driver's licenses becoming less popular with kids?

[Bubba1]

In April's Automobile magazine, there was an interesting page of fast facts about US driver's licenses. The ones that stood out for me:

98% of people in their late 50's and early 60's have a license
75% of 19yr olds have licenses
49% of 17yr olds have obtained theirs

Uof Mich Transp. research Institute professor Michael Sivak felt "it's possible that the availability of virtual contact through electronic means reduces the need for contact among young people."

Although my teenaged son couldn't wait to get his license (and did), I thought it was unusual that his GF has been uninterested in getting hers. I guess I was wrong, it's not that unusual.


Thoughts?

[Dattebayo]

I noticed this too. Both of my cousins don't want a license, and not for any particular reason.
My guess is that they have what they need locally and are happy.

It's not hard to imagine your life without one if you live in a city. I wonder where they did the study? I bet that has something to do with it, too..

It's also more costly to get a teen in a car now, and with money being tight, not as many parents are willing to fork over the cash for insurance and fees.

[Encryptshun]

The fewer 16, 17, and 18 years olds on the roads the better.

/old and crotchety

[AppleBonker]

I've also noticed a trend that it's more difficult to get a license at the age of 16. It appears as though many states are requiring prospective drivers to get a permit AFTER they turn 16. Once that is obtained, a driver course can be taken and the appropriate conditions fulfilled. This would push back the earliest license date quite a bit and could account for some of that trend. I distinctly remember being able to get a permit when I was 15 years 6 months old. That made it easy to complete all of the requirements before my 16th birthday. Food for thought...

I also distinctly remember feeling like I was the best driver on the road when I was only 16. Looking back, I realize how wrong I was. I still think I was better than most (though that isn't much of a hurdle to clear), but definitely not as good as I thought I was. So...

The fewer 16, 17, and 18 years olds on the roads the better.

/old and crotchety

I agree completely with this ^

/not-as-old but still crotchety

[Jesda]

The good: Fewer teens on the road.
The bad: More inexperienced 20-25 year olds on the road.

The recession and high gas prices have been great for traffic congestion though. Accidents are down and wear and tear on pavement has been reduced.

The way I see it:
http://jesda.com/2012/02/29/the-future- ... thusiasts/

Cliffs: Eventually the unwashed masses will start commuting in self-driven pods attached to rail networks. The only cars left will be sports cars, muscle cars, and off-roaders for people like us.

[krash]

I've been trying to get my girlfriend to get her license for 2 years now... Shes 19 and I'm 20.

On the other hand, I was camped out a the doors of the MVA as soon as I was elegible. Maybe its a Male/Female thing as well?

[ADDirishboy]

I know a few people who are my age (22 or so) who still don't have licenses. They call other people who have cars to give them a ride somewhere, or walk. For most of them though, it's not an issue of money, but rather a lack of want for freedom. They enjoy having to rely on others to get them around. They don't have to worry about filling up a tank of gas, keeping a vehicle maintained, or having any sort of responsibility whatsoever. There are multiple people like this at the restaurant I work at. They are constantly late because they "couldn't find a ride in time" and management does nothing about it. They let it slide as if the employee was somehow wronged by not being able to get a ride.

[Encryptshun]

Actually, that's a pretty good point, Tyler. I have only worked for one company in my career where "the bus/train was late" was NOT considered a valid excuse for being late to work. Apparently, having a car means you should be on time no matter what, while taking public transportation means you are free to adjust your work schedule to fit around your commute. People here at my office who commute from the city via train and shuttle come in later and leave earlier than anyone else, because that's when the shuttle and trains run. Meanwhile, I sit at my desk and put in 12 hour days because my SUV sits in the parking lot and I can leave whenever I want.

So the moral of this story is: if you want to be free, find some constraints and be bound by them.

[numbnuts240]

crotchety

i knew there was a reason my ears were ringing.

[frapjap]

This is pretty typical these days, IMO. Some of the reasons I've heard are: to complicated (aka lazy), too expensive (aka I'm unemployed), and I have everything I need here (aka I live in a clam shell). Its really hard for me to grasp the concept. I got my permit a few days after turning 15 and my license days after turning 16.

However, I think the numbers may be skewed a tiny bit. In recent years most states have adopted a later age to get a license; 17 or 18 years old after requirements are met. I also wonder how much that measure is affected due to poor driving and eventual loss of license. There is also the lack of motivation that Tyler mentioned. Some kids feel entitled to not have to drive themselves and that doing most of anything for themselves (not just driving; cooking, exercising, getting a raise) is for the birds.

[NolimitZ32]

I agree with Jesda, good for me if there are less of them driving. Looking back on how I drove when I was 15/16 I fear for my life knowing that there others like that who share the roads with me on a daily basis.

