My wife told me that the minimum driving age will soon be raised to 18 in Texas. I went to the DPS site, but couldn't find any information on this. I figured that something like this would be big news. Is my wife crazy? Am I crazy for marrying her?
I sure hope not. That's awful. I drove all around Texas my freshman year of college, and was under 18 most of that time. It would have been quite inconvenient without the car, and especially just because I happened to be a year younger... I was never one of those kids getting in wrecks and doing stupid things. I just wanted the freedom to go places without waiting for rides, and didn't want to be punished for what the stupid kids did.
Your wife is only partially crazy. From the office of state Senator Jon Lindsay: On January 1, 2002 several new state laws went into effect. If you are the parent of a teenager who is preparing to become one of the thousands of new drivers this year, none may be as talked about in your household as Senate Bill 577, the Graduated Drivers License Program (GDL) which was passed by the Legislature last spring. In 1998, more than 320 Texas teens, ages 15 through 18, died in motor vehicle crashes and another 40,324 were injured. More than 40 percent of teens' fatal crashes occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Single vehicle collisions represent nearly half of the fatal crashes involving 16 and 17 year old drivers. These crashes have been linked to driver error, speed, peer passenger distraction, and lack of experience. The crash involvement rate for teens is more than double that for all other Texas drivers. While the legal driving age in Texas will remain 16, the graduated drivers license program makes some changes that all parents, young drivers and future drivers should know about. For those who start the licensing process after January 1, 2002, including those who have not received their instruction permit or provisional license, there will be two phases of the GDL. First, the minimum age for the licensed operator required to accompany an instruction permit holder in the front passenger seat is raised from 18 to 21. Many permit holders have friends who are 18 but may not have achieved responsible driving skills. Additionally, in phase one of the GDL, applicants under age 18 must hold an instruction permit or hardship license for a minimum of six months prior to the issuance of a provisional license. Upon completion of this six month period they will "graduate" to phase two. When they reach phase two, newly licensed drivers will obtain a provisional license which will allow them to drive, but with certain restrictions for the first six months. They may not operate a motor vehicle after midnight and before 5 a.m., unless driving is necessary for employment, school, school-related activities or a medical emergency. And, they may not have more than one under 21 non-family member as a passenger in the vehicle.
The law in NC is: when you turn 15 and have completed drivers ed you can get your learners permit which lets you drive 5am-9pm with a parent. after 6 months on that permit you are allowed to drive any time with a parent. after 6 months on that permit (1 full year of driving only while acompanied by a parent) you can get your 5am-9pm license which lets you drive yourself and whomever else from 5am until 9pm (school & work exceptions) you can still drive 9pm-5am with a parent after having that for 6 months with NO moving violations you can get a full unrestricted license. So the earliest somebody in NC can get a full license is 16.5 years old. South Carolina has some slack driving laws.
So, since 60% of crashes occur between 6am and 9pm, shouldn't we be preventing kids from driving then? That seems to be the more dangerous time. You know, 40% of all sick days are taken either Friday or Monday. Shouldn't we do something about that, too?
