Thursday, 28 February 2008
Fewer 16-year-olds signing up for driving tests
Searching for trends in the automotive industry often leads in predictable directions – sales up or down, certain vehicle segments are leading and new technology is taking over. We hear it all the time, from various sources.
An interesting read via The New York Times highlights one surprising statistic that has plummeted: the number of 16-year-olds with driver’s licenses. In 1998, the Federal Highway Administration reported 43.8 percent of 16-year-olds were licensed; in 2006, that percentage has fallen to 29.8. What could cause such a dramatic decline?
For one, fewer schools are offering driver’s education – about 20 percent today. Back in the 1980s, 9 out of 10 high schools provided instruction. Expensive private schools and filled the gap, but many cannot afford the private rates.
Stricter licensing programs designed to keep 16-year-olds off the roads are a major hurdle, as are higher insurance rates for parents adding a child to an existing policy. But what might really be going on is that parents are simply more willing to play the role of driver. And with kids glued to the Internet and various entertainment devices, the incentive to venture into the driver’s seat as soon as possible has probably waned.
Source: The New York Times