Comments on: Anti-texting: Does focusing on teen drivers miss the point?

By: LisaB

LisaB — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:24:51 +0000

Eric, I absolutely agree.

Sadly, there are plenty of examples where education isn’t funded, valued, respected….

By: andrewp

andrewp — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:14:46 +0000

Have to agree with Eric’s earlier comment about kids being able to text without looking at the device. My 23 year old, heavy-texting son demonstrated it to me.

The texting software does “word assumption” based on just a few characters typed, and then pops up a list of words that start to match or closely match what you have typed. He’s memorized the words he uses most often, so he can remember that the word “call” is typed as “C, lookup button, down button 2 times” — much harder for me to to explain this than actually do it.

I was impressed, but still pleaded with him not to text while driving ……

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:36:05 +0000

>there’s a lot more to driving skills than just age. Legislators saw that, too, which is why the bills went nowhere.<

These legislators wouldn't THINK about bringing back mandatory driver's ed for high school children, though, would they? That's tyranny!

By: LisaB

LisaB — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:51:24 +0000

Actually, a horrific accident already happened. Former state representative Irv Slosberg’s 14-year-old daughter — and four others — were killed in the mid-90s. He championed the mandatory seat belt law. Subsequently, he filed driving age bills but they didn’t get out of committee. I sat through some of the testimony before House committees. The stories of teenage driver deaths are sad, but there’s a lot more to driving skills than just age. Legislators saw that, too, which is why the bills went nowhere.

By: Angie

Angie — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:05:28 +0000

First of all, I like the AT&T PSAs–I find them very powerful. Although they are directed more at teens, I don’t think they are so targeted that they can’t reach more people.

But absolutely, I think the campain should be intentionally broadened. Decreasing our car usage has meant carpooling more with friends and it’s been quite shocking to see that most of my friends text and drive. When I say something, they seem pretty surprised to be called out on it–like they had not thought about it being dangerous.

By: Kevin Love

Kevin Love — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:17:03 +0000

“Thousands of Florida 16-year-olds are killed or injured in car crashes every year, a statistic that has spurred at least one legislator to call for increasing the state’s driving age. “That extra year, the kids need it,” said Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton. “Their brain hasn’t matured. Sometimes I relate this to trying to pour a gallon bottle of milk into a pint and it just overflows — they can’t take in all that information.”

Kevin’s comment:
I agree with Mr. Slosberg. However, it will probably take some horrific incident before any change happens. I see that his quote is four years old. Sigh…

Source:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/florida-to-raise-driving-age-to-17.html

By: LisaB

LisaB — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:05:27 +0000

@ Kevin. Florida’s driving age is pretty much the norm: 15 for a permit, 16 for a regular license. Eight states allow permits at 14. Nine allow permits at age 16.

I don’t know of a movement to raise the age to 18. And I doubt it will go very far.

Personally, I don’t need the state to legislate my children’s driving age/education/habits. That’s my job.

My son got his permit at 16.5 — because I determined he wasn’t mature enough for a license. Florida law mandates that he drive with a licensed adult for 1 year. So, he’ll be 17.5 years of age before he can drive alone.

Furthermore, I’m requiring him to take a driver’s ed class through the high school (he complains about it, but too bad!) AND a cycling ed program.

Finally, if I had a choice, I wouldn’t let most foreigners drive in this state. Come to my office near the Orlando International Airport to witness the craziness first hand. At least twice a day we see people drive on the left side of the road — I’m not kidding. We watch from our windows and say, “there goes another one!” It’s so prevalent that an Orlando Police Officer has permanent detail in front of my office!

Of course, Florida — or any state for that matter — isn’t going to prohibit foreign drivers. The outcry from rental car companies and state and local economists (gas tax revenue), among others, would be deafening.

By: Keri

Keri — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:53:56 +0000

You’re generous. I think we should raise it to 25

By: Kevin Love

Kevin Love — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:45:17 +0000

One of the root causes of many crashes is the absurdly low age to start driving in Florida. I see that there is a movement to raise it to 18 years of age. I heartily support this change.

But why not go all the way? Using the carrot of federal road dollars, how about a USA wide federal minimum driving age of 18 years. And minimum standards for driver training and testing.

There is a good reason why The Netherlands and many other countries do not accept US driver’s licenses.

By: Rodney

Rodney — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:46:54 +0000

Eric, good point about being divided. I had to resort to the sidewalk for the last two miles home the other day. I could not keep the bike in the travel lane or average speed.

Since knowing the intricacies of sidewalk riding, I observed a teenager walking and texting. Pure research dictated I come to a complete stop and observe.

Sure enough, he kept his head down and when he was about 1 foot away, I dinged my bell once. He apologized. Good for a laugh, but very enlightening to me. I hope he walked away with the same.