Raise the age that people can obtain their driving licence

20 Jul 2009

I would like to raise the driving age from 17 in the UK and 16 in the US (in many states) to 20 or 21.

In the UK the driving age is due to rise to 18. since only 1 in 8 drivers are under 25, but they account for a third of all road deaths. This change is of course welcome and needed.

What to consider?

There's much to be kept in mind when considering an age increase. The key is that for every year the age threshold is raised, a certain number of cars are removed from the road and their carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

In 2006, about 34% of 17 - 20 year olds held a driving licence in the UK, an increase on previous years.

If this third of 17 - 20 year olds could no longer drive it would have a profound immediate impact on both road accidents and carbon emissions.

It might also have a long-term effect in that, by deferring the age at which young people can drive, some of these people may adapt to life without a car and decide not to learn at all. Or if they do, they may be less car dependent.