The World and Its DangerEssay Preview: The World and Its DangerReport this essayThe above information does not mean that there are no responsible drivers under the age of 21. Nor does it mean that drivers 21 and older are better drivers. There are many teen drivers that are reasonable, sensible and responsible drivers. Some so much so that they put to shame drivers who may be in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
But since it has been proven that the risk for causing accidents is higher (between 15-20 ) than any other age group then it only makes sense to raise the minimum age to 21. While there are many young people who are quite capable of operating a motor vehicle safely and responsibly there are no provisions to grant a license on a case by case basis. Unfortunately, some young people end up paying the price be it with age limit being raised or in higher premiums for their age group.
The reason that they are considering raising the legal driving age to 21 is because we have (I am Australian) too many young men and women driving around, usually under the influence, thinking they are invincible. Considering the legal drinking age now is 18 the adults will more than likely be experimenting with alcohol along with driving. And we all have that one friend or person we know who thinks they can take anything. It is a reasonable thing to do because the Government is blamed when some young punk wraps their head around a tree. For the Government it is a lose lose situation because if they let the people continue to kill themselves then or get hurt they will sue the Government and if they do do something people get angry at them because they are taking away their rights
The Independent: I believe that the legal age is a terrible thing. I think if you give up smoking and alcohol by the age of 23, it has much longer reach. You get a young person thinking that, OK, maybe this is for life and this is not, that life seems over. So that is why for the 21st years it is so important to hold people responsible for their actions – especially when they may be the victim of sexual assault or worse.
What about mental health concerns that have grown as we have seen our youth on drugs – how has one of those – my daughter been affected, and is you aware of how those issues have reached public policy level? I would like to share with you the facts from our own own community and a couple of years ago when the Minister for Health, Michael Gove, raised this as he was talking. It was said how they are using cannabis to deal with their own child and you know the answer – cannabis. So I think it is an ethical issue, you just have to remember that there are all different things that they can do to control their daughter’s experience. If she has a prescription she can take that.
What is that to the parents of children like yours? We have not been given adequate guidance from the Attorney general on how to properly care for young people after they have been seen on drugs. Why are the parents talking about that?
The Independent: It is an issue that is often misunderstood and the answer depends on those that you are dealing with. The point being – as there are a few other questions that the Attorney-General seems to have misconstrued. The question is do you accept that there were medical reasons for the use of cannabis or is it simply because you are young and you get in trouble for it or do you really get so used to it that you stop using it when you go out and you come back on a Sunday evening for a day.
So it is about what is reasonable to do when that is a risk to your adolescent life and can be prevented or treated – as it always is – so that young people feel safer and secure knowing that they are not at risk in the process.
When you are in the custody of the health minister you are responsible for your own child’s mental health. The Health Minister may suggest and even encourage us to look at how cannabis is being treated as it will make it harder for us to make decisions. I think if this is a issue the Home secretary can do something with it by this summer, after having examined and made recommendations to the Home Office he can make changes, he could go further. Maybe he can give it back to you in early 2010.