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The Divers Licence Should Not Be Put Up

On 15 April 2010 TVNZ announced that the driving age was going up from 15 to 16 years old. I love cars and dream of owning my own car so I can go on car rallies and road trips. But when I heard the driving age was going up I thought of ways to stop it like, change the time between each stage of licence and toughen the tests and restrict the engine of the cars you are allowed to drive. Also there are benefits to teenagers having there licence.

Changing the time between tests and making the tests tougher would be better than changing the age. The driving age is going up because at 15 people say you’re not responsible enough to drive a car. In New Zealand there are three stages of licence. Learners licence (stage 1) you hold tis licence for 6 months after tacking a 35 question test. Restricted licence (stage 2) you hold this licence for 18 months after a 30 minute practical test. With the restricted licence you have the chose of doing an AA Defensive Driving coures which will take of 6 months off this stage. Full licence (stage 3) when you get this licence you may drive were and when you like and carry others in the car. I think changing and toughing the restricted (stage 2) by changing the 30 min test to a 60 min test. Also change the time until you can sit this test from 6 months to 1 year. This will mean when you pass the test you will have had more experience behind the wheel.

At the moment a person with there learners (stage1) can drive a v8 this is why there should be restrictions on the size of the engine you are aloud to drive. A big problem is what young people drive. Most teenagers have a dream car that they want to own maybe a Honda civic or a Mazda rx7 but when they get this car they put a turbo on it and tune the engine. Now a car that your grandmother uses to drive now does 150+ kmh. The problem now is the learner drives car is to powerful for them. This is like saying you’re a size 9 rugby boot but you buy the size 10 because they look cooler. I believe this a good option because the cars you will be able to drive will be much safer and easier to drive therefore restricting the engine size is a good option.

There are benefits from teenagers having there licence. Most teenagers are involved in sporting or cultural groups so having your licence is a big help. It can be hard if both parents have full time jobs having your licence can be great if you need to go to rugby practice and both Mum and Dad are working. New Zealand is a rural based country and transport can not be good in some areas. So rural families will benefit from there sons/daughters having there licence. I believe the driving age is good for teenagers. Most families will benefit from there kids having licence and not have to leave work early to take there 16 year old son to rugby practice.

Transport minister Steven Joyce says the changes are aimed at improving the safety of are young drivers. Only a handful of young drivers are letting down a population of responsible teens. Don’t put it up strengthen the system, restricted the engine size and look at the benefits of having your licence you don’t have to put up the driving age.

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