Why do kids seem to be driving later than they used to "back in the day"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We pushed the drivers license process with our kid because the timing was convenient now. It was a good time to slog virtually through the 30 hours of classroom drivers ed last summer. DC got their learners permit at the end of last summer, and then had to wait 9 months anyway to get the drivers license. We did the 60 hours of practice driving and the 6 hours of behind the wheel through the fall, winter, and spring. By the time school was out, it was time to take the driving test, which is frankly easier at the moment due to Covid. DC passed, and while they don’t necessarily feel the urge to jump into the car and drive everywhere right now - which is a good thing - they are thrilled to have their license and, in the process, an official ID that has already come in very handy. We are glad that we powered through the process and that it is done, license in hand.

This. The process rather long around here. I was surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listen

There is no shock that parents cater to their kid's needs and have made lazy entitled kids.

Why is this even an argument. Getting a license takes work that most kids do not want because for them, it is still okay to have Mommy drive you to school as a senior in high school.

Who wants to buy a car as a senior in high school? Seriously, how does a high school senior afford a used car in 2021?

Just curious how did seniors in 1970 afford a car? How about 1990? 2010?

It is called a JOB, which all high school kids have, except for the very privileged.

It is called a savings account from birth.

I am scared you even asked this question.


I did the same thing my parents did. I will pay for half the car and half the repairs if needed. The teen pays for the insurance and gas.

I don’t know 1 teen who bought their own car in 1960, 70, 90 or now.

They drive their parents old car.

I bought my own car the summer before my senior year. A used Toyota Celica with flip up headlights for $1050

I barely knew any kids that did not buy their own car. But I lived in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Not here. So maybe that is a regional thing? Working PT jobs throughout high school and getting wheels of your own was a right of passage. Most were old beat up cars and you paid liability only insurance.

Our high school has a student's lot and we decorated our parking spaces. It was a big deal. And no, we were not in a rich area. True blue collar middle class.

I lived in an urban area and I knew almost nobody who bought their own car. Your experience is regional.

[Anonymous]

My DS worked FT all summer at a minimum wage job. He might have money to buy a very used car but he wouldn't have enough to pay for car insurance, maintenance, and gas. He isn't in a big hurry to get his license because he knows he won't have his own car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS worked FT all summer at a minimum wage job. He might have money to buy a very used car but he wouldn't have enough to pay for car insurance, maintenance, and gas. He isn't in a big hurry to get his license because he knows he won't have his own car.

I’m 1980 the minimum wage was $3 and a good used car was $1500.

Technically a kids could work all summer and pay off a car. Work PT, the school year and pay insurance and gas.

But it rarely happened that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I forced or strongly encouraged mine to get their license as soon as possible. While they were still young in HS and under my control. I think it is easier fir younger people to pick up the skills and get them embedded when they are still teens.
Teaching them around DCUM is nerve wracking but at least you still have some control. Learning later I feared maybe they would hit the freeway without a clue how dangerous that can be.
Also I see these kids who are 19 or 20 be so embarrassed that they put it off and put it off. No parent handy to say take the car and practice. It’s like they outgrew the parents but didn’t get the skills.

Most parents do not teach skills. I learned how to change my own oil, tires, air filters, etc.. I washed my own cars, learned a lot of indoor and outdoor chores. Learned how to use power tools, actually mowed the lawn, etc... I am female.

Most teens do not even work a PT job and I know plenty of those unemployed teens whose family pay for lawn service instead of having their capable kids to do it. They probably pay for roadside assistance, housekeeper, etc...

Most 19yr old are embarrassing book smart only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I forced or strongly encouraged mine to get their license as soon as possible. While they were still young in HS and under my control. I think it is easier fir younger people to pick up the skills and get them embedded when they are still teens.
Teaching them around DCUM is nerve wracking but at least you still have some control. Learning later I feared maybe they would hit the freeway without a clue how dangerous that can be.
Also I see these kids who are 19 or 20 be so embarrassed that they put it off and put it off. No parent handy to say take the car and practice. It’s like they outgrew the parents but didn’t get the skills.

Most parents do not teach skills. I learned how to change my own oil, tires, air filters, etc.. I washed my own cars, learned a lot of indoor and outdoor chores. Learned how to use power tools, actually mowed the lawn, etc... I am female.

Most teens do not even work a PT job and I know plenty of those unemployed teens whose family pay for lawn service instead of having their capable kids to do it. They probably pay for roadside assistance, housekeeper, etc...

Most 19yr old are embarrassing book smart only.

Most 19 year olds work full time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I forced or strongly encouraged mine to get their license as soon as possible. While they were still young in HS and under my control. I think it is easier fir younger people to pick up the skills and get them embedded when they are still teens.
Teaching them around DCUM is nerve wracking but at least you still have some control. Learning later I feared maybe they would hit the freeway without a clue how dangerous that can be.
Also I see these kids who are 19 or 20 be so embarrassed that they put it off and put it off. No parent handy to say take the car and practice. It’s like they outgrew the parents but didn’t get the skills.

Most parents do not teach skills. I learned how to change my own oil, tires, air filters, etc.. I washed my own cars, learned a lot of indoor and outdoor chores. Learned how to use power tools, actually mowed the lawn, etc... I am female.

