I'm not sure that would ever work in America. We are sufficiently spread out that public transportation would be difficult (if possible) to implement. And I'm not talking about NYC or SF; remember, not every one lives there. Much of the rest of the nation is very spread out, which is not an immediately solvable problem.
Regardless, I needed a car as a teen; my parents were both busy and my brother and I needed to do things (including work). 16 is just about the age that people start doing stuff, so that's when they start driving. It's also when people can first get jobs, so important there too.
Maybe there would be a reduction, but you would hurt a lot of innocent people in other ways. It is not for us to suffer to curb the excesses of others.
Statistically, teen driving has already decreased, in part due to the abundance of technology allowing conversations and hangouts without physically being in the same location.
> It's also when people can first get jobs, so important there too.
The statistical reductions are down slightly from extremely high numbers. And for what it's worth, people shouldn't have to have a reason to do something, the government should have a reason to restrict it. Namely, the person being restricted must be harming some one else. Many teens are perfectly good drivers; I was never in an accident/received a ticket and have not ever.
Neither of the things I mentioned are because of government, strictly. They are results of social changes from technology and job market changes from technology - sprinkle in some helicopter parenting and too academic focused 16 year olds.
Regardless, I needed a car as a teen; my parents were both busy and my brother and I needed to do things (including work). 16 is just about the age that people start doing stuff, so that's when they start driving. It's also when people can first get jobs, so important there too.
Maybe there would be a reduction, but you would hurt a lot of innocent people in other ways. It is not for us to suffer to curb the excesses of others.