What are the pros and cons of raising the legal driving age?

While a car is potentially just as dangerous as consuming alcohol and cigarettes (both of which are restricted to people over the age of 18), raising the legal driving age based on a generalization that younger people do not drive responsibly is unfair to the majority who are responsible. Nevertheless, statistics between 1995 and 2004 suggest young drivers are a significant threat to themselves and others.

Critics of raising the legal driving age argue that it is inexperience that makes driving unsafe, not age. They also point out that men are statistically more likely to be involved in car accidents than women. However, there is no discussion of restricting driving licenses to the latter group.