Activity 6A Writing an Argumentative Essay (p. 33) A. Driver’s License Age Most states allow teenagers to get a driver’s license at the age of 16. Some people think that young people should not be allowed to drive without supervision until they are 18. Conduct research on the issue and then state a position on whether the driver’s license age in your state should be raised to 18. Write an argumentative essay in support of your claim. Address at least one counterclaim and support your ideas with relevant evidence from your research.

Final Essay: Raising the Driver’s License Age Activity 6A Writing an Argumentative Essay (p. 33) Final Essay: Raising the Driver’s License Age Like all states, Florida has a graduated driver’s license. This system begins at the age of 15 when students can get their learner’s permit. When they turn 16, students can get their intermediate license and have the freedom to drive on their own or with any number of passengers, except during late night hours. Finally, when turning 18, students can drive without any restrictions at all. Unfortunately this system is failing and should be changed. The state of Florida should raise the age that students can get their intermediate license to 18 and their unrestricted license to 19 years of age. (continued)

Activity 6A Writing an Argumentative Essay (p. 33) First, the state of Florida should raise the driver’s license age because younger teens are not ready for the responsibility of driving. Eighteen year-olds are not allowed to drink alcohol because they are not ready to use this potentially dangerous substance. An automobile has an even greater potential to kill. Research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health shows that during the teenage years, the human brain undergoes big changes in the areas that affect decision-making and risk-taking. Teens are more likely to drink and drive or text and use a cell phone when driving. The teenage brain is just not ready for the responsibility of driving. (continued)

Activity 6A Writing an Argumentative Essay (p. 33) Another reason Florida should raise the driver’s license age is that it would save families and insurance companies money. Parents often pay extremely high insurance premiums to ensure their teenage drivers. If the driving age were raised, insurance companies wouldn’t have to pay out money for the hundreds of thousands of accidents caused by teenage drivers. Both families and businesses would save money. (continued)

Activity 6A Writing an Argumentative Essay (p. 33) The most convincing reason for raising the driver’s license age is that it will save lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that the leading cause of death for U.S. teens is motor vehicle crashes. In 2010, seven teen drivers were killed in car accidents every day (www.cdc.gov). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that raising the intermediate license age from 16 to 17 years would cause a 13 percent reduction in fatal crashes. Adding another year would only reduce this statistic even more. Raising the driver’s license age will prevent needless deaths. (continued)

Activity 6A Writing an Argumentative Essay (p. 33) Opponents of raising the driver’s license age to 18 years of age believe that Florida’s current graduated system, which requires students to get 50 hours of driving time and take a driving test is already difficult enough. They also point to rules that limit the number of passengers teenage drivers can carry. But the statistics go against this idea. Florida had 15 teenage driver deaths in the first 6 months of 2011 alone. The current system is not doing enough to protect young drivers and the people on the roads. (continued)

Activity 6A Writing an Argumentative Essay (p. 33) All the evidence supports the idea that Florida’s driver’s license age should be raised to 18 years. Florida is putting everyone on the road at risk by allowing young teens to drive before they are ready. A few simple changes can save many lives.