General Discussion

DFW

(59,937 posts)

31. Cars per se aren't dangerous.

Wed Dec 1, 2021, 03:51 PM

Dec 2021

Cars with 16 year old kids driving them are potentially very dangerous. I know. I once was one of those 16 year old kids driving one.

Even here in Germany, where the legal driving age is 18, the cemetery in the rural town where my wife’s mom lives has close to 50% of the gravestones for people who died between the ages of 18 and 23. They get some alcohol in them, then go out on the Autobahn at 200 Kph, then get off on to winding rural roads where the speed limit is 50 Kph. After going 200, 50 seems like standing still, so they double it, and think they’re safe until they fatally collide head on with another car, or wrap themselves around the nearest tree.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

38 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Question: Why do we make kids wait until age 16 to drive a car? Are cars dangerous? [View all] FSogol Dec 2021 OP

Grow up on a farm. Throck Dec 2021 #1

Yes. Haggard Celine Dec 2021 #5

Started driving a tractor at age 6. Klaralven Dec 2021 #7

Minnie-Mo? I drove one of those with a hand clutch. yagotme Dec 2021 #17

John Deere Model B Klaralven Dec 2021 #20

I grew up with the "Red". yagotme Dec 2021 #21

They were two different camps. Klaralven Dec 2021 #24

Dad had a pull combine, chopper, yagotme Dec 2021 #27

When I first drove tractor, it was for picking up hay windrows Klaralven Dec 2021 #33

Tough working a poor farm back then. n/t yagotme Dec 2021 #34

I think 16 is too young. femmocrat Dec 2021 #2

Yes, I've felt that way for a long time PatSeg Dec 2021 #16

Yes, cars are dangerous. Check insurance rates for drivers 16 - (?) 34. planetc Dec 2021 #3

In the insurance world you are an "adult" sarisataka Dec 2021 #11

It's like everything. Each kid is different. jimfields33 Dec 2021 #4

I had an adult driver license at 14, many years ago in Texas. Ron Green Dec 2021 #6

I have read that 16 is one of the worst possible ages for boys because... 3catwoman3 Dec 2021 #8

That could be true TexasBushwhacker Dec 2021 #28

Recently retired pediatric nurse practitioner here, so I am... 3catwoman3 Dec 2021 #29

Yeah, many boys literally get growing pains TexasBushwhacker Dec 2021 #30

Took a joy ride in my stepbrother's car @ 15.... Claire Oh Nette Dec 2021 #9

I believe accidents are a leading cause of death for teens (n/t) Patton French Dec 2021 #10

They are not inherently dangerous, but can certainly be so... Caliman73 Dec 2021 #12

Our society recognizes the problems with that, but has no problem allowing 15 year olds to have FSogol Dec 2021 #15

Define "have". yagotme Dec 2021 #18

I do know where 15 year olds are legally able to own a semi-automatic hand gun LeftInTX Dec 2021 #37

That is what I figured this was about. Caliman73 Dec 2021 #38

The age has probably evolved over time LeftInTX Dec 2021 #36

Brains aren't fully developed. Male impulse control even less so (see: brains). Insurers know this... Hekate Dec 2021 #13

Ah, so maybe 15 year old kids shouldn't have semi-automatic hand guns too? FSogol Dec 2021 #14

Ya think? Hekate Dec 2021 #22

And where is it legal for 15yo's to purchase and own hand guns exactly? EX500rider Dec 2021 #26

Where I live young ones as young as 12 are allowed to drive GusBob Dec 2021 #19

I see what you're asking, FSogol. maxsolomon Dec 2021 #23

I'm glad a few people caught it. n/t FSogol Dec 2021 #25

Cars per se aren't dangerous. DFW Dec 2021 #31

If I were King, nobody would be driving before 18. Progressive Jones Dec 2021 #32

Yes LeftInTX Dec 2021 #35