We read at wsoctv.com that “In 1995, about 64% of kids aged 16 to 19 got their license to drive; by 2021, that number had dropped to under 40%.” In consideration, that America is not known for having a very robust public transportation system, and also that in many communities, the ability to get from one place to another, through that public transportation is, with a few exceptions, not structured very well to move people rapidly from one point to another, it seems surprising that one of those seminal marks of freedom, of having the ability to get into an automobile with one’s own driver’s license, and thereby drive to a given destination, has declined significantly – yet, it has.
Look, it has to be said, back in the day, many a teenager, was absolutely obsessed about getting their driver’s license, for the ability to drive, meant that not only could they go where they pretty much desired to go, but also that they would be able to do so, in many a case, without direct parental supervision. That, for most teenagers, signified freedom on a scale that meant a great deal to them. However, in today’s world, the majority of 16-19-year-olds, actually don’t have a driver’s license, which is an astonishing change, especially for this nation, that is known for having a very strong love for cars and the independence that cars represent.
That said, the fact that fewer teenagers are driving probably does make the roads safer for other drivers and helps keep teenagers safer, as well. After all, teenagers are prone to making the type of bad decisions that lead to very bad consequences, when getting behind the wheel of a car, and therefore insurance rates for those teens, reflect that they are a greater risk and therefore are priced as such. So too, with the cost of cars, seemingly never being higher, it has to be noted, that having a driver’s license but without having access to a car, doesn’t do much of anything for a teen, especially when they know that they really can’t afford a car or the responsibility of such, in the first place. Further to the point, it must be acknowledged that ridesharing is something, that simply didn’t exist back in the day, and many teens will avail themselves of ridesharing to get around, and in all candor, this might well make financial sense for them, because the expense of a car, insurance, maintenance, and the risk of a bad event happening to them that could result in a suspension of their license or make their insurance rates to go sky-high, will not happen when ridesharing.
Still, at the end of the day, it just seems different, when far fewer teens are driving, but the fact that there are more options available, along with having friends, siblings, or parents, that can take them from one place to another, seems satisfactory for many a teen. Perhaps, overall, this is a good thing, and if teens aren’t complaining about not having a license, or don’t seem to have the urge or desire to get such, it seems to say that the kids are alright, with or without a driver’s license.