BOSTON, March 31 (UPI) -- Massachusetts' legal driving age will go up from 16 1/2 to at least 17 under a bill approved by a legislative committee.
The bill as approved by the committee would raise the age to 17 1/2 but its sponsors said they may consider bringing it down to 17 after hearing opposition from some lawmakers and parents, the Boston Globe reports. The full House is expected to take up the measure in two weeks.
The bill is in response to several high-profile teenage driving tragedies in the state, the report said.
Under the bill, the minimum age for junior operator's licenses will go up to 17 1/2 and learner's permits to 16 1/2. The bill also will extend the duration of learner's permits from six months to 1 year, and toughen penalties for junior operator's license violations such as driving after midnight or driving with minors as passengers when not accompanied by an adult.
One opposing lawmaker said it would be unfair to doubt the driving abilities of 17-year-olds when the same people can be shipped off to fight wars.
