Minimum Driving Age

What is it where you live?

14 years ago, November 15th 2009 No: 1 Msg: #93797 Delete Edit

B Posts: 11.5K

The New Zealand government is considering raising the minimum age for holding a driver's licence (from the current 15, to 16 or 17), and making the process of attaining a full licence longer.

A good move I think, but no instant cure for the disproportionate accident rate of younger drivers.

nzherald.co.nz report

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14 years ago, November 15th 2009 No: 2 Msg: #93810 Delete Edit

liliram
liliram

B Posts: 847

18 here in the Philippines Reply to this

14 years ago, November 16th 2009 No: 3 Msg: #93850 Delete Edit

JonathanCampion
Jonathan Campion

B Posts: 972

I still haven't even taken a lesson. When I became old enough to drive I was saving up to study abroad, so never even thought about paying for driving lessons or buying a car. Now I've graduated my career dictates that I work in big cities (where driving is expensive, frustrating and dangerous), so I haven't given driving much thought. Plus, I don't really think I'd enjoy it.

J. Reply to this

14 years ago, November 16th 2009 No: 4 Msg: #93857 Delete Edit

Abby 101
Abby Northman

N Posts: 3

Hey there! =) Here in South Africa, to be able to apply for your learners licence you must be 17 years old, and if you have it, you are aloud to drive with a person who already has their licence.

And when you are 18 years old, you can apply for your licence... Im going to have my drivers test in 2weeks. So, wish me luck!!! Reply to this

14 years ago, November 17th 2009 No: 5 Msg: #93891 Delete Edit

Jo Trouble
Jo McCarthy

B Posts: 11.5K

Hi Abby,

Welcome to TravelBlog - and good luck with the drivers' test.

Just relax - advice I wish I'd been able to follow the first time :-) Reply to this

14 years ago, November 19th 2009 No: 6 Msg: #94082 Delete Edit

josworld
Johanna

B Posts: 151

There's a graduated licensing system here in Australia to minimize the road accidents and fatalities.

You have to be 25 years old before you can apply for an Open/Full license. However, teenagers as young as 16 can start to apply for learners permit and learn to drive with a person holding an Open license. They can then apply for a Provisional License (P1) as they turn 17 after holding a learners permit for a year. At the age of 18, they can apply for the P2 license then have to wait 'til they turn 25 before they can apply for an Open license.

Provisional license holders are subjected to a number of restrictions: they are not allowed to drive high powered cars, their blood alcohol level must be 0%!w(MISSING)hilst driving, not permitted to teach learners to drive etc..etc...

Back then (ehm!), I got my Australian Provisional license at the age of 18 then my Open/Full license when I turned 19 !

Thinking about it now, I totally agree with the new licensing system. My family thought I'm lead-footed and probably shouldn't be allowed to drive 'cos I tend to speed up and pose a danger to other motorists 😱 . Though I must say that I haven't been in an accident (as in collision with other vehicles) since I've been driving. So, reverse parking my car one time into a ditch doesn't count ! 😉

My mother once told me whilst driving home from school,

You're a bird without wings in Australia if you don't have a car.

So she pushed me to go for my drivers license and earn my wings !

My hubby didn't go for his license 'til after we got married at the age of 22. He opted for proper driving lessons 'cos apparently he doesn't want to get my "bad habits" when it comes to driving. He is a very wise man I must say. Either that, his ego is just probably brushed 'cos I got my right of passage first ! 😱...cheers ! Reply to this

14 years ago, November 19th 2009 No: 7 Msg: #94090 Delete Edit

josworld
Johanna

B Posts: 151

P.S. Jogged Memory - I was in a minor car accident 4 years ago on my way to work. A chinese girl rear-ended my car whilst waiting for the stop light to go green (I guess that's considered a collision). I didn't bother pressing any charges nor make a claim from her insurance 'cos the damage is only a small scratch. Her BMW however got a big dent though.

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14 years ago, November 19th 2009 No: 8 Msg: #94094 Delete Edit

josworld
Johanna

B Posts: 151

P.P.S.

To moderators,

How do you edit typos when the 'owner edit' function is no longer enabled ?

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14 years ago, November 20th 2009 No: 9 Msg: #94145 Delete Edit

Jo Trouble
Jo McCarthy

B Posts: 11.5K

Re #8

Only moderators/admin can do it - don't worry, we don't check for typos 😉 Reply to this

14 years ago, November 25th 2009 No: 10 Msg: #94431 Delete Edit

jinglung
roywong

B Posts: 15

hello all,

18 here in Hong Kong. i think 15 or 16 is a bit young to have a driving licence... Reply to this

14 years ago, December 7th 2009 No: 11 Msg: #95565 Delete Edit

dexternicholson
Dexter Nicholson

B Posts: 60

I was able to get a student's permit when I was 16 and then a year later, I got my first non professional drivers license. it is restricted to category 1 and 2 vehicles. I think one is for motorcycles and 2 is for small cars that doesn't go above a certain weight limit... its not really that hard to get license in Asia... Reply to this

14 years ago, December 8th 2009 No: 12 Msg: #95684 Delete Edit

lorriann8you
Lorriann BeBeau

B Posts: 50

In Canada you can get your learners at 14 and your drivers at 16. Reply to this

14 years ago, December 15th 2009 No: 13 Msg: #96416 Delete Edit

Dymphna
Lee Ann

B Posts: 602

You can start to drive in Montana at 14 with a learners permit and 15 1/2 for a full license. Raising it is stupid. Now you are putting someone behind the wheel with no one to guild them. No one to teach them how to drive on ice. No one to tell them it is too slippery to be driving. No one to tell them how to get around things. The worst drivers I know started when they were 18 or older. No my mother who was a farm kid started driving when she was 8. Grandpa was in the field, put the jeep in granny gear, told her to go get his lunch and if she drove off the road, drive back on. She would do this, kill it in the front yard. Grandma would help her get it started again and she would take lunch back out to him. Mom can drive like no one I know. Reply to this

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Minimum Driving Age