Traditionally the driving license is issued to adults 18 years of age or older, who pass the theoretical and practical test of the issuing authorities.
However, what about if the self driven cars become more available, AND the safety for the drivers and the pedestrians become even better than the current practices...
If such High Tech / AI supported cars are there, then would you think teenagers should be allowed to operate them by their own, with their guardians approval?
If yes, what is the lowest age limit you may consider to let them get a driving license for such a future vehicle? 14 year-old? 16? 12?
Why?
In any case (including High Tech / AI supported cars), I believe that the minimum age to allow getting a driving license should be 18 years old.
After 12, driving license can be issued, if driver demonstrates enough skills to drive safely and wisely.
In my country they give a driving license at the age of 18 and I think it is an appropriate age
In my opinion it could be better starting from age of 18 years with consideration of other relevant criteria.
Thank you all for your valuable input!
I totally agree that the accountability age to become a responsible adult is 18,
However, will things change in the future if this is a "License to operate / ride AI self-driving car" without the need for adult driver?
What do you think if :
- the AI self-driving car was scientifically proven to be safer than the current human-driven cars
- AND the guardian can watch the child from the remote control while the child is alone in the "vehicle" from school to home
- AND the system got a back up for emergency
Though it seems a far fetched situation, but forecasting such potentials will always need to balance the risk versus the benefits, keeping the child and community safety as a priority!
In the USA, there is significant variability for when a person can get a driver's license, full or limited, from one state to the next. Of interest is the reality that across the USA, teen drivers begin unsupervised driving, between the ages of 14 and 16, at the same time they are developmentally programmed to push boundaries. This is more the case for males than females, but it applies to both sexes. Given this, the key to safe driving, particularly in the first year of driving, regardless of the age independent driving begins, is limiting distractions and the amount of supervised experience the beginning driver has had leading up to their driving on their own. No radio, no mobile phones and no passengers is the rule I used with my children, for their first 6 months of driving, which fortunately, resulted in no accidents.
I cannot say that a person is any more equipped to drive safely at 18 versus 14, 15, or 16. Supervised experience followed by eliminating all distractions is the key to safe independent driving at any age.
Thanks dear @Mark E Wilkinson for your enlightening comments and sharing your experience!
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