new teen driving laws ( long)

**pop goes the weasel** · 05-06-2009, 11:46 AM

I don't know if it's in all states or just Pa but they said on the news about changing the teen driving laws. This woulod mke it iilegal to text, use a cellphone, limit thenumber of passengers int the car, times they can drive and the a few more. What do you guys think? I think it's great but also think that it's going to be hard to enforce unless there are accidents. Unless they have the phone at eye level to text the police won't know, the same with alcohol. If they keep the cans and bottles out of sight unless they are stopped the cops won't know. They did add another 5 hours of driving with a licensed driver before they can get their license which is good. My thoughts are, and I know I will get bashed but alot of the teenagers just aren't responsible enough to do their homework let alone get behind the wheel of a car.There are of course exceptions. I think that they should move the driving age to whatever the legal drinking age is that way they are adults and will be responsible for their actions. I t isn't likle it was when I was a kid. If you got your license you either had a job to pay for expenses and that was the only time you used your car whiile you were under your parents roof. Thats the way it was here but of course this is a small rural community not a big city. I know sd's would be the first to admit his daughter isn't responsible enough and neither are her friends. JMHO dont' shoot me.

**2ndGenGranola** · 05-06-2009, 12:09 PM

Around here there are surprise stops. They check for basics. Because of the deaths that have been caused by texting, I believe that cell phones should be treated as open containers or guns.

**YankeeMom** · 05-06-2009, 12:27 PM

We already have all those laws here in NY. I think they just or are in the process of putting through the texting ban. We already have the hands free cell phone usage law. Teens are already limited on the hours of they day they are allowed to be out driving and who they can have in the car with them (ie. no other teens). I agree with every one of them.

**miss_thrifty** · 05-06-2009, 01:06 PM

I dont think they should be able yo usw cells unless their hooked aS A ADAPTER HANDFREE . then i think their may be less accidents. as far as drinking, theyll always be that (whicH Im totally against) and my son not long ago proved they will try and do it. he had a beer that night and the guy driving had 2-3 hours beofre. No matter what we put through his brain beofre didint work. he now is starting to see the light and Im currently waiting for the Ems/ cop thing theyll let me know when he can go on baord legally to be in van and show worse case accidents.
I also believe that after willing and knowingly drinking(and being very full) the night before doesnt make it alright to drivre the next morimng 6 hr after. That hapened here a couple of years ago where this giy got charged and ended up didnt got o prison. had kids and family. and was sucidal after over guilt. the family members that he killede mother/ daughter--the husband forgave him. But still he lost his liscence paid afine, does community work, and still some are satisfied. THIS all from avery small community where everyone knows everyone by name or nick name. Lots of hurt feelings on many sides. and people making very bad comments on internet paper.
It isnt easy.

**ShellyB** · 05-06-2009, 01:38 PM

I live in PA and I'd like to see the driving age go to 18. I have one more yet to drive and I'm not looking forward to it even though she is quite responsible. All of my kids had to get a job to help pay for insurance before I would let them drive the car so none of them actually drove at 16, more like 17. I think PA is just about the only state that hasn't banned cell phone use while driving for everyone.

I get stressed out just thinking about teaching another one to drive.

**Neeley** · 05-06-2009, 03:02 PM

Currently, our Legislature is in the process of trying to pass some bills which would tighten the laws on teen drivers here. I have no problem with the age being 16. I do think the texting/cell phone & number of passengers should be regulated, but not just for teens. I think everyone, regardless of age should stronger laws when driving and texting/using a cell. Our state currently does not have any state wide bans on cell phone usage while driving at all. I really don't care one way or another about the hours teens can drive.

DD turned 16 on Monday & passed her driver's test. Her grandparents are giving her a car for her birthday (but she won't get it until the first of July). I don 't have any issues with her driving. She is responsible and an overly cautious driver. I actually hate to ride with her because she is so careful. But that is the way she is on her everyday life; careful, attentive and always taking the time do the task at hand 100% right the first time. I don't hesitate to let her use either of our cars until she gets hers. She's a much better driver than I am.

DD will have to pay for her own gas. But as far as insurance goes, we will pay for that. She has a part-time job for a minor league baseball team, volunteers 16-30 hours a week at the museum (number of hours per week depends on what time of year it is), plays volleyball and basketball, and is a straight A student (was actually awarded yesterday with having the highest GPA in her school of 1400 students). So I don't mind paying her insurance since she is a pretty good kid.

**YankeeMom** · 05-06-2009, 03:29 PM

Leslie, could your dd talk to mine? My oldest is almost 17 and STILL has zero desire to drive. She doesn't even have her permit yet. She's scared stiff lol. I wish she would learn to drive because I'm tired of driving her butt around lol.

**monkeywrangler71** · 05-06-2009, 06:32 PM

We have graduated licensing here, I don't know what the actual details are, back home it was zero alcohol, restrictions on number of passengers and a curfew. You could get a letter to allow you to drive later at night if you work late. The restricted license is for all new drivers, doesn't matter if you are sixteen or sixty.

