Pantagraph.com | News | Gov. signs new driving rules for teenagers

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

who'da thought? wrote on Sep 6, 2007 8:59 PM:

" i think that changing the driving age from 16 to 18 is unreasonable. getting their license is what kids want for years. my mom cant wait for me to get mine. she doesnt want to cart me around until im 18. when kids are 18, they are going to college. theyll just be recieving their license and then going where their parents cant control them. maybe the driving age should be changed to 35. then everyone would be responsible enough to drive. kids dont want to be riding bikes or walking. you cant go on dates unless your parents drive you. off-campus lunch? we will be increasing the risk of being hit while walking to the nearest wendys. the people in the world whose opinion counts(unlike mine) dont think this will be a problem. they think this law will decrease the risk but it doesnt. no matter what laws are made, there will still be accidents, and teens will die. most people will hate the law, especially teens. there might be resistance to the law making it even more dangerous because 16 or 17 year olds without experience will be driving. "

so annoyed wrote on Sep 2, 2007 8:49 PM:

" I hate they fact that teens have a name put to them 'irrisponsible' 'dangerous.' Not all people would drive unsafely, I'm 16 and turning 17 in feb and driving has been the one thing I've looked forward to since I was about 13. Now Its finally coming and your taking it away? It's ridiculous, I'm sure you all think It's good to change rules now cause you can all drive, but if you weren't yet you'd disagree, I'm sure of it. unfair bastards. "

Re since most parents: wrote on Aug 21, 2007 12:50 PM:

" I agree 100% "

Milorad wrote on Aug 21, 2007 12:06 PM:

" The punks need to be getting more practice. They shouldn't be allowed to have cell phones when they drive either. "

what about small towns? wrote on Aug 21, 2007 11:59 AM:

" I live in a rural town and our part time of a joke cop never pulls any of our kids over even when several Parents have complained about them. And, my small town doesn't even have a cop on duty have of the time. What happens then? Does the rule apply only when a cop is on duty? "

I agree wrote on Aug 21, 2007 11:56 AM:

" I agree with Driving @ 9yrs !!!!!!! Almost everbody is too distracted to even be behind the wheel of an Auto. "

To:To I think wrote on Aug 21, 2007 11:54 AM:

" UMMMM YEA! I would drive my kids around until they were 21 if I had to!!! Thats a part of being a parent!!! And if means doing just a little more to keep then safe, I would do it. Yea I was 16 at one time, but you know, times have changed. And there were many teens in my class that should have NOT gotten their D.L. But they did. Sure couldnt wait to get my drivers licenes! Its a part of growing up. But if the age was changed to 18, over time people would get use to just like when the legal drinking age use to be 18, now its 21 and everbody has gotten use to it, and or even forgot about it being 18. All i'm saying is that teens need MORE pratice before they are turned out on their own. I'll admit, i myself probably could have used a year or more of pratice before i got my license. ~I Think~ "

Re: Driving @ 9yrs wrote on Aug 21, 2007 11:29 AM:

" I agree completely! I also grew up on a farm and was driving trucks and tractors before I hit double digits. It was called a "chore." From what I see, our current batch of parents generally (not all) do not make their kids do real chores. If you are growing up in the country, you are way ahead of the game. Of course, I also worked until 11:00 on school nights, 12:00 on weekends. Those kids now who are trying to be reponsible and have jobs are only going to be hindered by that part of the law. "

too poor wrote on Aug 21, 2007 11:13 AM:

" I am going along with this law, nobody asked me anyway. I didn't have a license until I was 27, so I really don't care if my kids have one or not. It would make it easier for me, but who said parenting was easy!? "

Driving @ 9yrs wrote on Aug 21, 2007 9:21 AM:

" I was driving in the fields at 9 years of age, and was going to and from fields by 10. it was work, it was not fun. take the fun out of driving and people will live...no cell phones, no texting, no drinking. that's what will save the lives. "

To I think wrote on Aug 21, 2007 9:09 AM:

" So you're going to drive your kid around till they are 18? I know my parents couldn't wait for me to get my license so that they didn't have to drive me around anymore and they didn't have to worry about me getting rides or getting stranded. I think kids should still get their license at 16, we all did and we were all excited about it at some point. Don't forget, you were 16 once also, so don't be judgemental. "

I Think.... wrote on Aug 21, 2007 8:50 AM:

" The driving age should be 18. Teens should get their permits at 16, but should not be issued a D.L. until they are 18. This would give teens 2 full years of training behind the wheel before they are turned out on their own. Also I think that teens need to learn how to drive in all weather conditions and all the seasons before they can recieve their D.L. Because as we all know, the weather plays a big part when it comes to driving. And for most teens they are not use to driving in the rain, hot weather or snow/ice. "

Jed wrote on Aug 21, 2007 8:12 AM:

" I was blessed to have grown up on a farm and was able to start driving when I was 9. Dad just pulled over on the gravel road, got out and said "son, you're driving the rest of the way home". Lord knows how I could see over the steering wheel, I was only about 45 inches tall! "

I used to work... wrote on Aug 21, 2007 8:08 AM:

" ...until 1:00 am at a fast food place when I was 16. Some kids babysit until at least that late. Will there be exceptions for those? There had better be. "

Now wrote on Aug 21, 2007 7:44 AM:

" We need to get a no flying from Chicago law! "

READER wrote on Aug 21, 2007 6:32 AM:

" To TJA:>< ME TOO, BUT, i'm 61 now. You renew my faith in the intelligence of our young adults. THANKS for your comment, TOO BAD more teenagers don't have your insight. And TOO BAD more parents don't enforce rules & morals like yours did. "

me wrote on Aug 21, 2007 5:58 AM:

