Firsthand experiences
I believe we are not ready to allow teenagers to drive, especially since many do not even wear seat belts. How many times do you see children standing on seats or moving inside a vehicle or sitting in the lap of the driver who is talking on his or her mobile phone? Sure, educate the 16-year-olds about road safety. However, in the course of education, do take them to hospitals too. Show them the people who will never walk or be able to feed themselves ever again. Take them to accident sites where people have died in a tragic road accident. Let them hear for themselves the crying and wailing, and experience firsthand the suffering and sorrow that the loved ones of an accident victim go through.
From A Reader
Sharjah
Website comment
Easier to learn
I think it's better to reduce the legal driving age limit from 18 to 16 years. It is easier for a young driver to understand the importance of road safety than an old driver. I hope this rule is implemented soon.
From Mr Franklyn Joseph
Al Ain
Are they mature enough?
I am shocked that Mr Joseph supports implementing this rule — I completely disagree. I received my driving permit at the age of 18. No matter how good you might be, when teenagers drive, they would want to show off their ‘skills'. The very thought of 16-year-olds driving on our roads terrifies me. I have been born and bought up in Dubai and can thus vouch for a fact that many drivers in the age group of 18 to 30 years are reckless. Many speed or drive their cars in a manner which can pose a risk to other motorists. They may be amazing drivers, but are they mature enough to handle the responsibility associated with driving? If a poll was conducted asking readers whether implementing such a rule could increase the rate of accidents, I'm sure most would implore the authorities to see reason.
From Ms Shilpa Thomas
Dubai
My advice to you
Reducing the driving age limit to 16 years is asking for more trouble. There is an unmistakable arrogance associated with youth. As a road user for the past 12 years, I have observed that 90 per cent of teenagers have a complete disregard for road rules. Some tailgate or drive in a reckless manner, just to make others lose concentration. I request the authorities to reconsider all aspects before they implement such a rule. My advice to teenagers would be to be cautious, safe and tolerant. Above all, respect the rights of all road users.
From Mr George M.
Dubai
World's experience
The proposal to consider reducing the driving age to 16 contradicts the trend in the US to raise the legal driving age to 18. Statistics have proven that 16 year-olds are three times more likely to die in a car accident than the average driver. These grim statistics are attributed to the lack of mature decisions regarding speeding, wearing seat belts and more. Why would we wish to experiment by allowing younger people to drive when the rest of the world's experience supports increasing the legal driving age?
From Mr Marcus
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Social experiment
It would be ideal if the traffic authorities could tie a young driver's licence with that of his father or a guardian, so that both get points if an offence is committed on the roads. By doing this, teenagers would soon realise that dangerous driving and speeding should be avoided at all costs, as otherwise they would have to face the wrath of their irate parents. This seems to be the necessary solution.
From Mr Robert L. Fielding
Al Ain
Training, not a solution
The past few months have been witness to a spate of accidents involving teenagers. Following one of the accidents, the authorities revealed that they might consider increasing the driving age limit to 21 years. Additionally, parents would be held accountable if their children were caught driving without a licence. Thereby, the suggestion to reduce the driving age limit to 16 years makes no sense to me. I understand that teenagers will be trained — which is better than having them drive without training. However, we must understand that the psyche of teenagers is different and they will continue to speed.
From Ms Karsten Gammelgaard
UAE
Dream come true
Sixteen-year-olds should be allowed to drive as long as they are accompanied by their parents or experienced drivers. I am a car enthusiast and so are many of my friends. We exchange any information we get about cars and are eagerly waiting for the day when we would be allowed to drive. I hope this rule is implemented for teenagers from all nationalities — that's the only way our dream can come true. However, adequate supervision is necessary to ensure no teenager misuses his or her rights.
From Mr Rahul Jones
Dubai
Gaming strategy
Sixteen and eighteen year olds are more likely to speed because they are used to playing video games and could easily indulge in road rage.
From Mr Aqeel
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Being responsible
More teenagers would mean more accidents on roads, as many youngsters speed. A safe driver is one who understands his/her responsibilities towards self, family and the people around.
From Mr Waseem
Dubai
Website comment
Plans at 16
The driving age limit should never be set at 16. Young children focus on the ‘thrill' of speeding and pay no heed to safety measures. No matter what you teach them, they will do what they had always planned to do at 16.
From Mr Khurram Shaikh
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Not a joke
This is an excellent idea, because getting the youth involved at a young age makes them realise that driving is not a joke.
From Mr Royston
Philadelphia, US
Website comment
Two questions
Why should educating teenagers be coupled with issuing driving permits at 16? Aren't the roads dangerous enough?
From Mr Zaid
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Bad idea
It is bad enough that incompetent and reckless drivers who are aged 18 and above are plying the streets. Reducing the legal age could make the roads even more dangerous. This is not a good idea.
From A Reader
Dubai
Website comment
High-risk category
I'm quite surprised with this report. In the US, people between the ages of 16 and 25 pay a higher price for insurance because they are in a high-risk category for accidents. Dubai already suffers from dangerous driving practices. I can only imagine what the situation would be if immature drivers are allowed to drive.
From A Reader
Dubai
Website comment
Driving for pleasure
The age limit should be increased to 21! There is no need for 16-year-olds to drive cars, as they would only be driving for pleasure. Young people should be trained to make use of public transport.
From Mr Mark
Dubai
Website comment
What's the Metro for?
Would we advocate giving 16-year-olds a gun? A car is just as deadly if placed in the wrong hands. Perhaps schools can be given access to a centre where children can learn about road safety and all other aspects associated with driving. Maybe this would deter many children from thinking driving is akin to playing a computer game where they can stop a car every couple of seconds when travelling at a speed of 100km/h. Anyone at 16 can learn to drive, but it is lack of maturity and experience which makes them too young to take on that responsibility. We must encourage the youth to use the Metro — that's what it was intended for, in addition to reducing the number of cars on the roads.
From A Reader
UAE
Name withheld by request
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