Waiting Longer to Drive

In news coming from Detroit, a city once considered the capital of cars in the U.S., it appears there is a new and growing trend among teen drivers. In Detroit and the rest of the nation too, the trend is that more and more teenagers are simply not nearly as interested in driving as American teenagers in the past were. Turning 16 years old and earning the privilege to drive a motor vehicle was something of a rite of passage for almost every teen in the nation in decades past. Most American teenagers could barely wait until they could start driving legally, and most lined up to get their Learner’s Permits at the earliest possible time, which in most states is around the age of 15 and a half, an age that permits them to drive on a very limited basis and only with an adult in the car. New statistics now show that the lines to get the early permits are gone and an increasing number of U.S. teens appear not to be very interested in gaining their driving privileges at all, with many simply waiting well beyond their 16th birthdays before even learning how to drive.

Statistics on teen drivers from Michigan reflect the lack of interest in driving by showing that the number of teen drivers in that state has fallen much faster than the overall number of drivers on the road, and there are now over 15% fewer teens driving there than just one decade ago. Information gathered from teens, driving instructors and researchers suggests that the kids are not eager to start driving as soon as possible anymore due to factors like the nation’s weak overall economy, high gas prices and the recent proliferation of mobile electronic devices like smart phones. Other factors that appear to be keeping teens from behind the wheel are the rising costs of insuring teenage drivers, the teens’ own concerns and fears about the dangers of driving and the availability of so many other ways for them to get around without having to drive a car of their own. Some researchers have also said they believe that teens’ newfound ability to hook up with their friends through social media on the Internet has significantly reduced the urgency to drive around to see their friends in person.

The more relaxed attitude toward getting a drivers’ license among teens is also quite noticeable at the nation’s schools too, as many educators and teachers say they have noticed a decline in the number of teen drivers in high school parking lots where in the past there were often not enough parking places to accommodate all the kids over 16 who applied for parking permits. Now, many high schools are easily able to assign parking permits to every junior and senior year student who wants one, and often there are still many vacant spaces left in the student parking lots.

In addition to the public schools, dedicated driving schools are also experiencing a decline in the number of teens signing up for driver's education classes. The weak national economy seems to be a factor at the driving schools, as driving lessons are not cheap these days and can cost $400 to $500 per student, making learning how to drive a luxury many families simply can no longer afford, especially in households down to just one income or those having trouble making the monthly payments on mortgages that are twice as high as the current value of their homes. The tight financial situation has also caused many teens to rely on friends and carpooling to get around. Given the multiple difficulties, the higher costs and the presence of so many alternatives, it is not really all that surprising that so many American teens are now waiting as long as they possibly can before getting behind the wheel of an automobile today.