Legal Driving Age NOT Changed Thursday, May 21, 2009 By Mylon Dice Sophomore student Jared Switlik concentrates while driving after achieving his license just this year. - Advertising Driving is a big part of everyday life.  High School is the beginning years of driving for most students, and usually somewhere in your freshman year you get your Learner's Permit.  This allows you to drive with a parent in the car with you.  Then when you turn 16 you are old enough to get your driver's license.  This could have recently changed though.  According to License Bureau Director Becky Curtis,  the Missouri State Representatives make bills every year changing the conditions of kid's driving, and if the bill is good enough it's backed up by a committee.  "This whole 'age changing' thing was just a rumor from somebody who saw the bill before it was backed up by a committee," said Curtis. The state of Missouri was thinking about changing the legal driver's age from 16 to 17 years old.  Even though they decided not to change the age, the rumors have been slow to fade. This sort of change would affect many students in different ways.  Sophomore Brooke Granier has her license, but thinks changing the age limit would've been a good idea because, in her opinion, most 16 year old kids are bad drivers just an don't care and just want to get their licenses.  "Good and bad would've come from it because there would be less accidents and a lot better drivers because the students who have their permits could prepare for driving independently more," said Granier.  Brooke also said the changing of the age would make both roads and the environment safer because of less 16 year old students driving badly.  Brooke also mentioned she thought the possibly changing of the age was partially because of kids underage drinking and driving. There's probably lots of people who agree with Brooke, but Freshman Aishia Hillier isn't one of them.  "I don't like the idea of changing the age because then both I would have to wait two years to be able to drive alone," said Hillier.  Aishia has her learner's permit and has had it for a couple of months now so she's getting prepared for driving alone.  Aishia partially agreed with Brooke though because of all the irresponsible drivers.  She also said the change would like result in prevention of car accidents as well.  So Aishia and Brooke have similar opinions.  Aishia thinks if the age would've been changed there would've been an increase in illegal driving. Freshman Erin Christopher agrees more along with Aishia and thinks it's a bad idea, though she concedes there is a major benefit.  "I think the state would want to do this because it would decrease the number of accidents and irresponsible drivers," says Erin.  Erin has her permit and has been driving for a while now as well, so she also  has been getting prepared for the wonderful world of driving.  Erin thinks it's a good idea, but wants to get her license first before they should change it in the future.  Erin thinks some people would have still driven illegally, but lots of people would've still taken it seriously and would have not driven.  So students, you're good to go at 16.  Let the rumor end here and now...for now!

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