Tbh I think it should be different in rural and urban areas.
Not a bad idea, although I wonder how well such a thing could be enforced.
Give anyone 16 or 17 a license but only for rural areas?
Perhaps conditional on working on a farm. Some states have specific agricultural permits for driving related to a farm. In WA it is for those under 18 with no minimum age. Other states like IL allow anyone to operate farm machinery with or without a license on roads between a farm and nearby farm buildings.
If you're going to go that route, then you should also add stipulations for transporting disabled parents.
I argued for more general rural drivers license because rural areas do not have public transportation options. The test should still be just as stringent.