[Dattebayo]

The way I see it:
http://jesda.com/2012/02/29/the-future- ... thusiasts/

That was a hoot to read. lol

I kind of find myself moving in the same way as those rainbow farters do, I would welcome the coming of that "skytran" thing for three reasons: cabs suck because of $4 entry fees, driving in the city is stupid, and the underground subway is uneconomical.

But that means that the licenses for self-driven vehicles are probably going to skyrocket...

[MinisterofDOOM]

I think this is ENTIRELY region-specific. In areas where you don't need a car to do things idiot ki--er "young people" care about, you will of course see a smaller percentage of those...eh..."young people" caring to obtain a driver's license.
But in other places, cars are still necessary for those things so you'll see a higher percentage of them feeling the need to get a license.

The fewer 16, 17, and 18 years olds on the roads the better.

/old and crotchety

Hell, the fewer everything-year-olds on the roads the better.

/Older and crotchetier

Also arthritis high five!

[leesredgt]

I couldn't imagine not wanting to get my license. The day i turned 15 I got my permit. The day I turned 16 i got my license. Im 22 now almost 23 and have gotten only one ticket(technically a warning) and have never been in a wreck. Driving is easy if you just pay attention. I don't know why 16 year olds cant do that.

[nissangirl74]

I couldn't imagine not wanting to get my license. The day i turned 15 I got my permit. The day I turned 16 i got my license. Im 22 now almost 23 and have gotten only one ticket(technically a warning) and have never been in a wreck. Driving is easy if you just pay attention. I don't know why 16 year olds cant do that.

Because 16 year olds are paying attention to everything but driving...their phones, the radio, their friends in the car with them....

Katrina is 16. She hasn't asked to go take her test and I haven't pushed for it. The longer we can postpone the insurance increase, the better. She also has a healthy dose of lazy that is a big contributing factor.

None of her friends drive either.

I think this is ENTIRELY region-specific. In areas where you don't need a car to do things idiot ki--er "young people" care about, you will of course see a smaller percentage of those...eh..."young people" caring to obtain a driver's license.
But in other places, cars are still necessary for those things so you'll see a higher percentage of them feeling the need to get a license.

^This. If I was raised in a city with lots of public transportation and hellish traffic jams on a daily basis, I wouldn't drive either.

[themadscientist]

I just renewed mine and dam the picture was hideous. That tells me it's an accurate rendering. I look like America's Most Wanted should have it up on the screen with John Walsh saying "If you see this man, notify authorities. He is not armed but is burdened with high self esteem and may verbally assault you with his opinion."

[raremotive]

I just renewed mine and dam the picture was hideous. That tells me it's an accurate rendering. I look like America's Most Wanted should have it up on the screen with John Walsh saying "If you see this man, notify authorities. He is not armed but is burdened with high self esteem and may verbally assault you with his opinion."

[themadscientist]

Mine is with me till 2020. That is a pretty whacked out pic, though.

[Fenris]

I'm 23 now, have had my license since the day i turned 16 and have averaged about 30k miles per year since then (less early on more as of late). Getting my license was huge for me, that and i had my Nissan Stanza just sitting and waiting for me!

Another thing, one of my roommates in college actually gave up his license while he was in school. He was from Taxachusetts and at 20 his parents payed thousands more a year for insurance because he had a drivers license and "lived" in the house. Never mind the fact that he didn't need a car in school, and never drove when he was at home, so he just gave it up.

[300ZXttZMAN]

I don't know anyone that is my age (20) and doesn't have a license. I agree with Dattebayo it has to do with where you live...

[95zenki man]

I didnt get one till i was 18 ( grades sucked in school) i Already had 2 cars by that point so it was really no biggie for me though i had been driving since i was 14 anyways. Only time i thought i was in trouble was at the young young age of 15 when i got pulled over in my driveway...

[Mr1der]

Cliffs: Eventually the unwashed masses will start commuting in self-driven pods attached to rail networks. The only cars left will be sports cars, muscle cars, and off-roaders for people like us.

The downside, potential for higher prices because the need for such a massive supply isn't there.

Kinda like what people pay for boats.

f*** boats.

[Jesda]

Cliffs: Eventually the unwashed masses will start commuting in self-driven pods attached to rail networks. The only cars left will be sports cars, muscle cars, and off-roaders for people like us.

The downside, potential for higher prices because the need for such a massive supply isn't there.

Kinda like what people pay for boats.

f*** boats.

We could build our own.

That's of course only if regulations got out of the way as the masses boarded their sadpods.


The Jesdamobile would be rickety but at least it would have a built-in fax machine.

[Encryptshun]

^ I would rock the HELL out of that car.