Is the culture of teenagers learning to drive dying in America?

[Anonymous]

I feel it has become pretty rare for Gen Z to learn how to drive. Insurance and the costs of owning a car has become way too high, and there are so many additional restrictions on getting a driver’s license and maintaining one if you are under 18.

[Anonymous]

Not if you live in the suburbs. My teens and all their friends drive.

[Anonymous]

I’ve also noticed this. We’re teaching our 16 yo daughter to drive in dc. She’s an eager learner, but we haven’t attempted highway driving yet. People drive like crazy on the beltway— so many lanes all fast swim. I’m avoiding letting her attempt for a while longer. She’s already mastered parallel parking in Georgetown, which made me proud! She will probably do some long distance driving in spring break to see colleges. I’m thinking I might pay for a driving instructor to take her on highways before then.

[Anonymous]

Mine is driving at 18, but the car doesn't belong to him or the insurance would have been nearly the car monthly payment.

[Anonymous]

My 16yo and his friends all drive or have their permit if they’re not 16.5 yet. We’re in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

One of mine rarely drives, the other not at all - may never get license, no need.

[Anonymous]

Gen Z sees no need. Can get everything they need delivered to the house. Never have to leave the basement.

Gonna be really weird in a decade or so when the “kid” in the basement starts showing up as a conveyance item on house sale contracts.

[Anonymous]

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/why-are-young-people-driving-less-evidence-points-to-economics-not-preferences/

There is less pressure to get a DL. So in the past, young people with lazy and/or anxious tendencies would push harder to overcome them because not having a DL was so limiting.

It's less limiting now with Uber, uberEats, amazon, being able to connect with people digitally...

[Anonymous]

DD is 17 and DS is 19 and all their friends drive. We live in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of mine rarely drives, the other not at all - may never get license, no need.

Until they need to rent a car somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel it has become pretty rare for Gen Z to learn how to drive. Insurance and the costs of owning a car has become way too high, and there are so many additional restrictions on getting a driver’s license and maintaining one if you are under 18.

Rare. Really. Do you know any teenagers?

[Anonymous]

My almost 17 year old is fighting me tooth and nail about learning how to drive. He absolutely needs to learn how. He needs a job and he needs to be able to get to his classes in college once he graduates HS. What he doesn't need is to get to his friends by driving himself and that's why we have constant fights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve also noticed this. We’re teaching our 16 yo daughter to drive in dc. She’s an eager learner, but we haven’t attempted highway driving yet. People drive like crazy on the beltway— so many lanes all fast swim. I’m avoiding letting her attempt for a while longer. She’s already mastered parallel parking in Georgetown, which made me proud! She will probably do some long distance driving in spring break to see colleges. I’m thinking I might pay for a driving instructor to take her on highways before then.

I find highway driving so much easier than city driving!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine is driving at 18, but the car doesn't belong to him or the insurance would have been nearly the car monthly payment.

I thought car insurance goes up when they get their license, regardless if they own a vehicle.

[Anonymous]

In larger cities, yes. It's too expensive now and not really needed as much.

In suburbs and rural areas without much public transportation, teenagers will need to drive whether they want to or not. A lot of people won't be able to afford to put teenagers on their insurance if price increases keep up.