One of the greatest accomplishments in a teenager's life is receiving their driver's license. Obtaining a license gives a teenager freedom; a newfound sense of independence. It is exciting to know that you are not at your parent's mercy to drive you to school, meet friends, or to work. Unfortunately, the State of New Jersey's Department of Motor Vehicle is trying diligently to take this freedom away from seventeen year olds. This decisive will not be very effective, nor is it logical. By waiting an extra year to obtain a driver's license a teenager will not gain much more experience behind the wheel. From the ages of seventeen to eighteen, there is not much of a difference, if any, responsibility or maturity wise. A teen will gain more experience by taking more in depth lessons at school and spending more time on the road with a qualified driver, not by sitting at home and being forbad from driving for an extra year.
             The New Jersey government has decided upon this decision, because they think that it will alleviate two major problems, traffic and accidents. With less driver's on the road, there is sure to be much less traffic, and with a minimal amount of less experienced driver's on the road, there should be a decreased amount of accidents. In 1999, there were over 2, 000,000 teen driving accidents and 6,000 deaths ("Am I Safe?"). One out of three teens has an accident during their first year of driving ("Am I Safe?"). As a result of these findings, the Department of Motor Vehicles believes that the driving age should be increased to the age of eighteen.
             Seventeen year olds will be at an extreme disadvantage if this new law comes into effect. How will they get to work or college? A great number of seventeen year olds try to be as financially independent as possible, by having a part time job. Some parents even expect that they work. They are responsible, mat...