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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's perfect world would be a car be can get into, tell it where he wants to go, and then sit back and scroll through social media while the car drives him where he wants to go. And I think he is not alone. This generation is ripe for self-driving cars.

Not my kids, but then again I didn't raise them to be like this either. Both of my teens got their licenses first day they could. I still limit screen time on their electronics, but I never limit face to face time, never limit driving, and always encourage independency.

The bolded is flat-out contradictory.

Anyhow, I think what you meant to say is that you are a control freak.

[Anonymous]

Was glad my kids waited because they are more responsible now, and we also saved a ton on insurance we didn’t have to pay!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's perfect world would be a car be can get into, tell it where he wants to go, and then sit back and scroll through social media while the car drives him where he wants to go. And I think he is not alone. This generation is ripe for self-driving cars.

Not my kids, but then again I didn't raise them to be like this either. Both of my teens got their licenses first day they could. I still limit screen time on their electronics, but I never limit face to face time, never limit driving, and always encourage independency.

LOL PP here. I know it sounds like DS is addicted to electronics but that can't be further from the truth. He views social media as a necessary evil at this time hence why he tries to check it during down time like commutes. He'll learn to drive just like most of his peers. No telling where he might end up after college.

[Anonymous]

From what I see its the parents and being too lazy to teach them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was glad my kids waited because they are more responsible now, and we also saved a ton on insurance we didn’t have to pay!

And, they get much less practical driving experience.

[Anonymous]

My kids took their driving test at 16. I live in a suburb without public transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The jurisdictions around here have made it much more time consuming to get a license. In MD they can’t test until at least 16.5. Before that, there’s a lengthy (extracurricular) classroom training, 60 hours behind the wheel with an adult driver, and 3 2-hour sessions with a professional instructor. Scheduling all of that introduces a lot of delay.

Beyond that, at least some kids nowadays lived a near-virtual life long before covid. They don’t need to go out to see their friends. Some kids also think cars and responsibility are “scary.” There’s some truth in that. Driving in this metropolitan area is awful. The level of recklessness, aggressiveness, and pure lack of skill is astounding. Many drivers seem at best oblivious to other vehicles, others narcissistically malicious. So there’s good reason for kids and parents to be concerned.

On the other side of the equation, the later a kid learns to and starts driving the less experience they will have when they go away to school or otherwise become emancipated. Better a licensed young driver still being coached by a parent passenger than a half-formed one out on their own.

They need to go out to see their friends in person. You think a FaceTime call is the same as going out with friends? Not even close to being the same mentally or physically.

They may need (as in benefit from) all sorts of things; they don’t “need” (as in feel the necessity of in their own life) lots of those same things.

So I’m not making a judgement, I’m reporting a fact based on observation of lots of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I see its the parents and being too lazy to teach them.

Without piling on, I think that the anxiety and the time and attention burden do discourage a lot of parents.

And I wonder what genuinely disadvantaged kids do in light of the costs of the required professional instruction, not even counting the various .gov fees. A driver’s license can be the difference between a job and no job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's perfect world would be a car be can get into, tell it where he wants to go, and then sit back and scroll through social media while the car drives him where he wants to go. And I think he is not alone. This generation is ripe for self-driving cars.

Not my kids, but then again I didn't raise them to be like this either. Both of my teens got their licenses first day they could. I still limit screen time on their electronics, but I never limit face to face time, never limit driving, and always encourage independency.

The bolded is flat-out contradictory.

Anyhow, I think what you meant to say is that you are a control freak.

+1. PP is mental. There’s nothing inherently better about driving. It’s a necessary evil and none of us would do it if we didn’t have to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I see its the parents and being too lazy to teach them.

LOL, I'm guessing you are not a parent at all.
My 2 teens have no interest. After taking drivers ed, they still don't want to drive. I have to force them to go out practicing with me or my husband.

I attribute it to them fighting growing up- on all levels. largely due to being lazy on electronics all day instead of interacting with the world (as a PP pointed out)
Teens do seem to have a 2-4 year delay of where us parents were growing up.
I had my license by 10am on my 16th bday, and drove daily thereafter, to work, downtown, malls. This would scare the heck out of my sheltered kids. I fight them daily to get out in the world, but they don't want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's perfect world would be a car be can get into, tell it where he wants to go, and then sit back and scroll through social media while the car drives him where he wants to go. And I think he is not alone. This generation is ripe for self-driving cars.

Not my kids, but then again I didn't raise them to be like this either. Both of my teens got their licenses first day they could. I still limit screen time on their electronics, but I never limit face to face time, never limit driving, and always encourage independency.

The bolded is flat-out contradictory.

Anyhow, I think what you meant to say is that you are a control freak.

She encourages them to drive to go to friends homes so they can use electronics there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I see its the parents and being too lazy to teach them.

LOL, I'm guessing you are not a parent at all.
My 2 teens have no interest. After taking drivers ed, they still don't want to drive. I have to force them to go out practicing with me or my husband.

I attribute it to them fighting growing up- on all levels. largely due to being lazy on electronics all day instead of interacting with the world (as a PP pointed out)
Teens do seem to have a 2-4 year delay of where us parents were growing up.
I had my license by 10am on my 16th bday, and drove daily thereafter, to work, downtown, malls. This would scare the heck out of my sheltered kids. I fight them daily to get out in the world, but they don't want to.

Yes, I am a parent. There are some things that are not optional and learning to drive is one of them. If they want to go somewhere they have to drive. Stop driving them and don't pay for uber. Yes, you force them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
+1. PP is mental. There’s nothing inherently better about driving. It’s a necessary evil and none of us would do it if we didn’t have to.

totally disagree. Driving= independence and exploring the world around you. It shows natural curiosity and growth. Being chauffeured in an Uber is Nothing like trying to navigate the streets to get yourself to a new location

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I see its the parents and being too lazy to teach them.

Without piling on, I think that the anxiety and the time and attention burden do discourage a lot of parents.

And I wonder what genuinely disadvantaged kids do in light of the costs of the required professional instruction, not even counting the various .gov fees. A driver’s license can be the difference between a job and no job.

Its not anxiety. Everyone blames everything now on anxiety and covid. Its lazy parenting. Teaching aa child to drive takes time. You don't need professional instruction. Parents don't want to be involved and want someone else to handle it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

+1. PP is mental. There’s nothing inherently better about driving. It’s a necessary evil and none of us would do it if we didn’t have to.

Couldn't disagree more. Love to drive, love being able to hop in my car and go anywhere I please. To me it's a privilege not an evil!