Number of teens getting driver's licenses at 16 dropping; economy, societal factors cited

Number of teens getting driver's licenses at 16 dropping; economy, societal factors cited As soon as he was old enough, Jefferson High School senior Blake Whitson couldn't wait to get behind the wheel. "I was really excited about getting it. Department of Transportation and the University of Michigan. The number of older licensed teens also has dropped from 1980 to 2010: 17-year-olds went from 66 percent to 45 percent, 18-year-olds from 75 percent to 61 percent, and 19-year-olds from 80 percent to 70 percent. The probationary laws are designed to help students learn in an environment that is safe. "And parents need to be involved. The reasons behind the decline vary, officials say. "For younger consumers, the smartphone may be the shiny new cars from previous generations," said Thilo Koslowski, lead automotive analyst at Gartner, a research firm. Michael Sivak, a professor at the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute who provided the 2010 teen driving percentages, also pointed to teens' access to the Internet. But Meek said one of the biggest mistakes a teen can make is putting off the process of learning how to drive until they are 18. Judge also said having the time to spend watching his 16-year-old daughter, Brittany, drive during the first 180 days helped him drive home the necessity of the laws of the road, such as no texting and driving. "She knows if we see her texting, she will not be driving for a while," he said. Although Whitson's motivation to hit the open road helped him get his license as soon as he was legally able, recent data suggests that many teens aren't as excited about the idea of driving on their own. In 2010, 28 percent of 16-year-olds had driver's licenses, compared with 44 percent in 1980, according to research by the U. "We are looking at this solely in terms of age and not experience in driving," he said. Lafayette's Serena Alvarez, 23, didn't get her license until she was 21. "I think there is more pressure on boys to run out and get their license and to begin driving right away. "I think nationally what you're seeing is that most states are raising the age that you get your license compared to 10 years ago, and they are making it more difficult with different probationary requirements like students having to wait six extra months to begin driving," he said. Insurance costs are up as well. "For me and several my (female) friends growing up, we didn't see the need to begin driving because our guy friends always had cars and were willing to drive from place to place. Jeffrey Nadel, vice president of the National Youth Rights Association, says "discriminatory" graduated license programs "are making it seem like it's not worth it to get a license until 18. " Lafayette's Russell Judge is a parent that's in full support of the law that says Indiana teens must wait 180 days after turning 16 before taking the driving test. "To me, 180 days is good, but I don't think it ought to be any more than that," he said. She got her license in December 2011. "My first time driving I was sort of scared because I didn't know what I was doing, but now it's like habit. "If student waits until they are 18, they aren't under parental control. Number of teens getting driver's licenses at 16 dropping; economy, societal factors cited Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 31/03/2012