. As teenagers, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the moment. Whether that comes from a text message from a friend or some exclamation from a friend, that excitement can prove extremely distracting on the road.

At 16, our friends mean everything to us. They’re the people we listen to when a tough decision needs to be made, the ones we call late at night when mom is being completely unreasonable and they’re the people who play a huge roll in shaping who we ultimately become. But nothing can shape your life at 16 like losing a friend. And when their death is the result of a decision we or one of our friends made, it can be absolutely devastating. So it’s time to save teenagers from the pain and danger of driving too young.

One of the key arguments for keeping the driving age at 16 is that parents need teenagers to be able to get themselves to school and work. Obviously, it’d be great if everyone could drive. But what is more important, having the freedom that comes with teenagers being able to drive or seeing teenagers make it to adulthood unharmed? There are many situations where one option is more convenient than others, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s right.

Teens and their parents are always going to butt-heads, but this is one situation where the answer is obvious. Parents, it’s time to make sure your kids are safe. And kids, it’s time to recognize that just because you want something doesn’t mean that it’s in your best interest. Keep your friends safe. Keep yourselves safe. Wait until 18 to get your license.