Raising The Minimum Age For Malaysian To Get Their Driving License
Should The Age For Obtaining A Car License (Class D) Be Raised From 17 to 21?
Some argue it’s imperative we raise the age for obtaining a “car’ license to 21.
Before proceeding any further, lets us all remember, a person can only “vote” when he or she turns 21. There must be a good reason for the Malaysian government’s above decision.
As a driving instructor, I’ve been asked time and time again, what is my opinion on this topic?
At 17, most students are still schooling or pursuing their studies. As such, students should in fact be concentrating fully on their education.
No thinking about anything else, like getting a car license, for instance. After all, let’s say in 4 years time, after they have finished their upper sixth form, there will be ample time to ponder about getting a license to drive then.
Questions about as to whether a student is “matured” or otherwise aside, the fact that a boy or a girl is still schooling, still “dependent” on his parents and has no “earning power” of his or her own, should be the criteria for us to object to a student learning driving at the present age of 17.
Instead, if you ask me, seriously my opinion would be, by all means, go ahead and raise the minimum age to at least 21 years.
Yes, I am aware many, especially potential students would “blast” me for my opinion. Some might even comment “What is this crazy instructor attempting to do? Does he know what he is saying?”
You see, as an instructor for so many years experience, don’t you think I should know what I’m talking about? As to whether you concur with me or otherwise is not the question.
My experience tells me, there are some at 17 who are actually not “matured” enough to taking up driving lessons. As we cannot possibly ban one or two, we have no other alternative but to suggest the age for obtaining a driving license be raised from the present 17 to 21 years.
Thinking about it further, by the time you are 21, you most probably would have completed your college or university education. By abstaining from getting your car license now, have you ever contemplated how much financial burden you would have saved or relieved your parents of.
There are many other ample reasons to support my decision that the present age of 17 be raised to 21, but at this juncture, the topic should be terminated here.
As human beings, we have to be “practical”. Advocating 21 as the proper and correct age for a student or child to obtain his or her driving license, in fact will affect my business as a driving instructor.
Most certainly my business would certainly face a “down turn” or “merosot” as they say in Bahasa Malaysia.
To me, the student’s safety must come first. Malaysia’s current rate of accidents worry me. We have one of the world’s highest rate of accidents.
If the “Defensive” from of driving we incorporated from Australia, some 10 – 15 years ago, does not seem to be bearing any concrete result, the time has now come for the government to do something about it.
Either we “raise” the age of obtaining a car license to 21 or come up with a better suggestion to solve it.
I heard from people said that the minimum age of obtaining driving license will be change to 21 years old by next year.
Its that confirmed?
Im wondering because Im 17 now and my parents are planning me to go for driving license during coming long holiday or after like January.
My college is far away from my house so my parents expecting me to drive to go college. My father bought his new car recently just to give me his old car.
Hence, I want to know it early before i go and waste my parents money just to get useless licence after next year. Thanks.
Dear Joseph,
Do not worry! Minimum age of driving at 17 for some time yet.
‘Cikgu Yap
When do government change into 21???
im going to driving institution this month. Im curious…..
In my opinion, change to 21 will lead to more illegal driver.
Dear Joseph,
Not likely to change to 21 in the near future. So don’t worry.
‘Cikgu Yap
Please tell me how much do i need pay for learn and obtaining license?
I know there is additional cost when i get my license..
Dear Jenny,
Average cost varies from place to place. A 10 lessons course can cost anything from RM750.
“P” license is approximately RM70.
‘Cikgu Yap
Well, from what I heard, it seems confirmed that 2010 will be the start of 21 years old to get a license. Im also 17 and if the bar is so, I will get it asap. time schedule very tight. Could you please help me get a handphone number of any instructor in Subang Jaya?? thanks
Dear Nicholas,
Unlikely yet to change to 21 years. So don’t worry.
‘Cikgu Yap
I’m planning to take my driver’s license after SPM.. And since next year’s minimum age will be 21 years old.. If I fail to get my driver’s license this year.. I have to get the license when I’m 21 in 2013? Which means I have to rush to get my license in 15 days?
Dear John,
Present age to get a driving licence is still 17! Take your time.
‘Cikgu Yap
can i ask if its next year they changing to 21years old?
coz i was worried to go for a law test
in case i took that and when next year i cant take the driving test coz im going to be 17 on the early year! xD
Dear Jack,
No, age will remain at 17!
‘Cikgu Yap
Just asking, no one is change the rule for 17 year old people in malaysia to learn how to drive cause from what i heard alot of people are rushing to get their driving licence done as soon as
possible cause a new rule might be made to let only 21 year old
people and older to learn only .
This rule might be in hard for some students cause after spm most students further their study to college or university. It will not be reasonable for them to change the rule rite?
I hope they don’t change cause i am half way done with my licence. I don’t think is reasonable for me to stop half way and follow up when i am 21.
Dear Cikgu Yap,
It has been stated by you that the minimum age required is 21 for next year. “IF” they decide to change to 21 next year, would it be possible for me (17 years old) to register this year and proceed with my license next year?
Dear Adrian,
The article written by me is a “hypothetical” question!
Learning to drive a car remains at 17 years old.
‘Cikgu Yap
When will they change to 21? Cause I’m going to get my license in 2 years time. Hope they won’t change it so fast.
