Totally missing the point

[tothebeach08]

I really think we need to flip-flop the drinking age and driving age in this country.

16 to drink
21 to drive

I disagree. I think 18 to drink and 16 to drive. I just don't see how the 15 year old guys I know will be mature enough to swagger up to a bar and order a beer in a year.

[TimeForGuinness]

I really think we need to flip-flop the drinking age and driving age in this country.

16 to drink
21 to drive

I disagree. I think 18 to drink and 16 to drive. I just don't see how the 15 year old guys I know will be mature enough to swagger up to a bar and order a beer in a year.

From an alcohol standpoint, I don't see how 16 year olds getting behind a 1 ton piece of machinery (while still getting booze from someone) is any better. Plus if there is a sizable time difference between drinking and getting a car, maybe drunk driving incidents will go down. If people learn how to drink and know their limitations, maybe there won't be as many accidents. Plus they might subconsciously learn how to call for a cab to take public transportation when too drunk to drive.

From a public transportation (PT) standpoint, it would be a boost for PT if high school and college kids got comfortable with knowing when and where to take it. It could help make PT more safe and sustainable while weening us off of cars and fossil fuels.

[Simbagal23]

I really think we need to flip-flop the drinking age and driving age in this country.

16 to drink
21 to drive

I disagree. I think 18 to drink and 16 to drive. I just don't see how the 15 year old guys I know will be mature enough to swagger up to a bar and order a beer in a year.

From an alcohol standpoint, I don't see how 16 year olds getting behind a 1 ton piece of machinery (while still getting booze from someone) is any better. Plus if there is a sizable time difference between drinking and getting a car, maybe drunk driving incidents will go down. If people learn how to drink and know their limitations, maybe there won't be as many accidents. Plus they might subconsciously learn how to call for a cab to take public transportation when too drunk to drive.

From a public transportation (PT) standpoint, it would be a boost for PT if high school and college kids got comfortable with knowing when and where to take it. It could help make PT more safe and sustainable while weening us off of cars and fossil fuels.

If PT were better, I'd agree with you....however, in most places it just isn't up to par to get people where they need to go. Unfortunately, vehicles are necessary for many highschool kids (jobs, private schools with no bus system).

[TimeForGuinness]

I really think we need to flip-flop the drinking age and driving age in this country.

16 to drink
21 to drive

I disagree. I think 18 to drink and 16 to drive. I just don't see how the 15 year old guys I know will be mature enough to swagger up to a bar and order a beer in a year.

From an alcohol standpoint, I don't see how 16 year olds getting behind a 1 ton piece of machinery (while still getting booze from someone) is any better. Plus if there is a sizable time difference between drinking and getting a car, maybe drunk driving incidents will go down. If people learn how to drink and know their limitations, maybe there won't be as many accidents. Plus they might subconsciously learn how to call for a cab to take public transportation when too drunk to drive.

From a public transportation (PT) standpoint, it would be a boost for PT if high school and college kids got comfortable with knowing when and where to take it. It could help make PT more safe and sustainable while weening us off of cars and fossil fuels.

If PT were better, I'd agree with you....however, in most places it just isn't up to par to get people where they need to go. Unfortunately, vehicles are necessary for many highschool kids (jobs, private schools with no bus system).

Maybe it would be a good time to start...how much in taxes would you spend in PT versus buying a car for your kid(s)?

I'm guessing it would be much cheaper (and safer) to invest in PT than in automobiles, highways, insurance, personal property tax, repairs, gas...etc...


(I can agree with rural situations, but in an urban/suburban area...PT should be heavily invested in)

[Simbagal23]

I really think we need to flip-flop the drinking age and driving age in this country.

16 to drink
21 to drive

I disagree. I think 18 to drink and 16 to drive. I just don't see how the 15 year old guys I know will be mature enough to swagger up to a bar and order a beer in a year.

From an alcohol standpoint, I don't see how 16 year olds getting behind a 1 ton piece of machinery (while still getting booze from someone) is any better. Plus if there is a sizable time difference between drinking and getting a car, maybe drunk driving incidents will go down. If people learn how to drink and know their limitations, maybe there won't be as many accidents. Plus they might subconsciously learn how to call for a cab to take public transportation when too drunk to drive.

