16yr Olds Able To drive Cars In 2013

[AyB]

16yr olds will be able to drive low powered cars from January next year. These cars will be rather expensive to buy new but in a couple of years will become very affordable once on the second hand market.
Have they got enough power to be safe? I fear not.
Are they quick enough to keep up with traffic and not create a hold up? I fear not.
Are 16yr olds mature enough to drive these cars? Maybe in some cases.
What do you think?

http://cars.uk.msn.com/features/cars-you-can-drive...

[Nuttah]

How long until you can get them remapped to 300bhp?

[Andehh]

Im very sceptical, even at 28mph and 350kg you do that into a person or back of a car and there is still going to be fairly substantial damages.

[martin84]

16 year olds can drive now if they're disabled.

[Lefty]

Great, b-roads clogged with more 30mph fkwits.

[BusaMK]

350kg? Good option for a bike engined sleeper!

[Life Saab Itch]

BusaMK said:

350kg? Good option for a bike engined sleeper!

Win

[Nuttah]

BusaMK said:

350kg? Good option for a bike engined sleeper!

Only 350kg it will only take a pair of blokes to life the things up and walk off.

[8potdave]

Completely stupid idea to be frank! When will the government realise that driving safely is not all about not exceeding a certain speed? An underpowered car is not a safe one, in fact quite the opposite. Being pushed into the kerb by lorries and inpatient Golf drivers is not how I would want any 16 year old child of mine to commute.

[EDLT]

Not just those naff Renaults, coming to a traffic jam near you this January:


I'm sure a 16 year old will still find a way to kill themselves in it.

[Nuttah]

MajorTom said:

Have to be very strong blokes

Stronger than you.

[calibrax]

We wont see this happen - insurance at 17 is prohibitive, at 16 it will be astronomic.

[dave stew]

This is all a bit judgemental! I passed my test at 17 (30 years ago !) and was a daft immature lad. What's the difference between 16 and 17? Not a lot.

[MrFrodo]

I guess there is a degree of logic to lowering the driving age to 16. That would bring it inline with the point people can leave school and take a full-time job.

As for the microcars, well they can't be any more dangerous than scooters. Let's just hope the limited performance and range will dissuade people from taking them on the B-roads.

Dread to think what the insurance costs will be like.

[Mr Pockets]

8potdave said:

Completely stupid idea to be frank! When will the government realise that driving safely is not all about not exceeding a certain speed? An underpowered car is not a safe one, in fact quite the opposite. Being pushed into the kerb by lorries and inpatient Golf drivers is not how I would want any 16 year old child of mine to commute.

I guess the idea is that it should be safer than a 50cc moped with similar speed limitations.

[joebongo]

MrFrodo said:

I guess there is a degree of logic to lowering the driving age to 16. That would bring it inline with the point people can leave school and take a full-time job.

As for the microcars, well they can't be any more dangerous than scooters. Let's just hope the limited performance and range will dissuade people from taking them on the B-roads.

Dread to think what the insurance costs will be like.

Nope. Leaving age will be 18 from next year I think.

[LukeSi]

Oh great can't wait to get stuck behind one doing 30 on a nice stretch of windy country road with no where to overtake.

[FourWheelDrift]

AyB said:

Are 16yr olds mature enough to drive these cars? Maybe in some cases.
What do you think?

16 year olds are allowed to fly solo and some do.

Perhaps to drive at 16 the test for 16 year olds just needs to be tougher.

[blueg33]

I own a 17 year old who has just started learning. I can honestly say that there is a substantial difference in maturity between a 16 year old and a 17 year old. The difference is mainly in attitude to being taught.

I think the idea is daft.

[C.A.R.]

They probably won't cause traffic queues where the speed limit is 30mph - because they will be driven at their maximum speed everywhere!