Dear Camie,
Be patient! It’s not going to change to 21.
‘Cikgu Yap
What am i’m thinking? What if people already work? Like me…i quit my study when i was 13…and yes…form 1….i quit myself….i dint get ”kick” or get the ”red card” neither….im currently working as hairstylist. Aad yes i do need a car….im currently 16 this year 2010…im waited to take the driving license for freaking ages. My opinion,change 21 instead to 18 or do nothing!
Dear Brian,
You have to wait a few months to get your license. Meanwhile, please be patient.
I’m born at December 1993 so I could only take driving lessons at December, would I be unable to take driving license by that time?
Dear YongZheng,
Only on your 17th birthday can you begin driving lessons.
Dear Cikgu Yap,
i am Now 15…i was born at 14 december, 1995 and i am wondering i am going to be 17 in two years but do i need to wait till my birthday(Dec 14) to take my driving test?
Or can i take it when my birthday hasn’t come yet(16) ?
Thanks for your Reply
Also are you sure they are not going to Raise the Age to 21?
Be patient and wait for when you turn 17 years old. There is no need to rush. The minimal driving age is still maintained at 17.
Cikgu Yap will do you think the government will increase the minimum age on this year ??..As my cousin told me that the government gonna increase it this coming June..I’m born in 1994 and was happy to take my driving license next year on August,suddenly i heard the government gonna increase the age limit..i got unhappy..lol..Hope the government still remains the age limit on 17 years old..Anyway Cikgu Yap,normally how long to take my driving licnese??..Im planning to take my Undang-Undang next year before my birthday..So just want to know how long to take the driving test..
Regards,
Farid
Thanks
No increase in age.
Time required for undang-undang to practical test around 40 days.
Dear Cikgu Yap,
I’ve heard about the age limit changing to 21 .I’m turning 16 on the 31st of december this year. am i able to take my undang a few days after that? meaning 16. so that at least my name’s registered just IN CASE they decide to change it. as i’m only turning 17 next year, 31st december. and also, how long does it take to do your license? not the undang. as in the driving test, from start to end. and how long only will receive the driving license and can actually drive? :)
No change in age. To get license is roughly 45 days. You can only drive when “P” is issued.
so it takes around 45 days all in all to get license? oh and say my birthday is on 31st december, may i start taking my license on 1st january? :)
If you’re 17, yes you can begin learning cars. If 16, only motor B2 license.
can i ask u noe it will chg at when?
i m so scare @@
tis year after my birthday me was 17years old~ but my birthday at nov22 is time for spm ==… if after spm take 45 days to get license then mean i need jan1st 2011 juz can get license~ … hope dun chg TT
Your question has been answered many times on the other comments on top. It will not be changed any time soon.
Cikgu Yap,i wanna ask u about something..in ur opinion,wat is the benifit if government increase the qualifying age for motorcyclists and drivers?
Older candidates are more matured. Hopefully, with it, less accidents will happen.
Actually it’s a lil stupid to me about changing to 21 (tho in the comments you said that it wont) I’m 15 and I can’t wait to learn to drive.
But if they do change from 17 to 21. How are college students going to go college? By the time i’m 17, My first brother will be in college and my 2nd brother would already be somewhere else. My mom’s working in JB and my dad travels alot. Does that mean I have to spend from my place to Taylors everyday by lrt and taxi? That 4 years of that would probably cost more than taking up driving license and buying a car.
Also, most students from JB would love to go KL for their college or uni. But since they cant drive, does that mean that their parents would have to send them to college? That means the whole family would have to move to KL.
If they do change. ): I’m leaving malaysia!
hehe!
Do not worry. Driving for cars will remain at 17.
A nineteen year old boy, who was hired to drive a tractor on the road, lost control when a landslide occurred. A passenger in the tractor suffered injuries. can both the owner of the tractor and the passenger file a claim against the insurance company?
Tractor can only be driven by those 21 years and above. From the look of things, the insurance company will give you lots of problems.
While your point is valid and every ones opinions are different… Dont you think that at the age of 21 that is just way too old? 18 maybe but 21 is just too steep there. There is a reason why people nowadays want to take their driving license early, so they can stop burdening others with transportation issues. Furthermore, if you increase the age limit for driving, that will just promote more illegal underage driving among teenagers. Which is in fact stupid.
You have a great point here, however biggest flaw there is in this is that not every parents is as available to send their child to tuition, University, school or whatsoever there might be.
Yes there are public transportation, however if you’re a father who has a daughter or son that you love so much would you just let them take the public transportation when you have absolutely no free time to send them to a critical class for Uni or anything like that? Most likely no as times has change, it’s more violent out there now. The unpredicted could happen anytime. I guess I don’t exactly have much of a say in this though.
Also what about having to travel to important places like say the library if resources on the internet isn’t valid for your article where you need actual evidence and facts that has been recorded on a book? (a huge MAYBE)
So from a student’s perspective this is a bit of a drag as too having the limit set to age of 21.
However from a safety and concerning perspective, I totally agree that some people aren’t just mature enough yet at the age of 17 which studies shown that a human’s brain is developed and matured at 21 years of age.
So basically there are disadvantages and advantages of this very situation. Also, everyone has their own opinion, no one is right or wrong in this case.
Cheers, Rob