雅思 IELTS Writing Task 2 Mr.Mou Answers Collection
社会生活类
Topic: Social Issues — Raising the Legal Driving Age
Question: Some people think that the best way to improve road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving a car or motorbike. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Answer
I strongly agree that raising the minimum legal driving age would be an effective measure to improve road safety. While other interventions such as stricter enforcement and better infrastructure are important, increasing the age at which people can obtain a full licence directly addresses two root causes of many collisions: immature decision-making and limited financial preparedness.
To begin with, cognitive and emotional maturity are crucial for safe driving. Neuroscientific research shows that the frontal cortex—the region responsible for impulse control, planning, and risk assessment—continues to develop into early adulthood. Younger drivers therefore tend to act more impulsively and are more susceptible to peer pressure, which often translates into dangerous behaviours such as speeding or risky overtaking. For example, crash statistics consistently show higher accident rates among 16–19-year-olds than among older age groups. Delaying full driving privileges until drivers are older would give individuals more time to develop sound judgement and reduce the incidence of emotion-driven mistakes.
Furthermore, financial readiness affects a driver’s ability to maintain a safe vehicle and obtain adequate insurance. Many teenagers lack the resources for routine servicing, timely tyre replacement, or for repairs to critical components such as brakes; deferred maintenance increases the risk of mechanical failure on the road, and inadequate insurance leaves victims and public services shouldering the cost of accidents. For instance, jurisdictions with higher minimum licensing ages often report lower rates of uninsured drivers and fewer maintenance-related incidents. Ensuring drivers are older when granted full driving rights therefore reduces both mechanical risks and the social costs of crashes.
In conclusion, raising the legal driving age would enhance road safety by allowing greater psychological development and improving financial responsibility among drivers. Paired with graduated licensing and driver education, this measure could substantially reduce accidents and their wider societal impact.
Useful Collocations & Idioms
| Category | Expressions |
|---|---|
| Driving & Safety | road safety · driving privileges · safe vehicle · mechanical failure · maintenance-related incidents · uninsured drivers · social costs of crashes |
| Cognitive / Behavioral | cognitive and emotional maturity · impulse control · risk assessment · sound judgement · peer pressure · emotion-driven mistakes |
| Financial / Policy | financial preparedness · obtain adequate insurance · routine servicing · deferred maintenance · shouldering the cost · graduated licensing |
| Academic / Formal Phrases | root causes · neuroscientific research shows · statistics consistently show · enhance · substantially reduce · wider societal impact |