" I think it is safe to assume that the majority of teen deaths, caused my motor vehicle accidents, are because the driver was: drunk/high, talking on the cell phone, trying to impress a girlfriend/boyfriend with how fast the car goes, radio up to loud breaking concentration, etc... The lack of experience, in my opinion, isn't the problem. While I agree that more hands on experience is needed for teen drivers, I just don't think this new set of rules will do a whole lot to accomplish the objective of, stopping teen deaths. It is their imaturity not their lack of experience. That being said, I can't even begin to count the number of times I have run into an inconsiderate driver in B/N, Peoria, Springfield, or any given interstate. I know their not kids. "

Stupid Stupid wrote on Aug 21, 2007 5:44 AM:

" Here is another example of making more rules because no one enforces the rules we already have.. We already have curfew laws, but I have never heard of anyone actually getting in trouble for the ones we have. I am pretty sure you can get in trouble with street racing now??? "

Re: Safety~~ wrote on Aug 20, 2007 9:17 PM:

" You and your family ROCKS!!!! "

i beg to differ wrote on Aug 20, 2007 8:59 PM:

" Teens are not stupid"??...I beg to differ. "

TJA wrote on Aug 20, 2007 7:43 PM:

" Lucky for me I grew up on a farm where I had 8 years of practice before I even got my permit. No high schooler should be out that late on a school night anyway. In my opinion, good parents would be enforcing curfews on their children anyway and the good kids will make sure they are home and not at a beer party. "

Safety wrote on Aug 20, 2007 7:33 PM:

" While many might not agree with the new laws for kids under 18 I think it rocks. I have three young adults and when they were learning they all had well over 75 hours with me and did all the driving for almost 6 months anywhere we went (all seasons) . They are safe drivers. 2 in their 20's now no tickets, no accidents ,and I trust them to drive me anywhere. The youngest put off getting hers until she had driven through the in winter with me. "

uhhhh wrote on Aug 20, 2007 7:26 PM:

" Juniors and Seniors in High School not driving after 11pm...at home by 11pm...I don't see that happening. Setting them all up to break the law if you ask me. "

This is all~~ wrote on Aug 20, 2007 7:22 PM:

" For the good and safety of our kids. "

Since most parents wrote on Aug 20, 2007 7:09 PM:

" can't seem to make and enforce common sense rules for their children and teen drivers, it's nice to see that someone else is stepping up to the plate. Thanks for the new laws. It's about time! "

Wrong wrote on Aug 20, 2007 5:37 PM:

" Gov, it's a statewide law. Did you read the article before you offered your comment? Why don't you drop the reflexive "everything's different for Chicago line?" Sometimes it is. Most times it's not. I know it's probably comforting to think that all of your problems are the result of some special favoritism shown to Chicago, but they're not. If you really want to help downstate, find a way to work with Chicago, don't just bash it. Most of the state's tax dollars come from the Chicago region, after all. "

Fascism rules! wrote on Aug 20, 2007 5:03 PM:

" Anything that promotes fascism or his pocket book, he's eager to sign. What these new rules will do is help the police bully more of the american public and give them more leverage to create revenue for the Fascist agenda while providing more flexibility when they assualt the public. There is something very wrong going on my fellow countryman. How long will you sit as the steamroller destroys freedom, liberty, and justice? What side of the fence would you stand in 1930's Germany? "

IMPORTANT BUT? wrote on Aug 20, 2007 5:02 PM:

" I UNDERSTAND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BUT WHAT ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET OR ELECTRIC BILL RELIEF? JUST WONDERING IF HE MAYBE FORGOT ABOUT THEM? "

moonie wrote on Aug 20, 2007 4:54 PM:

" and the gods have spoken. both rod and jessie "

Gov wrote on Aug 20, 2007 4:18 PM:

" Although, I do agree with these rules...I bet the rules are different for the kids in Chicago. "

WOW wrote on Aug 20, 2007 4:13 PM:

" Nine months instead of three? That's a huge change. If you ask me driving while young was all trial and error, you learn along the way and you learn your own way of driving rather than someone else's. Unless you got into an accident! "

did you see? wrote on Aug 20, 2007 3:57 PM:

" The gov. had roll away partitions brought in, and ducked behind them after signing this bill, to avoid answering questions from the media. "

... wrote on Aug 20, 2007 3:52 PM:

" Ok, so where's the State Budget? Some of us would like to be able to pay our bills. We can't do that if you're not paying us. "

Well wrote on Aug 20, 2007 3:30 PM:

" I see 2 things that this will accomplish: 1) It WILL make it safter on the road. 2) It will generate $ Now, which one of the two do you think he cares about? "

driving with an instructor wrote on Aug 20, 2007 3:29 PM:

" Who pays for this? Can most people afford to hire an outside instructor? "

Maximum Age Limit? wrote on Aug 20, 2007 3:26 PM:

" Now can we work on getting some kind of plan in motion to help curb all those accidents that the elderly cause? We all know there are some folks out there who are too old to be driving!!! If you can't see over your steering wheel, then maybe it's time to forfeit your license! "

Cynic wrote on Aug 20, 2007 3:21 PM:

" Yes but did he sign the budget yet? "

You know, there wrote on Aug 20, 2007 3:18 PM:

" really should be more changes. The problem isn't really all experience or age, it's all about maturity level. Hard to make a maturity standard state wide, but maybe the extra time would help with this standard. "

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