In the News...Driving Decrease
The U.S. Federal Highway Administration finds that 30 percent of 16-year-olds had a driver's license in 2006, down from 41 percent 10 years ago. Montana Miller, assistant professor of popular culture at Bowling Green State University, has some theories on the reasons for the decline.
Teens "devote a lot of time to their extremely complicated social lives," said Miller, who specializes in teenage Internet socialization. "When kids used to be bored, they would drive around. Now, they get online and travel all around the world and talk to their friends."
Another likely factor is the pressure kids feel to have sterling grades, take advanced classes, volunteer and participate in myriad activities that make their college applications impressive. Since driver education classes often cost $300 to $400, many teens understand that it is expensive to purchase and maintain an automobile.
"So where are you going to find the time to learn to drive or have a job and make enough money for a car?" Miller said. (Kathy Lynn Gray, "In No Hurry to Drive," The Columbus Dispatch, March 3, 2008).