To sit behind the wheel at 14: in which countries is the youngest age for drivers
Each country has its own specific driving rules, but there is one exception. In the sparsely populated, huge state of South Dakota in the United States, home to just under one million people, teenagers are allowed to drive.
Long distances to travel and a small population mean that people need cars to get around. And because the state has fewer people per square mile than most places in the United States, teens are allowed to drive at a younger age, the Express reports.
According to documents from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, "you must be at least 14 years old to apply for your first permit to drive." At around the age of 14 years and six months, drivers who successfully pass several exams can obtain a restricted license, which allows them to drive unaccompanied from 6 am to 10 pm.
However, according to Forbes, car insurance for teenagers and young drivers in the United States is not cheap, with an average cost of about $300 per month. It is emphasized that drivers in South Dakota are used to driving long distances, and the two largest population centers in the state are more than four hours and 347 miles away.
Modern-day South Dakota has two interstate highways running through it. I-90 runs east-west through the southern part of the state. I-29 runs from north to south through the eastern part of the state.
It is also emphasized that the African country of Niger has the highest minimum driving age - 23 years. Meanwhile, France has recently lowered the minimum driving age on its own to 17 years, joining other European Union countries such as Austria, Denmark, Hungary, and Ireland.
"The EU recommends a minimum age of 18 for unaccompanied driving. Teenagers in Finland can apply for an exemption to get a full license when they turn 17. In France, you can get a learner's permit at the age of 15," the article adds.
Earlier, TravelWise talked about the longest empty highway in the United States - US Route 50, which runs among the ghost towns.