According to data provided by the Federal Highway Administration, the percentage of 18-year-olds in the United States who possessed a valid driver's license dropped from 80 percent in 1983 to 60 percent in 2021. During the same time period, the percentage of individuals aged 16 who held valid driver's licenses fell from 46 percent to 25 percent. Teenagers who reach driving age in today's society face a very different world, one that is fraught with new challenges and worries at every turn.
As a parent, you may be wary of having to drive your teen around Macon or Eatonton to meet friends or work. Worse is you may fear they will go off the college not learning how to drive, and it is a necessity for places like Georgia College in Milledgeville.
Why are teens in Macon and cities across America not in a hurry to get their driver’s license?
The fact that previous generations didn't have access to the same level of digital connectivity as we do today may make the allure of having independent mobility less appealing. With the tap of a finger, today's adolescents can call for an Uber or Lyft.
Through the use of an app, parents are able to track their children's whereabouts, which may have something to do with why kids just don’t feel they have the freedom and flexibility that comes with wheels. Kids may not be so keen on their parents tracking their every move with apps like Life360. These apps let parents see how fast a child is driving, if their gas is getting low, if they had to brake too quickly, or if they picked up their phone while the car was in motion.
Another reason adolescents may have less of a desire to get behind the wheel in the first place: Because online hangouts can take place at any time, there is less of a need to physically get together with friends in real life.
The number of reports of road rage and aggressive driving is rising at an alarming rate. In the United States, children are going through a mental health crisis that has been elevated to the level of a national emergency. For children who are already dealing with issues such as anxiety or depression, the idea of getting behind the wheel can be especially terrifying. Then there’s the simple fact that cars are much more expensive than they have been in previous years and insurance is extremely pricey.
What can you do to get your teen driver motivated?
- Discuss what could be causing their anxiety and make a plan to try and alleviate it. This could mean having your teen take a driving course.
- Make a rule that no one in the car can use a phone while your child is learning to drive as they might find this distracting.
- Buy a tried-and-true vehicle with numerous safety features they will feel comfortable driving like a Ford Escape or Ford Edge.