Stop treating 16-year-olds as ‘kidults’

A plan to allow teens as young as 16 to drive a car with a speed-limiter has gotten the green light, from Ciara Kelly at least.

The Newstalk Breakfast host was responding to European Union plans to allow teenagers to drive any car that has been adapted with a speed-limiting device set at 45 km/h.

However, the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) is calling for the plan to be dropped.

It has recommended investments in public transport, with reduced ticket prices for younger people, as an alternative to driving and riding, also at places and times when young people are partying.

The proposal was part of plans announced last month to revise driving licence rules in the bloc.

Ciara said she has no issue with it.

"I do think it's fine, and I would go beyond that," she said.

"We seem, in my mind anyway, determined to infantilise adolescents in this country.

"We call young adults, which is what they are, 'children' when in fact they are nothing like children at all.

"I think we should let them drive, I think we should let them vote, I think we should let them have sex.

"I think we should have them held legally responsible if they commit a crime.

"They aren't children, they aren't babies - and we seem determined to make out as if they're kind of incapable in some way.

"I also think... if you give them responsibilities, you will make them responsible.

"If you act like they're kidults until they're 25, they will behave like they're kidults till they're 25.

"I think challenges and responsibility breed responsibility, and it's good.

"We've seen in times of hardship, in other eras, that 16-year-olds can work, can raise families - and we think ours can't even get behind a wheel at 45 km/h.

"It would be very helpful for the teens of rural Ireland: I say yes," she added.

#newstalk #ireland #driving

[theeggtimertictic]

Driving at 45 miles an hour can cause accidents. Leave it at 18!

[PluggeFamily]

Limiting the speed can also create a risk for accidents, 18 years of age is way more viable.

[micklarkin]

Thank god Shane ain't my da
The cotton wool father

[patrickkinsella]

Statistics don’t show/cover everything. In the US 18 yr olds have 2 years more driving experience than 16 yr olds. That’s 2 times more experience so that’s why they have 2 times less accidents than 16yr olds.

[robg]

I am sixty years old and in 1989 I was living and working in Germany. After driving on German roads for a year using my Irish driving license, I had to do the German driving test. I had to take twelve hours of classroom theory and twenty hours of practical lessons with a government approved driving school. In Germany you can't just get behind the wheel with your dad beside you; or as in the case of Irish provisional drivers, no one beside you! This country is a joke when it comes to road safety and if anything we should make it a privelage to drive, not a right! The Healy-Raes see nothing wrong with drinking and driving, just because it is a tradition in rural counties. Learner drivers should be made to attend government approved driving schools to get a licence. No more of this provisional license rubbish!

[heddystgeorge]

Most 16 year olds only want a drivers license so they can race down city streets much like they do here in America

[SlackSlackSlackSlack]

First get people to be insured and do intensive checks. Then, remove back log for driving tests and do not tolerate L everywhere of years on. And then, discuss the age. It is a bloody mess and we want to add 16 years old on top? Ridiculous.

[justagearofwar]

16 years
The minimum age limit to drive work vehicles with or without a trailer, such as a land tractor or JCB, is 16 years. Also, you cannot take a driving test for at least 6 months after getting your first learner permit.

[kaziez]

Any new driver is more likely to have an accident. So I think the stats just show that.

[sovereignnews]

Also alot of 17 year olds when they pass their test crash is because they learn in small city cars then go home and jump into mum or dad's mid to large family car which they can't handle or haven't adjusted to yet and have an accident so why not make learners learn in the car they will be using on a daily bases does that not make sence after all being familiar with your machinery makes for a better operator,

[sovereignnews]

Absolutely 16 is the lawful age of Sovereignty it also gives them responsible and responsibility is very important for adulthood it's also a freedom of travel let's not forget they need to pass a test to prove they are competent sovereigns

[theeggtimertictic]

Nope 16 year olds shouldnt drive ... vote ... or have sex.