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| In some American States it's 16, here in The Netherlands it's 18. I wouldn't trust any 16 year old I know in a car and would prefer to give them a beer instead of the key to a car, but in the USA it is the other way around apperantly. |
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Slammer time!
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Quote:
Quoth niesl2:
In some American States it's 16, here in The Netherlands it's 18. I wouldn't trust any 16 year old I know in a car and would prefer to give them a beer instead of the key to a car, but in the USA it is the other way around apperantly.
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Well 16 here in the states is usually for a permit to drive which has restrictions. I didn't bother with that process and waited till I was 18 to just take the driver's test and pass it but the main reason was because I didn't need a car so I didn't find taking driver's Education to be particularly warranted. But If I remember correctly with what my mom's friend's son is going though because he just got his permit, he has to drive for 25 or 30 hours with an adult over 25 to drive a car and cannot drive at night time ? I'm a bit fuzzy on the details but it is something like that. |
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It sounds like Americans do with driving what the Dutch with alcohol: permit differnt parts of it at different ages in such style that it becomes unclear for most people :-P
People I know who visited America were often annoyed with the American drinking ages. They have been drinking their favorite alcoholic drinks for a few years, but weren't allowed to order them in America because they weren't 21. |
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When I first went to New York I was 19 and didn't have any trouble getting served at all, it was ****ing brilliant, I had no idea how late the bars were open until so me and my mates got absolutely ****ing paralytic by about 4 in the morning the first night. And every night after.
In any case, I really don't like the American way of doing it though, it seems stupid to put such a high age limit on booze and then trust children to drive around in a ton's worth of metal at pace and hope they don't kill anyone with their stupidity.
Whether you're ultimately a sensible drinker or a pisshead, when you first start drinking everyone gets a bit silly now and then and while it can be dangerous and accidents still happen even when it's just a few kids drinking tinnies in the park, most of them are unlikely to then get in a car. I think it's a lot better to have time to guage your drinking limitations and have the novelty of getting drunk wear off as you grow up with it and act less childish about it (as we all act, when things are new and exciting to us) and then learn to drive, rather than the other way round.
In any case, even if there are some limitations with the driving permit, it still boils down to kids driving cars, and I am not comfortable with that. |
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Bastard
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Unfortunatly that doesn't make the most sense in the states simon. unlike Twickenham, we're all spread out all over the place and have poor public transport on this side of the ocean. this makes it almost necessary for people to learn to drive earlier as a way of attaining job and thus independence.
i'm not saying it's a perfect or even a particularly good system, but it's one driven by necessity, so it's very difficult to change. |
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| Or you could use the vast amounts of money your country has to build a better public transport infrastructure, which in turn would not only address the above but would also mean less need for cars making long haul journeys and help contribute towards the current green environmental concerns. Hell, it may even be quicker, depending on the train, due to lack of traffic! |
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Quote:
Quoth Ancalagon:
Unfortunatly that doesn't make the most sense in the states simon. unlike Twickenham, we're all spread out all over the place and have poor public transport on this side of the ocean. this makes it almost necessary for people to learn to drive earlier as a way of attaining job and thus independence.
i'm not saying it's a perfect or even a particularly good system, but it's one driven by necessity, so it's very difficult to change.
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That seems logical indeed. In that case, I'm glad I live in a country that can be crossed in only a few hours by car. :-P
On the other hand, improving public transport would be a much better choice. Interesting to see how closely linked drinking and driving are. |
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| Drinking is the reason I haven't bothered learning to drive yet; when I go out it's usually to go drink, and you can't drink and drive so what's the point. |
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| yeah also public transport is fairly well established and... frankly good. over here it's ****ty and mostly used by hobos and teenagers that CAN'T drive |
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