Teens injured in rollover

" OMG if it had been anyone else over the age of 21 they would have been jailed..but hey he was a teen without a license so let him off with a couple of minor tickets..Personally I think they should take away any chance of this teen getting a license until he is 21. STOP giving these kids just a slap on the wrists ans letting them get away with just about anything they want!! "

" I'm glad they are alright, but who let these little punks in the valley anyways? We got enough town folk moving out here as it is... "

" Actually you get in more trouble driving on a suspended than driving without a license at all. It's not right. "

" Put a no driver's license until 18 initiative on the ballot I'll vote for it. Considering the risks, statistics, and costs for under age drivers the time has come to raise the driving age. "

" I think we should lower the driving age to 12. That way, by the time they are 16, they will know how to operate a vehicle like a 20 year old. "

" were do we give money to "

" I think we should all just be thankful they are alright. It seems to me that no matter what age you are when you start driving you will probably make some mistakes, even some amazingly stupid ones. I sure made a few before I realized that I was not invincible or a Formula One driver. However, those mistakes lead to a more nuanced and critical approach to driving that will certainly decrease accidents into the future. Of course, all of you negative Nancys out there probably only started driving at 18 and had a spotless driving record ever since. I worry that our devotion to safety will lead to an ever more constrained version of our society. Long story short, I wouldn't vote for an age limit increase for WADLs, I think the system is fine. The burden lies with parents and instructors to provide oversight and instruction, age makes no difference. "

" Wow-some REALLY smart kids out there! I'll be talking about this with my class in our "current events" section of class. Why? Because kids need to hear this over and over again from every possible source who cares about them. Lucky7, why punish the good kids out there? As both a parent and a teacher of kids this age, I can vouch for the fact there are MANY good, responsible kids who take driving very seriously. Let's remember we were all kids once as well, and unless we want to admit we NEVER speed and break driving laws, we shouldn't be hypocrites. "

" I'm not sure increasing the minimum driving age will help. Kids do dumb things and take stupid chances. I don't think celebrating an 18th birthday will magically change that. As parents all we can do is hope that all we teach them "sticks" so as to minimize exposure to accidents and mistakes, but we all know that, at some time or another, is all but certain that they'll do something dumb. I'm glad they're OK. "

" I can understand the argument about not punishing the "good" kids. Being a parent that has kids rapidly approaching the magical driving age I've done my research, talked to my insurance agent, etc. Statistically speaking you'll find the accident rate much higher for teens below age 18. More troubling is the death & serious injury rate is way higher for the same young group. I'm not saying there aren't responsible kids out there that can safely drive at 16. I like to think I once was one of them. My point is the numbers don't lie, and as a whole we could save lot's of heart ache & pain by delaying driving by a mere 2 years. My kids are honors students, what most would consider "good" kids but the oldest while very book smart is in no way, shape or form responsible enough for my wife & I to allow to drive at 16. Not to mention the significant costs involved. I could be marred by my own youth. One of my best H.S. friends who was an honor student, active in youth group etc., just about killed himself and another friend 2 months after getting his license at 16. He admitted to me he going way too fast and lost control. "

" Lucky7 I agree partly, but in the meantime of them not having one they should be able to drive on permit with a parent only from the age 15 to 17 and get one at 18 its more experience. "

" Lucky7, you are absolutely right to say you were marred. My best friend lost both of her parents to a drunk driver who murdered them 22 years ago. I will never get over that, and I'm not in the family. As a parent of a 17 year old, we have stressed time and time again what can happen if you act like a know-it-all on the roads out there. So far, so good. My kid is one who puts his job above about anything, and one threat of not having a car to get to work was enough. Good luck with the driving teen. You are also very perceptive to realize book smarts isn't always the best indicator of a teen's ability to drive. Responsibility and common sense aren't measured by letter grades. "

" I agree....let's raise the legal driving age, and at the same time, make the age limit for going to war 21. How can you tell a kid that he (or she) can't drive a car when he is 16, but in two years he can go to war and fight for his country at the risk of losing his life? Perhaps it's apples and oranges, but it has to be considered. Do kids magically begin making good judgement at 18, 19, or 20 perhaps. Heck, we just had a 30 year old arrested in town for attacking someone with a meat cleaver. I bet he is a responsible guy and a great driver! Age cannot solve the problem. There is no easy solution. My oldest child is not 16 yet, but I can assure you when they are, they will be very ready to handle driving a car to their after school job, sporting events, or social activities. Teach your child right from wrong....before they become a statistic also. "

