Bill 314/23 Plans to Allow Young People Over 16 to Drive

Minors Holding a Driver’s Permit Will Be Covered by the Statute of Children and Adolescents

Bill 314/23 establishes the Brazilian Traffic Code (CBT) to issue Driver’s Permits to young people over 16 years old. For this to happen, the bill provides for changes to Law No. 9,503, dated September 23, 1997. In addition, it includes specific oversight for minors. If the bill is approved, minors holding a Driver’s Permit will be covered by the Statute of Children and Adolescents.

According to the Traffic Portal, young people over 16 must respect a limit during one year of the permit to qualify for a permanent document. Thus, they cannot exceed: 20 points if there are 2 or more severe infractions; 30 points if there is 1 severe infraction; and 40 points if there are no severe infractions.

The Permit for Those Over 16 to Drive Can Be Justified by the Political Responsibility of Youth

According to the author of the proposal, young people over 16 in the country are in a constant process of maturation, as Brazil allows them to vote and actively participate in national political life. “Given this fact, where active participation of youth in political life is acknowledged, it seems incongruous that the prohibition for sixteen-year-olds to drive cars or motorcycles still persists,” he states.

The deputy states that criminal liability, determined by the current Brazilian Traffic Code, is a requirement that needs to be broken. For him, “if it is not possible to apply the Penal Law, applicable to adults, the Statute of Children and Adolescents already provides for the characterization of the described conducts as an infringement.”

The Permit for Young People Over 16 to Drive Is a Frequent Topic in Politics

Allowing young people over 16 to drive is an issue that has increasingly come up in discussions both in the Chamber of Deputies and in the Federal Senate. However, the bills on the subject have not made significant progress. The Bill 3973/19, for example, currently in the Federal Senate, had the opinion of the Committee on Constitution, Justice, and Citizenship recommending the rejection of the project.

Senator Fabiano Contarato (PT/ES) states that “despite the evident public appeal, the inclusion of youth between 16 and 18 years old as drivers of motor vehicles, given the factual situation of Brazilian traffic, would be nothing less than reckless.” For him, Brazil’s violent traffic would be a stage for accidents involving young adolescents behind the wheel.