In today’s world, teens have many restrictions while taking on more and more responsibilities. All over the United States there are very strict rules that come with driving, especially in New Jersey. This is necessary to keep all communities safe, but the minimum age people have to be to drive is a law that should be revised.
The minimum age to be eligible to get a driver’s license in most states is 16, but in New Jersey it is 17. At the age of 17 teens don’t even get their full license, they get their limited license. Limited licenses don’t allow them to drive at certain hours, drive with other minors in the car, drive on highways, and many more rules.
Normally, adolescents turn 17 their junior year and 18 their senior year, leaving them at most less than a year with their full license before going off to college. Teens need more experience with their license before being sent off by themselves. They need to develop good driving habits, become comfortable behind the wheel, and learn to be alert.
According to “Proposal Would Allow 15-Year-Olds to Get Their Licenses”, Pennsylvania lawmakers are proposing legislation that would allow teens to get their license a year early. One of these reasons is that teens would be able to get into the workforce faster.
Pennsylvania Rep Eric Nelson said: “For families who wanted to be able to do that, it’s a really big opportunity that the state is taking away from a person who is wanting to work in the summer”.
Parents encourage their teens to go out, get jobs, volunteer, get internships etc. This can be very difficult to do for teens under the age of 17. Without a license the job options they have are very limited. Parents can not always drive their children everywhere and teens can not always rely on their parents.
Some may believe that teens are not yet mature enough to be driver and that it would be very risky to give them a license earlier. This is not a problem because with today’s technology most car manufactureres are offering built in monitors.
According to “An Angel on the Shoulder of Your Teenage Driver (or at Least a snitch)”, monitors allow parents to set range limits, radio limits, and speed limits on the vehicle making it very safe for the driver and the people around them. Also, teens would not be able to get a license without passing the test. If the teens are irresponsible and dangerous drivers, they would not be able to get their license in the first place.
Teens will be able to be exposed to different job opportunities, learn not to rely on their parents, and gain driving experience by getting their license early while still being safe.