Comments on: Raising the Legal Driving Age in Massachusetts

By: colleen

colleen — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 22:11:32 +0000

And now the stupid little $35.00 fine in massachusetts if you text while driving. You are supposed to be smarter as an adult then we should fine you like an adult. I am for higher fines for texting while driving for adults and yes I am an adult. that amount probably doesn’t even cover the cost of writing the ticket

By: Ed DeGagne

Ed DeGagne — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:59:17 +0000

It’s not a right, it’s a privledge.

By: Ed DeGagne

Ed DeGagne — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:56:37 +0000

That is irrelevant. And I really don’t expect you, at 16, to completely comprehend the issue.

YOU, and other 16-17 year olds, are on a PROBATIONARY license to drive. OLDER PEOPLE ARE NOT.

Older people know that when they speed, there are penalties and have to deal with those penalties (fines, increase in insurance, possible loss of license for repeat offenses, etc).

YOU and many your age, do not get that luxury. The luxury of being an EXPERIENCED adult driver.

Yes, this is completely about age. I don’t think they should raise the age. But, I do think that the current penalties for jr. operators are just and warranted.

Think about it this way. If you get a job, you are typically on a 90 day probationary period. You screw up in that period, you lose your job.

Driving is not a right, it is a privledge.

By: brian

brian — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:07:39 +0000

Ok, if your not 16 you don’t understand. It’s not about age. its like learning at age 18, you will make the same mistakes. im 16, and im a very good driver and very cautious. i do not speed, if anything it sound be older people that get tested every once in a while. 30- 50 year olds are the ones that speed and that aren’t cautous. at my age, im still cautous, and when i get into the car i put on my seatbeat, adjust mirror and so one. older people dont.

By: Rose

Rose — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:35:18 +0000

if anything they should make driver’s ed longer, not raise the driving age. it doesnt make sense. im 15. i will graduate when im 17,so if they raise th riving age to 18, then i’ll have very little experience behind the wheel when i go to college. i also think there should be some law about maximum driving age. one of my friends’ grandparents can barely see over the steering wheel. half the time she relies on the power lines to stay on the road. how come she can drive and i cant???

By: Deion

Deion — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:13:02 +0000

Im turning 14in a few days and i just moved from Georgia to Mass and in Georgia the permitt age is 15 and the licensce age is 16. I think that is a reasonable age for those levels, considering the fact that most parents would not enjoy driving their juniors and seniors to school, and frankly, yelling out the window “Have a nice day sweetie! Mommy loves you!” to a 16 year old is over-the-top embarrassing. So I personally believe that the permitt and licensce age should be LOWERED. If we teach the younger society (my generation) the dangers of driving in a way that will not make them scared to drive, but want to drive safe, then they will be not only a good, but a safe driver. Its all about planting the information into their mind. if students can learn that driving isnt something that is to be played around with, then they’re will be less teenage deaths. Maybe if Driving Instructors would show examples of little things that caused huge consequences (i.e. Luke Abbate), the student will learn not to play around with not only driving, but their life.

I just read a comment that just sparked another reason why the age should infact be lowered. In South Carolina, The permit age is 14 1/2 and the licensce age is 15 1/2. And there are less teen deaths there than there are here. I believe the reason for that is because at a younger age, driving would be a bit of an intimidation, making that teen more cautious and basically removing the idea that reckless driving isnt dangerous. This is a good example of why the age should be lowered. that is my opinion.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:57:54 +0000

For safety reasons, i think the age should be raised. For common sense, it should stay. i didnt believe it, but there are some states where the age is even younger. those states should raise the age, before we do.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:41:48 +0000

hey everyone, whoever reads this, please think twice about changing the age. Some kids arn’t mature, i’ll give you that. and cars weren’t made the way they were back in the day. I have been working with my dad repairing cars since i could pick up a wrench. He has taught me all about cars. what they can and can’t do. I am so close to getting my license. I know there are so many kids out there just like me. wanting freedom. Can’t some of you older people remember when you turned 16? now please tell me you didn’t feel so… alive. all i ask is that if they decide to have a vote on changing the driving age, support me and all of the others out there just like me.

By: suzanne

suzanne — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:56:08 +0000

Mass.

By: Ken Savage

Ken Savage — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:59:51 +0000

@suzanne - Right and thankfully they will get the more experience they need. by the way what state are your kids driving in?