I’ve heard bad ideas, but this might be the worst — letting teenagers drive trucks across the country.
The trucking industry is currently pushing legislation that would allow drivers as young as 18 years old to drive trucks in interstate commerce — across state lines.
I don’t have anything against teenagers. In fact, I have one. But I’m also in the process of teaching her to drive, and I see her friends drive. And I see the carnage of trucking wrecks even when the drivers are experienced. Common sense tells you that this is a terrible idea from a safety standpoint.
Unfortunately, the statistics bear this out. Right now, some states allow 18 year-olds to drive within their state borders. In those states, the statistics show that younger truck drivers are four to six times more likely to be in wrecks than those drivers who are older than 21.
That’s a big difference.
Let’s hope sanity prevails and that only more experienced, safer drivers are allowed to drive across our country’s roads.
