Learning to drive is a significant milestone in a person’s life, and it is frequently viewed as a symbol of independence and responsibility. The legal driving age varies around the world due to differing legal requirements, safety concerns, and cultural norms.
Many European and North American countries require drivers to be at least 18 years old. In some Asian and African countries, the legal age is sixteen. In the United States, 16 is normally the legal driving age (depending on the state), however the country has a graduated licensing program in which teens learn to drive with a learner’s permit, then progress to a restricted licence, and finally to a full licence.
However, one of the states in the United States has recently dropped this age. Kentucky’s Senate passed House Bill 15, which Governor Andy Beshear signed into law. The new law essentially reduces the minimum age to obtain a driver’s license to 15 years old, bringing Kentucky in line with neighbouring Tennessee and West Virginia.
What exactly is the bill about?
Kentucky law now states that drivers can apply for an intermediate permit when they are 16 years old, as long as they have a learner’s permit, which permits them to drive with an adult. Teenagers will be able to apply for an intermediate driver’s license at the age of 15 under the new law, with the goal of obtaining their full license by the age of 16. These will allow them to drive independently, albeit with constraints.
Young drivers are not eligible for a full driver’s license without restrictions until they reach the age of 17. The new rule allows young people to apply for a restricted driver’s license at the age of 15, which means they will be able to obtain a complete driver’s license at the age of 16.5 – six months earlier than previously.
How to Get a Driver’s License in Kentucky
The new law does not make significant changes in the process. Young drivers must still pass a test, a vision exam, and maintain a practice driving log.
Kentucky, like other states, has a Graduated Driver Licensing scheme for youth who got their permits between the ages of 15 and 17. While having this permit, drivers must complete and log at least 180 hours of driving. They can only drive with a licensed adult over the age of 21, and they are not permitted to drive between the hours of 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. unless there is a valid cause.
Following the permit phase, drivers aged 15 to 17 will receive an intermediate licence after completing their driving exam. To obtain a full unrestricted driver’s license, drivers must first possess an intermediate license for at least 180 days (six months), complete an education course, and be at least 17 years old.
Is it safe for 15-year-olds to start driving?
While 15-year-olds can now obtain a driver’s permit in Kentucky, there are some precautions to protect their safety. To obtain a licence, teenagers must complete 60 hours of driving, 10 of which must be at night. Most significantly, they may only drive with an adult driving shotgun who is at least 21 years old and has a driving licence.
Those who support the proposed legislation argue that it will give drivers more time on the road before earning a full licence, perhaps lowering accident rates.
Opponents of the proposal believe that 15-year-olds are not responsible enough to drive. Car wrecks are the main cause of mortality among teenagers aged 15 to 18 in the United States, with 2,514 deaths expected in 2022 – terrifying figures for parents. However, just because the legal age has been lowered does not mean that a teenager must obtain a licence; parents may still require them to wait.