Most teens do not even work a PT job and I know plenty of those unemployed teens whose family pay for lawn service instead of having their capable kids to do it. They probably pay for roadside assistance, housekeeper, etc...

Most 19yr old are embarrassing book smart only.

I've never learned how to change oil. I am almost 50 and have never once needed the skill.

[Anonymous]

I’m curious how much car insurance is now for your teenage son? My son is about to get his learner’s permit and I haven’t called for a quote from State Farm.

[Anonymous]

On one hand I'd be thrilled if my child didn't drive like I did as a teen. On the other, I kind of view it like swimming: an absolutely necessary life skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I forced or strongly encouraged mine to get their license as soon as possible. While they were still young in HS and under my control. I think it is easier fir younger people to pick up the skills and get them embedded when they are still teens.
Teaching them around DCUM is nerve wracking but at least you still have some control. Learning later I feared maybe they would hit the freeway without a clue how dangerous that can be.
Also I see these kids who are 19 or 20 be so embarrassed that they put it off and put it off. No parent handy to say take the car and practice. It’s like they outgrew the parents but didn’t get the skills.

Most parents do not teach skills. I learned how to change my own oil, tires, air filters, etc.. I washed my own cars, learned a lot of indoor and outdoor chores. Learned how to use power tools, actually mowed the lawn, etc... I am female.

Most teens do not even work a PT job and I know plenty of those unemployed teens whose family pay for lawn service instead of having their capable kids to do it. They probably pay for roadside assistance, housekeeper, etc...

Most 19yr old are embarrassing book smart only.

Most 19 year olds work full time.

.where???

Most are in school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I forced or strongly encouraged mine to get their license as soon as possible. While they were still young in HS and under my control. I think it is easier fir younger people to pick up the skills and get them embedded when they are still teens.
Teaching them around DCUM is nerve wracking but at least you still have some control. Learning later I feared maybe they would hit the freeway without a clue how dangerous that can be.
Also I see these kids who are 19 or 20 be so embarrassed that they put it off and put it off. No parent handy to say take the car and practice. It’s like they outgrew the parents but didn’t get the skills.

Most parents do not teach skills. I learned how to change my own oil, tires, air filters, etc.. I washed my own cars, learned a lot of indoor and outdoor chores. Learned how to use power tools, actually mowed the lawn, etc... I am female.

Most teens do not even work a PT job and I know plenty of those unemployed teens whose family pay for lawn service instead of having their capable kids to do it. They probably pay for roadside assistance, housekeeper, etc...

Most 19yr old are embarrassing book smart only.

Most 19 year olds work full time.

.where???

Most are in school

DCUM folks are terrible at statistics and through around the words “most” and “few” like candy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to disagree with you. If anything, I think kids now a days grow up even faster than we did.

Nope.
- mom of 17-year-old

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I forced or strongly encouraged mine to get their license as soon as possible. While they were still young in HS and under my control. I think it is easier fir younger people to pick up the skills and get them embedded when they are still teens.
Teaching them around DCUM is nerve wracking but at least you still have some control. Learning later I feared maybe they would hit the freeway without a clue how dangerous that can be.
Also I see these kids who are 19 or 20 be so embarrassed that they put it off and put it off. No parent handy to say take the car and practice. It’s like they outgrew the parents but didn’t get the skills.

Most parents do not teach skills. I learned how to change my own oil, tires, air filters, etc.. I washed my own cars, learned a lot of indoor and outdoor chores. Learned how to use power tools, actually mowed the lawn, etc... I am female.

Most teens do not even work a PT job and I know plenty of those unemployed teens whose family pay for lawn service instead of having their capable kids to do it. They probably pay for roadside assistance, housekeeper, etc...

Most 19yr old are embarrassing book smart only.

All that is great and good to know. But it doesn’t lead to having a valid drivers license or knowing road skills safety. That is what is being taught or learned (or not learned) in the driving and DL process. Power tools and lawn mowing do not get you through the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I forced or strongly encouraged mine to get their license as soon as possible. While they were still young in HS and under my control. I think it is easier fir younger people to pick up the skills and get them embedded when they are still teens.
Teaching them around DCUM is nerve wracking but at least you still have some control. Learning later I feared maybe they would hit the freeway without a clue how dangerous that can be.
Also I see these kids who are 19 or 20 be so embarrassed that they put it off and put it off. No parent handy to say take the car and practice. It’s like they outgrew the parents but didn’t get the skills.

Most parents do not teach skills. I learned how to change my own oil, tires, air filters, etc.. I washed my own cars, learned a lot of indoor and outdoor chores. Learned how to use power tools, actually mowed the lawn, etc... I am female.

Most teens do not even work a PT job and I know plenty of those unemployed teens whose family pay for lawn service instead of having their capable kids to do it. They probably pay for roadside assistance, housekeeper, etc...

Most 19yr old are embarrassing book smart only.

Most 19 year olds work full time.

.where???

Most are in school

DCUM folks are terrible at statistics and through around the words “most” and “few” like candy.

Tip - when you try to “own a PP,” proofread your own post so you don’t look foolish!

[Anonymous]

You share a family car. Teens ask when they can use it