The Legal Driving Age Should Not be 14

My opponent stated that low income families can't afford driving school or cars. According to an article published by "The Atlantic" on June 15, 2016 "MILWAUKEE"Ask conservatives what the poor need to do to get out of poverty, and the answer usually involves something like, "Get a job." That was the crux of the anti-poverty plan Paul Ryan revealed last week to shrugs, and has been the gist of many anti-poverty efforts over the past two decades.But for many people, there is one very specific"and often overlooked"reason why that"s not so easy: They don't have a driver's license.Not all jobs require a driver"s license, particularly those that pay very low wages. But having one is a very common requirement for the sorts of job that can actually lift people out of poverty"those in construction, manufacturing, security, and unions jobs including electricians and plumbers, says Mark Kessenich, who runs WRTP Big Step, a Milwaukee center that trains low-income workers to enter jobs in construction and manufacturing that pay a starting wage of $15 and up."Not having driver"s license and access to reliable transportation is a big issue for us with the industries"utilities, construction, manufacturing," he told me.Sometimes, licenses are required because employers know the jobs will be at sites across a region, and need employees to be able to get there reliably and on time. Other times, licenses are required because employees may need to move cars"a listing for an auto detailer requires a license, for example"or move trucks, at construction sites. Other times, though, the reasons for requiring a driver"s license are a little harder to understand. A quick scan of jobs listed in Milwaukee"s Craiglist emphasizes the point. Valid driver"s licenses are a prerequisite for positions including a retail security officer (pay $10.55 an hour), a caregiver for the disabled ($10 an hour), an eye-care associate, an administrative assistant, and a deli clerk. Licenses, to employers, signal responsibility.""These days, positions use a driver"s license as a proxy for whether you"re employable," says Julie Kerksick, who is a senior policy advocate at Public Policy Institute of Community Advocates in Milwaukee. "It means that there"s fewer and fewer people in the pool of unemployed who can actually qualify."Driver"s license requirements affect many low-income people trying to get into the labor market. But they disproportionately affect people of color. That"s both because minorities are much less likely to have driver"s licenses in the first place and, advocates say, they are also more likely to have their licenses taken away. The result is that many minority job-seekers are disqualified before they even send in an application. According to the Employment and Training Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 75 percent of white 18-year-olds in Wisconsin had driver"s licenses as of January 1, 2016, while just 34 percent of African Americans 18-year-olds did and 33 percent of Hispanics of that age did. Another article published by Live Strong on June 13, 2017 "Teenagers crave independence. As they grow into young adults, they feel the need to spread their wings and venture farther away from the nest. Driving is an important milestone that allows teenagers to transition from childhood into adulthood independently. Having access to a drivers license means that your child can get from point A to point B alone -- and this is of major importance to most teenagers. Remember, your teen will likely be going off to college or joining the workforce in just a few short years, and being confident and independent before a major transition could be beneficial. Imagine a new driver trying to navigate a new city or college campus -- it could be completely overwhelming. This can be avoided by teaching your teen to drive beforehand so that she or he is comfortable with it when the time comes". With this being said, the driving age should be lowered to 14. https://www.theatlantic.com... https://www.livestrong.com...