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marmar

(76,985 posts)
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 09:25 AM Jul 2012

Another Study Finds Fewer Young People Getting Driver’s Licenses


from Transportation Nation:



Another Study Finds Fewer Young People Getting Driver’s Licenses
By Alex Goldmark | 07/20/2012 – 4:42 pm


Young people aren’t lining up to drive like they used to. Year over year, fewer 16 to 24 year-olds are getting driver’s licenses according to a new study released today by Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle of the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute.

Take 16 year-olds: In 2008, 31 percent of them got driver’s licenses. In 2010 it fell to 28 percent. That’s part of a steady trend the researchers track back to 1983. That’s when Return of the Jedi, Scarface and The Outsiders were in theaters, and 46 percent of 16 year-olds were licensed to drive. Now, with Netflix and iTunes, they don’t need wheels to get to the movies.

Take this response we received from a listener in Florida when our partner The Takeaway asked young people about their driving habits:

“I drive less because I have become a couch potato. The Internet takes me anywhere I want to go. And services like Netflix provide entertainment at the touch of a button. It’s also a lot more affordable.”


The U. Mich study found that the driver’s license drop was a bit sharper for older teens: the percentage fell five percent for 18 year-olds from 2008 to 2010. Using Census and Federal Highway Administration data, the researchers identified a general decline in the percentage of people who sign up for a driver’s license across almost all age groups, but it was especially pronounced for younger would-be drivers. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://transportationnation.org/2012/07/20/percentage-of-young-persons-with-a-drivers-license-continues-to-drop/



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Another Study Finds Fewer Young People Getting Driver’s Licenses (Original Post) marmar Jul 2012 OP
But those Drivers Licenses double as Voter ID's (after the age of 18) Cooley Hurd Jul 2012 #1
We've castigated our youth with unreal expectations , orpupilofnature57 Jul 2012 #2
None of my 3 kids drove before 18 because Gman Jul 2012 #3
I'm 24 and don't have mine... but mostly because of social anxiety. Comrade_McKenzie Jul 2012 #4
Teenagers used to have part time jobs. Quantess Jul 2012 #5
My 17 year old daughter has no job Sedona Jul 2012 #6
 

Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
1. But those Drivers Licenses double as Voter ID's (after the age of 18)
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 09:30 AM
Jul 2012

Hopefully, they're driving by 18.

 

orpupilofnature57

(15,472 posts)
2. We've castigated our youth with unreal expectations ,
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 09:33 AM
Jul 2012

like it's 1976 and all you have to do is show up. Media of the multi sort have replaced that part of the ego that wanted to strike out in to the world ,when I was a teen .

Gman

(24,780 posts)
3. None of my 3 kids drove before 18 because
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 09:38 AM
Jul 2012

I didn't want to pay the extra $1200 a year for insurance once the license was issued.

 

Comrade_McKenzie

(2,526 posts)
4. I'm 24 and don't have mine... but mostly because of social anxiety.
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 09:41 AM
Jul 2012

I find it terrifying to drive under scrutiny of a stranger.

Quantess

(27,630 posts)
5. Teenagers used to have part time jobs.
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 09:42 AM
Jul 2012

Many years ago, teens had jobs to help them with gas money. It's a lot harder nowadays for teens to find jobs.

Sedona

(3,769 posts)
6. My 17 year old daughter has no job
Sun Jul 22, 2012, 09:50 AM
Jul 2012

no gas money
no insurance money

and a mother who sleeps a little better at night

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