Why fewer teens are learning to drive

Teens and 20-somethings aren’t in any rush to get into the driver seat, with fewer and fewer getting their drivers licenses. NBC’s Jacob Soboroff takes a look at why young people are losing the drive to get behind the wheel.

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#genz #driving #trending

[felixthecat]

I don't think this has to do with socializing, I think people just hate driving these days. Having to sit in gridlock traffic, having to spend money on car loans over and over again, having to deal with reckless drivers. I learned how to drive and got my license, I used to have a car and finished paying it off a year ago. I decided that I was never going to drive again. I live in a city and never want to go back to driving in the suburbs.

[justdidthis]

In my early 30’s and just got my license! Driving can make folks anxious. But even if it’s not used everyday, having the skill is so necessary.

[CookieBear]

For me, it was the anxiety of car accidents. People drive drunk, tail gate, speed, switch lanes without signaling, etc. It’s terrifying, especially when you start out; you don’t realize how dangerous the roads are until you get behind the wheel. You could lose your life easily any day depending on how safe the drivers around you are and how aware of them you are. I was 19 when I finally got my license.

[Sivah_Akash]

Can we have more public transit options to rid ourselves of this stress?

[MGSFoxhound]

I mean, the cost of a car, gas, insurance and all other fees makes it a hard entry point for lots of people. I have driven since I was 17 but it runs about $600 a month between the car note and insurance just for the privilege of driving. So I get it.

[Allaiya.]

It’s never to late to learn. My grandma learned to drive & got her license at 80.
My grandpa passed from Covid in 2020 and he was the one who always drove everywhere. My mom taught my grandma just like she taught me.

[hikersteph]

I like the idea of not driving if you have good mass transpo options (i.e. for city dwellers), but it's true that having a car does open up other opportunities for people outside the city. I went on my first road trip by myself after college while interviewing for jobs in different cities, and it was such a great adventure bouncing from Fort Wayne to Cincinnati to Boone, NC to Chattanooga and visiting friends. Even if you don't own your own car, driving is a good life skill to have though.

[nahfamnope]

I’ve been driving for over 20 years and I felt safer behind the wheel starting out than I do now. People are substantially more reckless these days and I try to drive as infrequently as possible for the sake of my nerves. A trip to the local shopping center and back literally makes me want to go to sleep! Regardless of the time of day, I’ll witness at least one driver operating with no lights, tailgating, speeding, running a red light, merging into traffic without looking, cutting across four lanes to not miss an exit, traveling at highway speeds though a residential neighborhood or a parking lot, etc. It’s just too much!

[aznmochibunny]

I learned and got my license late. I have a sister who got her license and we went almost everywhere anyways so there was no need for me to drive. On top of that, learning with my mom made it difficult since she yelled at everything I did and didn't do, so it was very anxiety inducing. I eventually got mine at 21.

I think another issue why people around my age don't care about getting a license is the cost. My parents had me and my sister wait past 18 so we didn't have to pay the extra fees for driving school and they could just teach us instead for free and only pay the costs for the DMV (paying for the permit, etc).

Back in the day, learning how to drive was also an option in high school, but that option was taken away. This free option being taken away meant that teens and parents had to outsource the learning at driving schools to learn instead, and with the way things have been increasing in cost, not a lot of people have that extra money available. And like they mentioned, once you get a license, you have to pay for the car, gas and insurance. So it makes sense why people have been putting it off.

[AndrewCortesi]

NYC is not best demographic to go after when asking about driving. No one drives in nyc due to mass transit. It’s arguably more expensive and dangerous to own a car in nyc.

[Bernicemarie]

Their explanations are valid, and I agree with the girl in Washington state. When I practiced driving, I ended up in tears because I would get yelled at whenever I did something wrong. When I got my license, I was happy and excited, but it causes me anxiety whenever I’m behind the wheel (my school did the every 15 minutes campaign—you can probably look up my school on YouTube, and my a classmate of mine died due to someone driving recklessly). I saw having a car as a sign of independence and where I live I need a car, there’s no Uber or Lyft. Also, I need a car because I drive to a different city for work and I have to drive in between cases. So yeah. I need a car but I can see why they don’t need it. I’d consider myself one of the lucky few who don’t pay monthly car payments because my car has been paid off. So I can see why they don’t have cars because it is pricy because of the car insurance, monthly payments, registration, etc.

Edit: those electric scooters are beneficial and when I transferred to UC Irvine, those scooters were a lifesaver because the campus was massive. I used my friends scooter when I going to one class to the next.

[pokemonmaster]

Same I'm 22 and I didn’t feel rushed to get my driver's license until I had to start residency for univ. The main reason I got my license was because I had to, but overall if I had a choice I would rather not. Even now I feel stressed about driving and I live in an area with dumb u-turns and roundabouts that I sweat more than working out. Sometimes for work I would take walking instead and leave my car home instead of paying for gas and such.

[pazziefsu]

The privilege of going anywhere, anytime is the best. Driving to get food or the store is so fun. I think it’s so important you never know when you need to drive somewhere in an emergency

[michaelmayo-vbfl]

I got mines at 28 & it's worth it I've walked & done it all . Nothing better then ur own

[billyriedel]

I am 29 and still don’t drive. I hate driving and use Uber to get around. If you go to Europe many people in big cities don’t drive because they have great public transportation.

We need better public transportation in this country

[YaretziaGarcia]

Makes me grateful that my old man taught me how to drive in his old Tacoma when I was 14, I can’t ever see myself paying someone to drive me, I love to drive and it’s more satisfying than being chauffeured everywhere.

[supakat]

Cars are expensive, registration, insurance, gas, oil changes, repairs, then they take up so much space, cant find a place to park, & traffic congestion. So ridiculous

[mepulley]

Besides the costs associated with having a car, where you live comes in as a factor. If you live in a city that has mass transit, driving may not be necessary for you. Another major headache in some cities is parking.

[xxeyszxx]

I’m generation Z and I had a car accident 2016, which gave me a lot anxiety for two years plus another two years I got my driver license 2020 during the pandemic and it’s been the best decision. I don’t understand why my generation don’t want to drive it’s a part life. Because I hate it, that I always ask a ride for work sometimes to people want to take advantage of you. And I like driving to the beach because I like my freedom a lot

[katherinebergdahl]

I didnt drive until I was 20. It was just too expensive and I couldn’t afford the insurance or the cost of a vehicle. I walked and rode my bicycle everywhere or got rides from friends