Readers' views: Driving age

Are 15-year-olds mature enough to drive? Readers overwhelmingly agreed with a psychologist's warning in yesterday's Herald that teenage drivers' brains had not fully developed judgment, self-control and the ability to plan ahead. Here is an edited selection from many emails we received:

I learned to drive at 18 and was still too immature, once going into my work car park at too much of an angle, smashing the back door of my car, then speeding through too narrow spots on the main road beside parked cars just like a motorbike. Fifteen is crazy and deadly and don't give me that garbage about NZ farms and distance from town. Australia has more farms and it is a much longer drive to town.

- Murray Hunter

15-year-olds should be allowed to drive tractors and farm vehicles in remote rural areas only. Everyone else should start learning at 17. Then we might save quite a few lives.

- David Walters

The law does not allow children to be left at home on their own until they are 14 because they are not thought to be mature enough. One year later the law allows children behind the wheel of a potentially lethal weapon, despite scientific evidence that shows they are definitely not mature enough. Why does NZ tolerate this ridiculously low driving age? What benefit does it have? I absolutely believe the age should be raised to a probationary licence at 17 and a full licence at 18.

- Carolyn Brown

A big no. My daughter pushed me to help get her licence at 15. The law being what it is the pressure on parents from kids to get their licence at 15 is very strong. I knew my daughter would have a accident after she got her licence because her confidence was too high and she could not grasp the full picture of what driving a car requires. Needless to say two accidents and $10,000 dollars later she has become a better driver.

- Mark

As the wife of a driving instructor and mother of three teenage boys with cars, I can assure you that sensible judgment and responsible actions are not on the minds of younger learner drivers at 15. The one thing my husband finds consistent with young learner drivers is their eagerness to put their foot to the floor to get to each intersection as quickly as possible. There does seem to be this inability for young teenagers to think of more than one or two things at a time, ie accelerating at a rate consistent with their reaction to steer correctly at the rate they're accelerating, or remembering to indicate, brake and turn at the same time when approaching and entering an intersection or roundabout.

- Katie Ireland

Fifteen-year-olds can leave school and get a job, therefore, like all workers, they should have the right to be able to get themselves to work. It is irrelevant that an undeveloped mind takes more risks than a developed mind - we know that, that's why we have the learner system in place. They are also incapable of thinking of consequences, so some of them some of the time will drive drunk, or with mates in the car, or fast, or in an unsafe manner - just like the 80-year-old I saw go around a roundabout the wrong way, or the 40-year-old I saw talking on the phone with a coffee in his hand.

- Lyn

No they are definitely not mature enough. I lived in Germany for 10 years and their driving age is 17. The actual driving training is very tough and the theory also involves doing a first-aid course.

- Debbie Atkinson

Well at that age I certainly wasn't ready. Youngsters definitely think they're immortal and take risks. A car can become a weapon or a deathtrap so easily. We have to change the legal age, for their own protection. Another good idea would be to insist on third party insurance for all drivers, which would deter many teens from owning performance cars. In my view responsible drivers should always be insured.

- Steve Curtis

I don't think 15-year-olds are old enough to drive. There is no need for anybody to drive until they leave school. That is what school buses are for. There is a school near us, and every day I see school children driving large cars. If insurance was mandatory, this would at least limit school children to smaller vehicles.

- Pete Steggle

I've seen 15-year-olds behind the wheel of their mothers' Remuera tractors who can hardly see above the wheel. They have no social responsibility, or sense of other people around them, and so should not even be allowed to drive. I'm all for raising the minimum driving age to 18, as at least then they've had a chance to mature and realise that there are other people in the world beside their 15-year-old self.

- Hayden Nash

Only in NZ! No way are 15-year-old boys old enough to drive. My son has just turned 17 and we are allowing him to have driving lessons, but continuously since he turned 15, we have been having to say no, as once each of his friends turned 15 they seemed to get their licence. I think it is ridiculous that the rest of the country suffer for people who choose to live in the country.

- Carolyn Templeman

I totally agree that although physically almost grown up, mentally these young drivers are not able to appreciate and assess quickly the actions to be taken when confronted with possibly dangerous situations on the road, especially at speed. I feel that, in line with most other countries, 18 would be more suitable and contribute positively to driving safety in New Zealand.

- Abie Leroux

Many 15-year-olds make very competent drivers and are more likely to be under parental guidance than older teenagers so tend to be more careful. If the driving age is raised there should be a compensatory increase in the range, frequency and reliability of public transport.

- A. Martin