A new bill in the US state of Kentucky is just waiting for the governor to sign it. Then 15-year-olds can drive.
In the US state of Kentucky, a bill that would give 15-year-olds the right to drive is currently awaiting the governor's signature.
The bill, which is currently on the governor's desk, is more specifically aimed at giving 15-year-olds with a companion over the age of 21 the right to drive. The companion over the age of 21 simply has to be unpunished.
This is what CarBuzz writes.
Steven Rudy, a spokesman for the state government, has justified the proposal by saying that it will particularly benefit young people. But that it will actually also be an advantage for the entire state.
"Our teenagers expect it, and it's good for the entire state," he says.
15-year-olds need one signature to drive a car alone
According to Rudy, this will be particularly beneficial for young people in rural areas where transportation options are limited.
"For those who live in rural areas, it's a big advantage. It gives them a different kind of freedom and makes it possible to transport themselves," says Steven Rudy.
– With the new law, young people will also be able to look for jobs more easily, and "it will be a win-win situation for all parties," he tells CarBuzz.
The current system in Kentucky allows 16-year-olds to obtain a provisional driver's license with a probationary period of 180 days.
If they can stay within the limits of the traffic law during that period, the young people are allowed to drive a car on their own, but under certain conditions.
It is only when they turn 17 that young people are allowed to drive without any other conditions. At least not more than everyone else must follow.
However, the proposal has also met with criticism. Among other things, critics point out that traffic accidents are a frequent cause of death among young Americans. Every year, approximately 2,500 young Americans die in traffic.
In addition, there are also attitudes among the young people themselves that are skeptical; a driving school student named Melanie Perez tells a local newspaper that the 16-year-olds still behave as if they are in elementary school.
– At my high school, all the 16-year-olds act like they're in elementary school. I honestly don't know if it's appropriate for them to drive.
However, the criticism does not change the fact that only Governor Anthony Beshear (D)'s signature is currently keeping the proposal from becoming a reality.
If the governor signs the proposal, 15-year-olds in Kentucky will be able to start driving under the new conditions.
And when they are six months away from their 17th birthday, the young drivers will be able to begin the training that gives them a driving license like everyone else.
Kentucky is a state with many rural areas where distances can be great and public transportation is limited.
For the same reason, discussing whether it should be easier to get around the state on your own is not entirely beside the point.
Here in Denmark, 17-year-olds have been allowed to drive since 2017. However, this must be done with a companion. Since 2017, however, a majority in the Danish Parliament has advocated that 17-year-olds be allowed to drive completely alone. The proposal is still under consultation, but is expected to be adopted in the course of 2025.
