The Kizzy makes top list for Teens (Again)

[SamirD]

In essence, these systems are basically always on by default and the average driver probably doesn't even know that you can turn ESC and T/C off if needed.

Let's face it, most don't know what ESC and T/C even is.

And the worst part is, is that they don't even want to know. They want all the glory and none of the work!

[KuroNekko]

SamirD, here's a read to have you appreciate spoiled young people even more! #YOLO
http://jalopnik.com/spoiled-kid-tries-t ... 1723335319

[Speed_Racer]

In essence, these systems are basically always on by default and the average driver probably doesn't even know that you can turn ESC and T/C off if needed.

Let's face it, most don't know what ESC and T/C even is.

[SamirD]

SamirD, here's a read to have you appreciate spoiled young people even more! #YOLO
http://jalopnik.com/spoiled-kid-tries-t ... 1723335319

Yep, there's always these. The people of the world who hold the power to do more good in the world in a single day than most can do in a year and they do this instead.

[Fritz2]

Well of course kids know what T/C is- its a Scion, silly!

[Ronzuki]

..."it's grounded to the ground!"...no wait, that was a Toyota.

[paininthenuts]

I agree with the general consensus on safety and what's a suitable car for a teen. I don't think the latest gizmos for safety are necessary and wouldn't be a parent rushing out to buy my teen a brand new Volvo S80. However, I think the safety components that are now standard on cars sold in the US are a good idea. They include what Speed_Racer had in mind: ABS, ESC, and Traction Control. These all help in panic situations where a young novice driver may react in a way that would have the car lose control. All these systems help the vehicle maintain control in a moment of panic which I think is a good idea.
However, other systems like back-up cameras, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, etc. aren't necessary. These are more like aids to help you be a lazy driver. As long as the young driver was properly trained to check these areas before driving into them, you don't need technology doing that for you.
In the end, the most important safety feature is the mindset of the driver. It's great to have a safe car like the Kizashi and even newer safer models, but what's most important is preventing an accident and that's largely up to the person behind the wheel. This is why I strongly support extended driver training programs for teen drivers. I think the standard for teens to get licenses in America is way too low therefore I think further training is a good idea. Car accidents are the leading cause of death among American youth from the ages of around 15 to 25 yet very little is being done about it. Car accidents kill way more youth than guns and drugs yet get little attention in terms of trying to prevent these deaths. People spend way too much time and money vilifying "assault weapons" and marijuana when in fact these things statistically contribute very little in the deaths or even the serious harming of youth.

Automotive technology can only do so much when the biggest factor is in the knowledge, skill, and maturity of the driver. I really think that better training of young drivers should be advocated and practiced so that teens become better drivers. This will then result in lower accident rates and car-related deaths among teens.

======================

With all due respect, whilst the UK is pretty damn stupid giving kids licenses at the age of 17, the States are more stupid by giving a juvenile a license at 16. In the UK in 2012 there were a total of 230 deaths on the road caused by drink drivers, however there were over 1500 caused through sober drivers under 23. If I were in charge I wouldn't give licenses to anyone under the age of 21, and then restrict the cars they can drive to 100 BHP until they are 25.

[Ronzuki]

That's a fine but impractical idea. Taking in to account the vast 'ruralness' of this country and lack of mass transit in those areas...not practical by any stretch. Proper upbringing and being taught life skills, right & wrong, values, responsibility and accountability amongst many other things in life by two parents (god forbid), would go a long way. It's up to the parents to lay down the rules and enforce them. Not an easy task, but it does work. By the time our daughter is 25, she will have already been working as a pathologist's assistant for 2-1/2 years. Kind of impossible for her to be doing what she's doing at the age of 20-21 to prepare for that w/o a car and a license. Her woefully under-powered 2001 2.4l Alero puts her in more danger in the Northeast because of the roads, traffic and all of the drivers with more powerful cars surrounding her. She can't get out of their way fast enough.

[KuroNekko]

With all due respect, whilst the UK is pretty damn stupid giving kids licenses at the age of 17, the States are more stupid by giving a juvenile a license at 16. In the UK in 2012 there were a total of 230 deaths on the road caused by drink drivers, however there were over 1500 caused through sober drivers under 23. If I were in charge I wouldn't give licenses to anyone under the age of 21, and then restrict the cars they can drive to 100 BHP until they are 25.

Ronzuki pretty much hit it on the head with why the US allows people to get licenses at 16. Keep in mind people are actually driving on learner's permits at 15. The US is just quite vast and many areas don't have adequate and efficient public transportation. If you live in a rural area, there really isn't much in terms of alternatives to driving yourself around. I can personally attest to that as I learned to drive on a mountain in California. There were no taxis, buses, trains, or anything of the like up there. If you really needed a ride without asking someone you knew, you needed to make a reservation with a small shuttle service days in advance. Basically, it was either you drive yourself or you were greatly inconvenienced to get any place your feet couldn't take you.

Also, it's not really the power of the car that's the issue. It's the maturity, skill, and sense of the driver. Distractions like texting or joking around with friends present much more of a danger than horsepower for most teen drivers. Hence, many accidents involving teens occur with low-power cars like the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus, and the like.
While something like a Kizashi may be too much in the UK, it's really on the slow side in the US. The kind of "too fast" car to give a teenager in America isn't a 4 cylinder sedan like a Kizashi but a Mustang GT (a V8 powered RWD muscle car pushing over 350 HP). In essence, giving a teen a relatively slow car with impressive crash test results is a good idea. Hence, the Kizashi is often recommended for teen drivers as a car on the used market.

[nytq]

If you think 16 and 15 is bad. Than don't go to South Dakota.... 14

http://dps.sd.gov/licensing/driver_lice ... #whocanget