From a public transportation (PT) standpoint, it would be a boost for PT if high school and college kids got comfortable with knowing when and where to take it. It could help make PT more safe and sustainable while weening us off of cars and fossil fuels.

If PT were better, I'd agree with you....however, in most places it just isn't up to par to get people where they need to go. Unfortunately, vehicles are necessary for many highschool kids (jobs, private schools with no bus system).

Maybe it would be a good time to start...how much in taxes would you spend in PT versus buying a car for your kid(s)?

I'm guessing it would be much cheaper (and safer) to invest in PT than in automobiles, highways, insurance, personal property tax, repairs, gas...etc...


(I can agree with rural situations, but in an urban/suburban area...PT should be heavily invested in)

Oh, I agree with you....it should have been invested in long before now. After visiting various European cities over the years, we are way behind the times. I was simply pointing out that, as it currently stands, it's simply not good enough for highschool kids (and adults, of course) to utilize for everyday purposes.

[tothebeach08]

I really think we need to flip-flop the drinking age and driving age in this country.

16 to drink
21 to drive

I disagree. I think 18 to drink and 16 to drive. I just don't see how the 15 year old guys I know will be mature enough to swagger up to a bar and order a beer in a year.

From an alcohol standpoint, I don't see how 16 year olds getting behind a 1 ton piece of machinery (while still getting booze from someone) is any better. Plus if there is a sizable time difference between drinking and getting a car, maybe drunk driving incidents will go down. If people learn how to drink and know their limitations, maybe there won't be as many accidents. Plus they might subconsciously learn how to call for a cab to take public transportation when too drunk to drive.

From a public transportation (PT) standpoint, it would be a boost for PT if high school and college kids got comfortable with knowing when and where to take it. It could help make PT more safe and sustainable while weening us off of cars and fossil fuels.

So instead they can go directly to the bar to drink and that makes a difference how.... and as far as learning how to drink and knowing their limitations, that's not going to come between the ages of 16 and 21 just because you lower the drinking age or raise the driving age any more than it already is. Now, the driving age is 16, drinking age is 21, and how many 30+ year old people were out learning how to drink and knowing their limitations this weekend.

Plus, someone who can go to war at 18, but can't drive until 21??

As far as public transporation as an aide in deterring drunk driving, that seems like a stretch. PT is not accessible where I live. It's not an option.

[TimeForGuinness]

It's really just my honest opinion, but if we had a public transportation system like some cities in Europe or like Boston/NYC...I wouldn't drive anywhere...it's amazing how efficient and nice it is to take public transportation. If I could do it all again, and PT was available...I would rather have the drinking age moved to 16 and the driving age moved to 21. I just don't care enough for cars...I'd rather have reliable PT and train systems much like Europe.

[thrill]

Public Trans is nice and all, but I like to get out of the city and go places I want to go, not just places the train will take me.

[JCShutout]

Public Trans is nice and all, but I like to get out of the city and go places I want to go, not just places the train will take me.

You can still own a car, or rent.

It's really just my honest opinion, but if we had a public transportation system like some cities in Europe or like Boston/NYC...I wouldn't drive anywhere...it's amazing how efficient and nice it is to take public transportation. If I could do it all again, and PT was available...I would rather have the drinking age moved to 16 and the driving age moved to 21. I just don't care enough for cars...I'd rather have reliable PT and train systems much like Europe.

++ infinity. I would, even on my crappy salary, be more than willing to pay more taxes if it meant a severe overhaul to the PT system. I probably woulden't benefit from it until my 30s (5 years from now... yikes!).

[thrill]

Public Trans is nice and all, but I like to get out of the city and go places I want to go, not just places the train will take me.

You can still own a car, or rent.

Really? I thought for a second there instead of just offering an opinion, personal vehicles were going to be outlawed altogether!



Overhauling pt in most cities would be disastrous to small businesses along the routes, not to mention the money spent in taxes. Just implementing something wouldn't do much to change the culture of a commuter city either. It needs to be a slow transition, something that I think Phoenix is doing a decent job at with the completion of it's light rail system.


Oh by the way, changing driving ages and drinking ages would do very little to stop the deaths of young drinkers in vehicles. Kids think they are invincible and will continue to make tragic, foolish choices when it comes to testing their limits. Legislation will not change that.