Knowing little about who is 'at fault' in this particular tragedy, I will offer that kids shouldn't be allowed drive. Maybe to work or school. They definitely shouldn't be allowed to go around cruising/joyriding with their friends. I say this as a former very dangerous teen driver who was simply lucky not to kill myself or anyone else in a fiery wreck. But so much of the American economy depends on frivolous driving by teenagers, it's hard to imagine proposals to raise the driving age having much of a chance.

Some folks think that raising the driving age to, say, 18 would have little effect, because new 18-year-old drivers would be just as bad as new 16-year-old drivers. I think that raising the driving age would have an immediate and profound positive effect on road safety, keeping most of the carloads of aimless highschoolers off the streets and keeping kids from driving until their brains are developed beyond tadpole stage. They could ride bikes instead, and learn about traffic in a way that doesn't threaten the lives of others.

Were they drinking?