Raising Driving Age

Sara Ziegler
Basic Public Speaking
November 28, 2006

Topic: Increasing the driving age to 18

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that making the driving age 18 is a safer requirement for young teens.

Thesis: Changing the driving age to 18 will reduce driving fatalities and accidents, make our system more efficient (similar to Germany's laws in driving), and reduce our gas and insurance prices.

Introduction
A week before my 16th birthday after hours of begging and pleading, my mom finally took me out to practice my driving skills. I enjoyed the new experience, even though I didn't exceed 30 mph, in the empty parking lot at my old elementary school. Unlike all of my friends, I wasn't promised a car for my 16th birthday nor did my parents allow me to get my permit. Instead, I was forced to wait until I was "older". By the time of my 18th birthday, I was ready to take my test for my permit. Sounds sad because I had to car-pool or bum rides off of my parents for those 2 years, but I never totaled my parents car, never had to spend all my money on gas , didn't make their insurance sky rocket, and im still living today to give this speech. I support the choice to change the driving age because of the constant facts that I am reminded of each day.

Body
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Transition: Ever drove down the express way and see, 2005 fatality rate 865 in Louisville, buckle up for those you love? Imagine how many of those lives were young teens under the age of 18.

A The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Reported 3,657 drivers 15-20 were killed in 2003.
B It is also proven that 16-17 year-old are 3 times more prone to be an accident than 18 -20 year olds. That is almost 1 /3
C Inexperience, risk taking behavior and immaturity are cities as primary reasons for accidents.
D Brains aren't fully developed until age 25 and in the weighing risks and making judgments.

II
Lets compare our system with Germany's driving laws
Must be 18 years of age
After completed the driver education course and school you are on probation for 2 years. During those 2 years s a lesser driving violation would call for you to retake the driver education course. A more serious driving ciolation would call for your driver's license to be revoked. In either case when your driver's licesnce has been granted once again you will be on probation for 4 years.

The driver training corse covers almost 28 hours of classroom education followed by 35 hours of driving school on the rad to cover varying conditions of day, night and autobahn experience with an instructor.

III Auto insurance companies would gain revenues by not having to pay insurance claims

They would gain from raising age and not have to pay out 900,000 claims from car accidents over a 3 year period from 15 to 18.

Gas companies would also see a reduction in revenues by less usage.

Ok. So I love how all of the younger kids here think that they know it all. But I'd like to know if any of you have researched this and have facts to back up your argument. Sure, you'd all love to drive at 16 and it is quite convenient for your parents. What you're not realizing is the increasing number of accidents among people from ages 16-18. Maybe you don't realize this because you don't have many friends that age. Whatever the reason, accidents happen among teen drivers quite often. I know of at least 5 people, personally, that have died in separate car crashes..mainly because of driving error and immaturity. Plus, it is proven that the part of the brain that effects maturity and the immediate recognition of consequences is not fully developed (National Institute of Health). The dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex is what this part of the brain is called. By age 18, maturity levels have significantly increased. I can speak from personal experience too. I did not get my license until I turned 18. I live in a very rural area that is surrounded by fields so I can't take a bus or walk anywhere. I found ways (such as carpooling) to get to the places I needed to be. I also researched this topic and it will improve economics. It is found that crashes among ages 16-20 costs the US $40.8 billion dollars. Now, you may be saying that it includes 18 year olds as well. BUT...16-17 year olds get into accidents 3 times more than 18-20 year olds. So this cost could decrease as much as 1/3 that amount. Those are only a few pieces of information that I have researched on this topic. It is evident that the driving age should be raised to 18.
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