Once you are 17

Blood Donation

You can donate blood without parental consent

Care Order

You can no longer have a care order made on you.

Driving

You can hold a licence to drive a car, small goods vehicle, or an agriculture tractor on the road but not a medium or heavy goods vehicle, or a vehicle that carries more than 8 people.

Flying

You can get a private pilot’s licence to fly an aeroplane, helicopter, gyroplane, balloon or airship.

Legal issues

You can be interviewed by the police and given a reprimand or a warning without an appropriate adult being present.

If you get charged with an offence and you aren’t granted bail you will be sent to a remand centre or prison.

Weapons

You can buy or hire a firearm or ammunition.

You can buy or hire a crossbow. Under 17s who have in their possession a crossbow capable of discharging a bolt can be convicted of a criminal offence unless they are being supervised by someone over 21.