Proposed law wants to ban drop outs from getting driver’s license

McLovin Driver's LicenseAccording to the U.S. Department of Education , approximately 3 million, or 8 percent, of people in the 16-24 age range were without a diploma and were not enrolled in high school. In an attempt to get students to stay in school, a law has been proposed that will prevent high school drop outs from obtaining a driver’s licence.

But would a law be an effective motivator for the youth? What about the impact, if there would be any of significance, on the auto market?

PSCars.com reports that the proposed law getting support from well over half of drivers. Georgia, Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New York have the most grass-roots support, while California, Florida, Illinois, Washington DC and Ohio have the least.

Hernan Jaramillo, a vice president at Practical Systems Inc., PSCars.com’s parent firm sides with the latter, stating “Ultimately, the children’s parents should have the final decision to revoke driving privileges,” but goes on to add “We have to find a way to discourage students from dropping out. It’s a step in the right direction to remove what most high school students crave the most, a driver’s license.”

Clinical psychologist and parenting expert presents another side to the debate, commenting that “A punishment rarely creates a desired behavior, and, in the case of forcing a child to remain in school, will not help intrinsically motivate that child either,”.

As for auto dealers, it has been noted that informed consumers are better car buyers, but no official statement has been made on the issue. On the other hand, less drivers certainly equates to less buyers.

What is your take on the proposal? Would you call this a babysitting law or a potentially effective way to keep kids in the books? And if it does keeps kids in school, how effective will it be at keeping them engaged while they are there?

– By: Alexandra Koken

Source: WardsAuto