Driving

[Meg 368]

I have noticed what, to me, is a puzzling trend.  A lot of teenagers do not seem interested in getting their driver's license.

Way back when, we were eager to get our driver's licenses.  It was a form of independence and freedom.  We knew we couldn't function as adults in society without one.  We were counting the days until we were eligible.

Now, I see lots of teenagers who just aren't interested.

Would someone explain this to me?  Why is this?  What are they expecting to happen down the road when the time comes that they need to get from point A to point B?

Is it a case of not wanting a driver's license now or not wanting one ever?

[Nerd_Guy 4]

Well a lot of parents make their kids pay for gas. And with the rising costs, maybe it's not that they don't want to, it's that they can't afford too.

[Firebird 40]

I am getting my drivers license.  You can barely be taken as an adult these days without one.

Especially if your a tad bit short. 

However, at the state things are now, i am not going to get an actual car for a long time.

I have my trusty bike.

When teens say 'i'm not gettin a drivers license", they prolly are thinking that if they get one, they'll have to get a car. thats not true.

[Duke87 1,070]

Odd. Everyone I knew a few years ago was quite eager to get their license. Haven't seen any of this reluctance. Being able to drive to school as opposed to taking the bus was a sort of rite of passage for a lot of people.

But maybe it's different in other areas. Maryland is slipping while Connecticut isn't. Hard to say.

[daniel01 0]

i just got my L's not long ago and i am very interested in driving, and a lot of my class mates really want to drive.

[GingerBlokey 30]

Well here in Britain the culture of driving is mostly confined to irresponsible kids who want to joy ride and sup-up their cars. There is alot of public transport which is relativley cheap (but getting more expensive) and that is fine for most people. I dont drive because if I was to get my license at 17 its only a year before I go to Uni and I want to go to London and there is no point driving in London. I might just get a Vespa. I will learn to drive after Uni but there is no point in learning to drive if you can't. Its expensive as well.

And pleeeeease dont make out like it is a bad thing that more 17 y/o idiots arent on the road. Thank god they are not learning to drive.

[Joesocwork 4]

I remember my first Driver's Ed driving on neighbor's tractors in my early teens and my dad taking me out in controlled circumstances to learn at an abandoned airfield. I also remember taking my mother and newborn brother home from the hospital at age sixteen.

I am glad for the youth I work with that much of Washington, D.C. is otherwise Metro accessible.

Driving is one of the things I wonder if my autistic son will be able to do. My 7 y.o. daughter is already asking and I... ammmm... terrified.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: SkiGeek I have noticed what, to me, is a puzzling trend.  A lot of teenagers do not seem interested in getting their driver's license.

Way back when, we were eager to get our driver's licenses.  It was a form of independence and freedom.  We knew we couldn't function as adults in society without one.  We were counting the days until we were eligible.

Now, I see lots of teenagers who just aren't interested.

Would someone explain this to me?  Why is this?  What are they expecting to happen down the road when the time comes that they need to get from point A to point B?

Is it a case of not wanting a driver's license now or not wanting one ever?quote>

 

Mabey its partly due to how kids get around today.

Kids dont walk or bike as much as they used to, thiers more adult supervised

activitys ect so  the parents are not going to walk they load them all in the car and go.

[SystemUK 0]

I'm learning to drive (I'm 17) and have wanted to for a long time. I'm not one a boy racer either!!

[mencc1701 0]

I got my licence not long after I turned 16 (I'm 20, now) as did most of my friends. It's pretty much a necessity in my hometown - there's minimal public transit, and it's very hilly so you have to be in really good shape if you want to bike anywhere. In larger cities, though, I can see why people would hold off, as public transit is often cheaper, faster and easier than driving everywhere.

[Mikemat5150 0]

Well I kinda did what you are talking about. In Illinois, were I live, you have to get 50 hours which isn't bad but after that for 6 months you can only have one other person, not in you family in a car. So it's like why even bother. Also with insurance rates and gas prices and such it's getting very expensive. Plus I know kids who have destoryed cars already some twice. And I think it's a good way for kids to prevent growing up a little without accepting the responsibility of driving. That was really messy but meh.

[topcliff 1]

I'm getting my license in a year. I personally look forward to driving. See, the reason is because my parents are cool in the fact that they can pay for gas, and I get to borrow my dad's BMW. Leonardo

[hamsterTK 93]

Odd. Everyone I knew a few years ago was quite eager to get their license. Haven't seen any of this reluctance.quote>

same here

where are you hearing this?

For me though learning to drive was easy and not really much of a choice. It was a class at school where I went. Also, my grandfather had a little truck with a manual transmission he let me drive on his land when I was like 13

[Muff 0]

I'll get driver's license only because it's good to know how to drive, if there is need to. But never gonna buy own car, because it's useless and polluting. Driving around the village is stupid.

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

I think it depends on where you live. I knew someone from Philly who didn't drive until college because the costs are just too high. When I lived in State College, I rarely drove anywhere... except occasionally to work or to the supermarket. Everything I needed was within walking distance which made things easier for me.

It's good to get a driver's license, especially if you're an American... even if you don't plan on driving all that much.

[Goldfish4209 9]

I don't really care, probably because I'm not really into cars. I'll just have someone take me where I want to go, and most of the time I'm not really in a hurry to get anywhere. Besides, I can bike to my friends' houses. But, maybe 13's too young to be looking forward to getting a driver's license.

[Easy Bakes 253]

My Aunt never learned to drive at all.

She died a few years ago at 65.

[The Terminator 0]

Driving=Evil. Destroying the environment, and being a slave to the Oil Lobby. I ride my bicycle everywhere. If I have to get to Manhattan I just take the Metro North.

I plan on moving to Toronto when I graduate, and I doubt I'll need a car if I live anywhere south of Finch Avenue.

[BlondeTwiggy 43]

I don't really have interest in driving (right now) and everyone thinks Im crazy...

Two reasons really...

1) Gas is much too expensive

2) I have friends who drive

But I'll probably start looking into getting one soon, I drive a bit with my grandma in the cemetery, so I cant hurt anyone except the lawn-mower guy lol

[Thornsvald 0]

Well, I don't have an intrest to drive at 16 which I consider it to be retarded to get a liscense and drive a car at the young age of 16, Im planning to get my license when i'm 18 or 20. Too many accidents with teens and they are not nearing the adulthood area,

And yes since this is coming from someone close to 13 I can't really see that far into my future.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

No one has said anything about the cost of being an under 25 driver.  The insurance premium for this is about the price of a car.

[hamsterTK 93]

Well, I don't have an intrest to drive at 16 which I consider it to be retarded to get a liscense and drive a car at the young age of 16, Im planning to get my license when i'm 18 or 20. Too many accidents with teens and they are not nearing the adulthood area,

And yes since this is coming from someone close to 13 I can't really see that far into my future.quote>

You know no offense or anything, but the safety argument is flawed in a lot of ways. Immaturity plays a role in some incidents obviously,but the most important part of being a safe driver is experience and in that respect it doesnt matter so much at what age you start I think

To me its better to start driving earlier. That way if you do get in a wreck(which happens when your inexperienced) your parents can help you out more and maybe make you drive safer by getting on your ass if you speed, etc.