At home it is illegal for anyone to use their phone while driving (unless hands free). It will be here soon as well, legislation was just passed last month.

**pollypurebred39** · 05-06-2009, 08:26 PM

My oldest is going to be 20 and he still does not drive! He's got a car in the driveway and a permit in his wallet. He has zerodrive to get out and drive, maybe he's scared? I'm not sure, but I'm not pushing him, He's going to have to get behind that wheel at some point. I would not in the least mind if they raised the driving age to the drinking age "21", too many kids are out on the roads who should not be behind the wheel of a car yet because of lack of maturity. My sons not a big risk taker, however he lacks common sense sometimes and does not have any fear in situations where fear or caution should come to the forefront of his mind, so I'm not going to push him. Do I think he'd try and text while driving? You betcha I do. His phone is like an appendage. Stupid is as stupid does, I'm for any all laws that protect others from texters, gabbers, make-up putter on`ers, cars over loaded with teenagers, ect. Bring'em on.

**Debbie-cat** · 05-06-2009, 09:12 PM

My son as well is 19, a car in the driveway, a permit and has not driven on a road yet ( he drives around the property ). He says he has no desire to get his license at all. We don't cater him either to drive him wherever he wants to go....he just waits until we go somewhen and then will join us. Weird but I didn't get mine until I was 9 months pregnant at 25 either.

**butterflygreen** · 05-06-2009, 09:27 PM

I think that making the driving age the same as the drinking age is not the best idea. I think that making it leagle to drive at the verry same time its leagle for them to drink is just asking for trouble. I think it should be more on the school records and choice of the parents. I do agree with not using cell phones while driving.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 05-07-2009, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by pop goes the weasel

I don't know if it's in all states or just Pa but they said on the news about changing the teen driving laws. This woulod mke it iilegal to text, use a cellphone, limit thenumber of passengers int the car, times they can drive and the a few more. What do you guys think? I think it's great but also think that it's going to be hard to enforce unless there are accidents. Unless they have the phone at eye level to text the police won't know, the same with alcohol. If they keep the cans and bottles out of sight unless they are stopped the cops won't know. They did add another 5 hours of driving with a licensed driver before they can get their license which is good. My thoughts are, and I know I will get bashed but alot of the teenagers just aren't responsible enough to do their homework let alone get behind the wheel of a car.There are of course exceptions. I think that they should move the driving age to whatever the legal drinking age is that way they are adults and will be responsible for their actions. I t isn't likle it was when I was a kid. If you got your license you either had a job to pay for expenses and that was the only time you used your car whiile you were under your parents roof. Thats the way it was here but of course this is a small rural community not a big city. I know sd's would be the first to admit his daughter isn't responsible enough and neither are her friends. JMHO dont' shoot me.

It'll be easier to enforce than you realize. Cops can pull people over if they notice them driving but looking down and not at the road. They can consider it endangering the safety of others since your eyes are supposed to be on the road all of the time. There are unmarked cop cars all around the place, as well as cops that sit nested in the back of certain spots (in PA, there are tons of these spots that are situated between two sets of trees along the center of the highway).

By moving the age up to the legal limit to consume alcohol, you would also have to move the age of legal drug use up as well. I know a lot of people who are well beyond the age of 16/18 who still can't drive properly to save their lives (like the people who park 18 inches from the curb or can't park inside their own parking space and take up two spaces in the process).

I'd be for stripping the teenager of their learner's permit if they're pulled over for doing something that's deemed unsafe to other drivers or to the passengers in their car and put a one year ban on them driving. If they're caught driving in that time frame, permanently suspend their license.

**pop goes the weasel** · 05-07-2009, 08:01 AM

A girl that went to school with my daughter got caught drinking when she was 14. They fined her parents and she wasn't allowed to get her license til she was 21 by order of the court. Like I said there are responsible kids out there. But it seems like they are outnumbered by the less responsible. I never got my license til I was 34. No desire to drive. Alot of the kids I went to school with were like this. I agree that moving the age to the legal drinking age might not be the best idea, I was having a der moment .
There's always going to be people that break the law no matter what. Like I said my sd isn't responsible enough to do her chores let alone get behind a wheel of a car. She doesn't look ahead at what may happen by her actions and no amount of explaining helps. I t get worse day after day. Until she can do this I don't see her dad letting her drive. But then I am the only licensed driver in the house so I guess I'll have the last word on the matter.

**kabin63** · 05-07-2009, 12:52 PM

I think it depends on the kid. Mine says she wants to drive (15 3/4), but I am not convinced she really wants to yet. We live near a very busy highway and it's the deadliest section in the county to boot.
As far as cell phone laws. I hate to say it, but I think we would all be safer if they were outlawed for use when driving all together. I can't tell you how many times I have been "almost hit" by adults on cell phones, let alone teens. People are very careless these days. Yes, things have changed a lot. I learned to drive when green meant go, yellow meant to slow down, and red meant STOP.