Some people think
that road safety can only be ensured if the legal age limit for new drivers is
raised. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
An alarming rise in the number of road
fatalities has attracted urgent attention of various sections of civil society
and governments, and every organization is working towards reducing these
fateful happenings. Some road and traffic safety theorists have even suggested
that raising the minimum drivable age might go a long way.
Raising the legal age limit seems to be a viable
solution since drivers need to be mature enough to take judicious decisions
while driving which, of course, cannot be expected from individuals under the
age of majority. Teenagers are carefree as they are cared for by their parents,
and thus lack exposure to acting prudently on roads. Their tender minds are not
apt for taking up tasks as complex as driving on roads – that require drivers
to exercise quick reflexes and take wise decisions. Their carefree, and sometimes careless,
attitude quite often jeopardizes their own safety, besides safety of others, on
the roads.
Furthermore, young people in their teens
happen to be impatient, adventurous, and carry a rebellious attitude on them. These
growing minds are dedicated to establishing their superiority over peer groups
that inspires to be too rash. This attitude most of the times, is exhibited
sumptuously on the roads when their reckless driving causes major mishaps.
However, critics cite several loopholes in
this theory. There is no apparent connection between the road mishaps and age. The
data collected by various road safety organizations, across the world,
indicates that most of the cases involving accidents were attributed to either
negligent driving or to inebriated state of drivers – and most of these
perpetrators were above the age of majority.
To cap up, although raising legal age limit
to drive would be surely be a positive decision, it may not guarantee road
safety.