The Driving Age

The Herald reports that Annette King may seek a straw poll of MPs on whether to raise the driving age from 15 to 16.

Maurice Williamson is quoted as saying the argument against increasing it used to be you had to allow people old enough to leave school to be able to drive.  But as he notes the leaving age is now 16, not 15.

Incidentally the chance of crashing is, it seems, more related to how long you have been driving – not your age.  But the argument is I suppose that being a bit older will help you more whilist in the inexperienced phase.

I tend to support an increase, but doubt it will have a huge impact.  Enforcement of conditions of learner’s licenses might help more.

Incidentially minimum ages overseas are:

• Australia 16 (in most areas)
• Canada (14 to 16)
• Europe (17 to 18)
• India 18
• Israel 18
• Pakistan 18
• China 18
• Russia 18
• Singapore 18
• Switzerland 18
• US (14 yrs 3 mths to 18 yrs)