First, I am not against this. But, coming in a close second, I don't think the reasoning underlying this policy is defensible. To wit:
- Can we prohibit teens from driving after dark if studies show that crashes then are more likely?
- Can we prohibit women from talking on their cell-phones if, as studies show, they are more prone to cause accidents among drivers 25+?
- Must drivers have another adult in the car when driving with a small child to deal with distractions?
- What about non-electronic distractions? Cell-phone are audial. How about a law making it illegal to apply mascara or change shirts while driving?
- And to finally take it too far: what about prohibiting teens from driving with friends? I had a raucous good time communicating hands-free with them as we rode through the canyons back home. Isn't that just as distracting?
Some of these questions are meant to be serious. I think prohibiting this activity for teens alone demonstrates a type of ageism. Either it is dangerous enough that no drivers can do it, or it isn't.
2 comments:
Massachusetts has long restricted junior operators (those under 18 years of age) from driving late at night (currently 12:30am-5am) unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
And a recent Massachusetts law imposes restrictions on driving with your friends. "For the first six months as a junior operator, you cannot have anyone younger than 18 as a passenger in the car unless you are accompanied by a licensed Massachusetts driver 21 or older, who has been a license holder for at least a year, and is sitting in the passenger seat next to you." http://www.dmv.org/ma-massachusetts/teen-drivers.php
Regarding taking off your shirt while driving, if a cop saw you doing that, he would probably pull you over and charge you with reckless driving or something like that. Vague as that may be, I think any jury would be hard-pressed to say that changing your shirt while driving is reasonably safe.
I personally question whether teenagers should be permitted to drive AT ALL, let alone while engaged in distracting activities.
I'd like to have a single "age of majority" where all of a sudden, smoking, drinking, voting, and driving become legal (and if that combination doesn't sound like a good idea, I don't know what is... ;)
My understanding is that the young are not a protected class - "ageism" laws are almost entirely designed to protect the old.
On the bigger point, I agree - nobody should be allowed to do any of these things while driving. If the call is so damned important, pull over. kal v'homer sending text messages or email...
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