" momoffour-I totally agree with you. The kids just don't get enought time practicing with an adult. I also think that at 18 kids have done a lot of growing up and most can make better decisions about driving. If you disagree, spend a couple of afternoons watching the area around any highschool, especially on a Friday. It is actually frightening to see. "

" Kitten makes a great point. Sit in the parking lot between Coweeman & KHS for the 1/2 hour immedietly after school. What you'll notice is most young drivers do just fine, but there are a few that are incredibly stupid, scary stupid. Oh don't plan on getting out the parking lot quickly it'll take some time! "

" Lucky7 - In regard to the statistical evidence surrounding the accident rate for 16-17 year olds. Since our legal driving age is 16, it makes sense that the first two years of driving would incur more accidents. The statistics that you quote do not compare those who begin driving at 18 to those who drive at 16, they merely note that accident rates are currently higher for drivers with less than two years experience driving. I would guess that if the driving age were raised to 18 you would see the same statistics for 18-19 year olds. "

" I would hope at 18 years of age most would be somewhat more mature & responsible than most would be at 16 years of age. Really the whole issue comes down to responsibility. When you're behind the wheel you are responsible not only for yourself but passengers, and other drivers on the road if you screw up. Here's a few stats I really didn't want to get into from our National Government: http://www.rmiia.org/Auto/Teens/Teen_Driving_Statistics.htm

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers.
16 year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age.
16-year-olds are three times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than the average of all drivers.
3,490 drivers age 15-20 died in car crashes in 2006, up slightly from 2005.
Drivers age 15-20 accounted for 12.9 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes and 16 percent of all the drivers involved in police-reported crashes in 2006.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates the economic impact of auto accidents involving 15-20 year old drivers is over $40 billion.
A recent report by AAA estimates the cost of crashes involving 15-17 year olds to be $34 billion.

Some of the stats include 18-20 year olds, but I think it's clear the younger the driver, the greater the risk! A lot of people don't agree with me and that's ok, but my opinion is that the legal driving age should be 18. "

" As someone who didn't get my license until I was almost 19, I can tell you that you will still do stupid things. I have times when I cannot remember how I got home alive. I was driving so tired I was lethal. It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I realized that was stupid and changed how I drove. And I was very responsible "adult" at that time except for that one things. "

" RE: Proud Teacher...you say there are many responsible teens out there well I am sure there are just as many if not more irresponsible teens out there. You are not with them 24/7 so cant vouche for their actions when they are not with you!! All the time I see so many teens and young people talking or texting while they are driving that it scares me to be on the roads with them. I say if the teens want to act like adults then treat them like adults in all situations!!! "

" I didn't think you could get a 1984 Mazda going fast enough to leave skid marks for 190 feet "

" Their poor little brains simply aren't fully developed. Raise the driving age, or at best if a minor receives any citation, revoke the license until they turn 18. One strike, you're out. "

" Lucky7- Your stats still have the same flaw, there is no way to determine if the accident rate would go down if the driving age were raised. Additionally, you mentioned the economic impact of 15-20 year olds as $40 bn, do you know how much those driving teens contribute to the economy going to work, school, etc? Similarly, elder drivers are also accident-prone, should we set an arbitrary cap on the maximum age for driving as well? "

" Cowlitz1-That is why many of us are saying that they need more practice with a permit before being sent off on their own to drive. We spend hours having them practice foul shots, multiplication facts and pop-flies then send them out in a deadly machine with minimal practice for the amount of decisions that particular skill requires. It is so irresponsible of the adult community. I guess it boils down to appeasing the kids and doing whatever is easiest for the adults. "

" There is a difference between an accident and an accident waiting to happen. I think this one falls under the latter. "

" Do you think there is a reason you get an insurance break at the age of 25? That's when we mature as adults (some what). Maybe we should raise the driving age to 25. Older drivers also have a high fatality rate that compares to new drivers. Maybe we should place an age limit. I know you say driving is a privilage until they tell you to wear a seatbelt then it's infringing on you're rights. Tough years between 16 and 25 for child and parent. We have to learn and we learn from our mistakes. "