11+Analysis.+Working+through+an+example

Carefully read the material below, and then complete the task drawing from the material as you think appropriate //A furore has broken out in Victoria over the State Government’s plan to allow sixteen year olds to obtain a driver’s licence. These are extracts from a summary of the proposal in The Victorian Clarion:// The Minister for transport said today that the government is proposing to lower the driving licence age to sixteen years. He claims this would have an positive impact on the attitudes to driver responsibility and allow safer travel for teenagers who are now very mobile members of the community. In summary the report claims:
 * Scenario: Age for Driving Licences – 16 years**

Other states (South Australia and Queensland) have lower licensing ages. This brings Victoria into line with them and gives our teenagers the same rights. Our teenagers are as responsible as theirs.

Young people have much better hand-eye co-ordination and hence it makes sense to develop driving skills early.

The discipline of the tests and practice of driving on the roads from age sixteen will also help to form responsible attitudes early.

Teenagers and their families would benefit greatly. Younger drivers would overcome feelings of frustration about dependence on parents who have to ferry them around.

Teenage girls are particularly vulnerable at night in large cities and being able to drive would provide greater safety for them.

In Victoria students are often battling through their final VCE year. Trying to get a licence is an extra strain. With this hurdle behind them, they’d be independently mobile in their final year of study and ready for their tertiary course or employment.

Being able to get a licence at sixteen will encourage young people to save from a younger age to help purchase a car. This will also provide them with important experiences in business dealing with and handling money.

//Within days conflicting views appeared in// The Pinemont News //column “What’s your opinion?// **Lily Smythe, Pensioner** I think it’s a great idea. If parents are wise they’ll lend the family car in return for messages and help in running family affairs. It could be a boon to better cooperation in families.

**John Peters, banker** This could put families under stress. A lot of kids would want cars and there wouldn’t be the money for that with jobs scarce. It favours the kids from wealthier homes – and would cause parking problems in schools.

**Pam Abbot, Computer operator** I am environmentalist. I’m opposed to more cars on the road in our cities and this would encourage more people to get cars earlier. We should find alternatives to cars in order to prevent pollution not cause it.

**Chris Thomas, student** I am 16. My parents couldn’t afford driving lessons or the cost of a licence at the moment.

**Kevin Miles, student**. I think some kids would be pretty silly showing off and all that. They’d be a danger on the roads so I think it might be best to leave it as it is until we are 18.

**Voula Papadoplouos, students** I’m all in favour because I’d be able to get on with my own life much more. I can drive now and waiting another year for my licence is driving me crazy.

**Jean McMillan, mother of two teenagers** I’d be worried about them speeding and carrying on in front of heir friends. You know, when they’re with their mates they want to let their hair down. I think that’s the biggest problem – at 16 they’re still too immature to be responsible and stand up to peer group pressure.

**Ted Wells, builder** I’m all for this. Give kids more responsibility. Apprentices here at work would be able to do jobs in the ute and get to building sites without hassles.

//Soon after the government announcement, a group called AALLA formed, and sent this to// The Victorian Clarion. Dear Editor, We, a group of responsible citizens, are so outraged at the Government proposal to lower the driving age that we have formed AALLA (Against a Lower Licence Age). Our case is set out below.

1 Sixteen year olds are too immature to control or run their own lives let alone put in charge of a car. Driving is now a complex and demanding operation with more cars on the road, and the main cause of accidents – fatal and other – is inexperience. At sixteen they think they know it all, don’t take kindly to advice, think road rules are there to be broken and simply do not have the experience or maturity to handle emergency situation which inevitably arise. 2 Another related problem is their desire to be one of the gang, one of a group. This leads to undesirable group behaviour as they try to impress and outdo each other. This bravado let loose in a car with others on board will be disastrous. 3 Studies show that teenage drinking is a big problem. Combine this with the chance of driving at sixteen and we have an even larger group of drink drivers to try and control. Even worse, this is the age when a lot of young kids decide to try drugs. Drugs and driving don’t mix, but they will only see this objection as olds trying to stop them having fun. 4 The financial repercussions of this proposal are enormous. Has the minister considered the cost to parents of Insurance Premiums? The constant pressure from teenagers, who have no hope of earning an income in these hard times, to try and buy a car? The problems some kids will land themselves in as car dealers talk them into loan arrangements they can’t understand? This is a financial nightmare! 5 The death rate is high enough now among young drivers despite increasing efforts to curb it. This will allow more young people on the road. This means higher numbers at risk. Inevitably lowering the driving age to sixteen means an increase in teenage deaths and in terrible life-long injuries.

AALLA favours educating young people from the age of sixteen to be responsible drivers; but let them get their driver’s licence when they are more responsible and educated. Let us stick to age eighteen and the supervised system we have now. Lowering the driving age to sixteen will surely lead to more carnage on our already overcrowded roads. Join us now before legislation is passed. AALLA GPO Box 18, Melbourne 3001