Quote:
Originally Posted by PsyDoc
It's not only commonsense that can be lacking, but the adolescent brain is not developed fully enough to contemplate the possible outcomes of "risky behavior." That part of the brain that regulates impulse and emotions does not fully develop until the person is in their early to mid 20s. They simply do not have the capability to fully control themselves. Research also shows that when other peers are around, young adults are significantly more likely to engage in risky behavior (e.g., showing off). They simply do not have the "neurological brakes" of adults.
I am not trying to say that teens are not responsible for their behavior (e.g., it's not my fault, my brain is still a baby). What happened was a horrible accident, but calling it an "accident" only means that the outcome was not intentional; someone is still responsible for bringing about that outcome. Perhaps teens need more oversight by their parents and perhaps parents should be educated about what kids and teens are capable of from a cognitive standpoint so they can then make better overall decisions about their kids.
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What a load of BS. If they are properly trained in high performance driving, they can handle anything, at 16 even. Look at Joey Logano, he just turned 19? Tommie Johnson Jr. was drag racing in Iowa, (on the track), before he was 16. Graham Rahal is barely over 20. You do not need to get into your mid 20's. One of the top, top, drivers in F1 is Sebastian Vettel, he is only 21. F1 cars are hands down the most difficult to drive cars on the planet.
The real problem is drivers ed. Every kid should be required to attend a high performance driving school before getting a license. But that costs a ton of money, so who is going to pay for it????