Teenagers involved in car collisions due to dangerous driving have became a serious problem. On May 31, 2002, Vancouver Sun, “A North Vancouver teenager was in intensive care in hospital following a three-car collision in North Vancouver on Monday.” On July 14 1997, Vancouver Sun, “A Chrysler New Yorker driven by Malachi Eldridge, 19, of Council Grove, was southbound in the northbound lane of traffic when it collided head-on with a Nissan Sentra driven by Jeff Sturdy, 27, of Manhattan.” Everyone has become aware of his or her safety on the road, as the tendency of car accidents by teenagers is increasing, and the police appeared useless toward them. Especially, many teenagers like to modify their car and to involve in car racing activity. However, there are many factors besides immature causing this tendency, such as their parents and their perspective on money value. Therefore, rising the legal driving age is something must be done in the hurry.

First, a statistics on “Police Attended Injury and Fatal Collisions” by The British Columbia Collision Statistics in 2001 shows that the number of drivers at the involved in injury and fatal collision began to increase at the age of 17 and started to decrease at the age of 20. The most shocking statistic is that the 18 age group has a 2.87% of driver population involved in injury and fatal collisions, which is the highest of all other age groups. The second highest is the 19 age group which is 2.77%, and then the 17 age group which is 2.71%. The teenage drivers between the 17 and the 20 age group are likely to be interested in modifying car and involved in car racing activities. Moreover, the report has not included the drivers whose age was not provided. Therefore, there may be many more accidents by teenage drivers whose age were not known or were escaped.

On the other hand, the reason of dangerous teenage drivers can claimed on the change in the social pattern and the traditional family. Similarly to many other developed country, Canadian economic is sinking and the living rate was continuously to increase; therefore, many parents both have to work. As a result, many teenagers have to take care of themselves at a very young age. They learn to take care of themselves and communicate with others by what they see and what they hear, without knowing right or wrong, and develop their interest without proper education. In addition, most of them either work part-time or have a lot of money to spend. For example, a Canadian teenager, 18, told that the noise made when start an engine makes him feels superior then others. Also, he has spend approximately $500, almost half of his pocket money every month, to change the air flowing system, the tires, and some others advanced equipments to improve his car performance. However, he didn’t know that the abnormal noise and some specific advanced equipment are illegal and will be charged by criminal code if caught.

In conclusion, it is very important and is a necessity to rise the driving age. First of all, the government can have a control over the 17-19 teenage groups. Many crimes can reduce, because teenagers are limited to some areas only. More important, the number of death by car collision can decreased largely every year. However, many parents would oppose to rise the driving age, because they don’t want to spear their leisure time to be the driver for their children. The parents’ responsibilities are to take care, educate and help their children to develop propre interests. Although, these parents may not want realize the advantages to rise the driving age, or they want their children result in injury or fatal from car collision.