86. The following appeared as part of a letter to the editor of a local newspaper.
It makes no sense that in most places fifteen year olds are not eligible1 for their drivers license2 while people who are far older can retain all of their driving privileges by simply renewing their license. If older drivers can get these renewals3, often without having to pass another driving test, then fifteen year olds should be eligible to get a license. Fifteen year olds typically have much better eyesight, especially at night; much better hand-eye coordination4; and much quicker reflexes. They are also less likely to feel confused by unexpected developments or disoriented in unfamiliar5 surroundings, and they recover from injuries more quickly.
Discuss how well reasoned... etc.
The conclusion of this argument is that 15-year-olds should be eligible to obtain a drivers license. The author employs two lines of reasoning to reach this conclusion. In the first the author reasons that since older drivers can retain their driving privileges by simply renewing their licenses6, 15-year-olds should be eligible to obtain a license. In the second, the author reasons that 15-year-olds are physically7 more capable than older drivers of performing the various skills associated with driving a vehicle and thus should be eligible to get a license. This argument is unconvincing for a couple of reasons.
In the first place, the author assumes that there are no relevant differences between 15-year-olds and older drivers that would justify8 treating them differently. This assumption is dearly mistaken. The major difference between the two groups, and the major reason 15-year-olds are denied driving privileges, is their relative lack of emotional maturity9 and social responsibility. This difference is sufficient to justify the policy of allowing older drivers to renew their driving privileges while at the same time denying these privileges to 15-year-olds.
In the second place, even if it is granted that fifteen year olds possess better night vision, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and are less disoriented in unfamiliar surroundings than older drivers, these abilities do not qualify them to obtain a drivers license. The author assumes that physical capabilities10 are the only attributes necessary to operate a motor vehicle. But this assumption is clearly mistaken. In addition to these abilities, drivers must be able to exercise good judgment11 in all types of driving situations and conditions and must be cognizant of the consequences of their decisions and actions when driving. It is because 15-year-olds typically lack these latter abilities that they are denied driving privileges.
In sum, the authors argument fails to take into consideration important differences between older drivers and 15-year-olds that justify denying driving privileges to the younger group while at the same time allowing older drivers to retain their privileges by simply renewing their license.
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