Colorado's new teen driving law

[markd79ta]

Colorado finally passed its new teen driving law that sets restrictions on passengers as well as sets a curfew. I would expect to see this type of law passed in many of the states across the country.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...889800,00.html

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...770808,00.html

[Disifer]

We've had a similar law in KY for about 7 years. 6 months for temporary license.
Not allowed to drive with a passenger unless someone 21 or older is riding as well. I remember it was 7 yrs because I had to wait 6 months for my license while my friend who was born 1 month earlier already had his license. Really hacked me off.

[wolfdogs]

wonder how they are going to enforce it?

[Steel2686]

Glad to see a state is stepping up and doing something. I know when I was 16, I shouldn't have been driving. I did some stupid things behind the wheel and can't believe I lived through them. I wasn't completely ready to drive safely until I was 18. I always thought (after I turned 18 of course) that 18 should be the legal driving age.

[markd79ta]

Glad to see a state is stepping up and doing something. I know when I was 16, I shouldn't have been driving. I did some stupid things behind the wheel and can't believe I lived through them. I wasn't completely ready to drive safely until I was 18. I always thought (after I turned 18 of course) that 18 should be the legal driving age.

If teens don't take more responsibility behind the wheel, that will probably happen.

[Mark B]

Jersey has had a similar law for a few years now. It will help, but the real problem is the lack of experince you have in new drivers. Theres not too much you can do about that though. Except lengthen the amount of time new drivers have a limited permit where they can only drive with a licensed parent in the passenger seat.

[thenuge876]

Im pretty sure PA has laws like that too. And i feel they are beneficial as well, i know that i needed the time to get the extra experience in before I got my liscence and was out on my own. The parents need to take some action too, around here their are to many parents who dont care what their kid does in car, and if they made the kid take some responsibility the roads would be safer.

Example. Theres a girl who lives around here who has totaled three brand new eclipses in as many years, but her parents keep buying her new ones!!! Why??!!

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

As a bit of a young-buck myself, this age discrimmination ticks me right off. How about the elderly who demonstrate no awareness of their surroundings anda complete lack of vehicle control? The elderly pose an elevated risk as well, but you would NEVER see some legislation like this to restrict their driving because THEY CAN VOTE... this is nothing more than striking down people who aren't given a voice to speak up. It's craptastic.

[Steel2686]

As a bit of a young-buck myself, this age discrimmination ticks me right off. How about the elderly who demonstrate no awareness of their surroundings anda complete lack of vehicle control? The elderly pose an elevated risk as well, but you would NEVER see some legislation like this to restrict their driving because THEY CAN VOTE... this is nothing more than striking down people who aren't given a voice to speak up. It's craptastic.

I agree that the elderly should be tested at 60 and up. However, if you ask ANY age group what they think, of course they are going to say they are responsible enough to drive. The fact remains, there are far too many 16 and 17 year olds who shouldn't be driving. I read about deaths all the time around here. The main thing is, they kill people in other cars as well. I consider myself a very responsible adult, but I wasn't at 16.

[markd79ta]

As a bit of a young-buck myself, this age discrimmination ticks me right off. How about the elderly who demonstrate no awareness of their surroundings anda complete lack of vehicle control? The elderly pose an elevated risk as well, but you would NEVER see some legislation like this to restrict their driving because THEY CAN VOTE... this is nothing more than striking down people who aren't given a voice to speak up. It's craptastic.

I don't think anybody wants to sit down and think up ways to hurt teenagers...it isn't age discrimination if they prove untrustworthy. The fact is they bring it on themselves with horrific statistics of irresponsibility and lack of better judgment. Now, not all, but too many to count. I see this everyday in my neighborhood. If the 16 and 17 year olds don't want to see this happen, then they need to get with the program, and the responsible ones need to push the not so responsible instead of the other way around. Looking back at my high school days, I am shocked that there weren't more deaths. However, there were plenty of accidents including myself rolling my car at 17. We had one guy attend his graduation in a wheel chair from a night of binge drinking and playing chicken with a tree...he lost. The elderly may not be the most skilled, but they don't take careless chances either. I don't see my 80yr old dad going 80mph in a 30mph residential area. Most accidents with the elderly involve people getting too impatient because they drive slower.

[Christopherrr]

GA has been there...done it. Doesn't really work. You just can't keep up with it...

[Steel2686]

The only way to cut down on accidents/deaths significantly is raising the driving age to 18. I was way more responsible at 18 than at 16. It was like graduating high school put all that immaturity behind me.

[markd79ta]

The only way to cut down on accidents/deaths significantly is raising the driving age to 18. I was way more responsible at 18 than at 16. It was like graduating high school put all that immaturity behind me.

I really hope it doesn't come to that. Teens need the freedom of transportation with a gradual responsibility into adulthood. I would hate to see them loose that. I really hope there is a wake-up call first, and they take the hint.

It is really awful, that so much in our pop culture glorifies speeding, reckless driving, racing, and theft. The change in venue to our neighborhoods and city streets is creating a really big problem. If the younger crowd doesn't get a clue, 18 it will be (before long).

[Steel2686]

I really hope it doesn't come to that. Teens need the freedom of transportation with a gradual responsibility into adulthood. I would hate to see them loose that. I really hope there is a wake-up call first, and they take the hint.

It is really awful, that so much in our pop culture glorifies speeding, reckless driving, racing, and theft. The change in venue to our neighborhoods and city streets is creating a really big problem. If the younger crowd doesn't get a clue, 18 it will be (before long).

While I agree the freedom is nice, we have to remember it is a privilage. To many think it is a necessity. My Aunt and Uncle wouldn't allow either of my Cousin's to drive until they were 17. They didn't like it, but both agree now that they look back, it was for the best. Stats don't lie. The 16 and 17 year old accident rates are astounding. That's why insurance companies don't even want to touch them in most cases (dependant on geographic location, of course).

[Dave M]

PA does have a law like that... has for a few years now. It restricts passengers, lengthens permit times, sets a curfew, etc... A study was just released this year that showed a pretty significant decrease in teen fatalities and accidents since the law was enacted. I'm not usually one for more government intervention into our lives, but I think in this case it's a good idea. Teens with passengers will be distracted and tempted to show off, and obviously the longer you have your permit before getting your liscense, the more experienced you'll be when you finally do get it.

When I got my permit, it was only valid for 3 months... it was like they were forcing you out onto the steets as fast as they could. I got 2 extensions and had my permit for 9 months before I took my test.... I was in no hurry to drive, I didn't really need it for anything, and I know I'm a better driver for it.

I just don't think a kid who's 16 and a day is mature enough to handle a 4,000 pound potential weapon... especially when you take into consideration SUV's, sport cars and the other myriad vehicles that take a special care and attention to drive. There are exceptions to every rule, but for the most part they just aren't ready.