In the weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays, there were a number of tragic accidents across Nova Scotia, several of these taking the lives of teenagers. Lives snuffed out because of speed or inexperience in coping with the difficulties of winter driving.
Are we turning our youth loose on our highways too soon? I am of the opinion that we are. Sixteen years of age is too young for someone to own their own “ride,” a term today’s youth use to label their vehicles.
There was a time when a young person may have earned a drivers license at that tender age, but only to drive their parents’ car. Seldom did they have their own vehicle. In fact, most waited years before they put together the dollars necessary to buy a car.
The proof was found along our highways, as hitchhikers, mostly students, lined the roads looking to get to their destination. Today, you can drive from Halifax to Moncton and beyond and not see a single individual thumbing a ride.
The reason is simple: not only do today’s 16-year-olds get their license days after they reach the magic birthday, they also get their own wheels. Whether mom or dad foots the bill or their part time jobs enable them to make the bi-monthly payments, they are out there helping to clog the highways and increase pollution levels caused by vehicle emissions. And, to complicate matters, many, maybe even most, have been given driving lessons by their mother or father.
The danger in this lies in the reality that the parents are probably passing along their bad driving habits. My driving is far from perfect, but I am amazed by some of the chances young drivers take just commuting about the city. Travelling the 102 from Bedford to Halifax or in the reverse direction can be a character-building experience.
Drivers cut in, cut off, tailgate and generally challenge other drivers. The more I see it the more I am convinced these individuals were not trained by a recognized driving school such asYoung Drivers of Canada. They should be.
In the recently concluded session of the Nova Scotia Legislature, much attention was drawn to highway safety. Each initative has merit and will help to make our highways safer, especially the move to ban the use of cell phones while operating a vehicle. And, I suggest, even more steps can be taken.
The advancement of the age for a driver’s license to 18 years could be a double-edged sword. Not only would it produce a more mature student driver, it would keep thousands of cars out of the mix for an additional two years. More important, in order to obtain a driving license, the applicant would have to produce a certificate of graduation from a government recognized driving school. No mom or pop instruction accepted.
There should be no student parking lots at our high schools. If they insist on driving their own cars, make it difficult, if not impossible to find a parking place. That would give youth a taste of the realities awaiting them in the real world.
We have public transportation, an excellent school bus system and, perish the thought, many students could actually walk to and from school.
Having worked in the political world and sat in on caucus debates for three years, I know the first thing that enters the politician’s mind; how will this affect voters? Translated, will this cost me support?
The voting age in Nova Scotia is 18 years of age, unless the wrong-headed Liberal Party resolution to lower this age to 16 years, is accepted. Make it mandatory for drivers to attend a recognized driving school, and those affected will have two years to quell any anger and 48 months to understand the wisdom of the move.
(Al Hollingsworth is a retired journalist who has been challenged by rude drivers one too many times)
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