Should Driving Age be 17?

Currently in the UK, the driving age is 17, but here is a question that I would like every teenager looking forward to obtaining their full UK driving licence and the freedom of being in charge of a vehicle to ask themself.

Am I really ready at the age of 17 to take up the responsibility of owning a full UK driving licence? Before you answer, I would like you to consider the following facts:

  • The legal age to vote in the UK is 18.


  • You cannot obtain credit until you reach the age of 18 in the UK.


  • To legally get married without parental consent in the UK, you need to be 18.


  • So it seems that in many aspects, society does not consider you to be an adult until you reach the ripe old age of 18, yet you can obtain a full UK driving licence and be in-charge of a 1 Ton piece of metal (with up to 6 passengers) a full year earlier!



    Now of the 3 things above that you need to be 18 to do, none of them will affect anyone else if you abuse the right.

    At the age of 17 however, if you abuse the right given by obtaining a driving licence, not only can you kill yourself, but others, and your actions could affect 10s or even 100s of people.

    So while I'm not advocating changing the driving age to 18 or even 21, you need to seriously consider the responsibility that owning a driving licence at 17 involves. Personally I don't understand why someone can't vote at 17, yet can be allowed to be responsible for a car and potentially other passengers' lives? There have been many cases where young drivers have lost their lives or killed someone because a mistake made after passing their driving test and have a ride in their new vehicle, so please be safe and careful.

    If you require high quality driving lessons from a very helpful, patient and fully qualified instructor, then why not call or send me a text message on 07956233032.


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