The future of driving, and drivers?

It would seem that as a trend, fewer and fewer kids are heading over to the DMV to get a drivers permit; somewhere between 15-18% decline since 1983. This was more of a trivia piece to me than newsworthy until I realized that my daughter has no intention of getting a license.

So, once that DNA test came back confirming that she was, in fact, of my DNA line, I asked why this was so.

Driving is dangerous. The cops are out to get us so why bother? Easier to get around on the bus Parking sucks anywhere worth going Who can ever afford to drive? Insurance, gas and maintenance are beyond what they see themselves ever earning. Today paychecks don't cover the cost of vehicle ownership. Need the money for electronics Need money for rent. Cars alway break-down and you get ripped off by repair guys Car are not "Green"

While these were just my daughter's responses, I am sure there are others.

So, while in the short term, I am glad to hear that the roads will be less congested, I worry that the critical mass to support an auto industry and insurance industry will start to erode. If our insurance companies don't have youth to stick it to with the huge premiums, I am sure we are next in line. Same thing with the revenue generation from fines and profits from gasoline sales.

What say the board? Are roads going to be less crowded or is this trend a short tem blip in the statisitics? What are the long term repercusions? Is this in fact a good thing in that this new generatin will push for muc improved public transit that makes private car ownerhip obsolete?

blip in the stats at best, there is too little good public transportation available in this country outside of major cities.

Even my daughter who is a bit scared of the whole concept of driving and has no need to drive can't wait to take her test next week.

As for the insurance industry, I think they'll survive. In theory they will be less likely to need to pay out as much if there are less people, especially new drivers, to insure so it should be break even for them. Less congestion on the roads would mean less accidents and less payouts as well.

Even when I was their age my sister didnt get her license until 18 although she was eligible at 16, for her it was just a matter of having me to drive her wherever she wanted to go so it wasn't a priority in her life.

Yeah, I've seen these statistics recently as well, and I've got to say I'm not concerned. The auto industry has been a global entity for decades and, globally, way more people are driving now than ever before. As far as the insurance, frankly the roads will be safer and insurance rates should go down for everyone with less young drivers on the road.

I think the environmental impact is worth considering too. It seems to me that there's a culture in the US that everyone "needs" to have a car. I love having cars and wouldn't want to give up any of mine, but I think it's silly for a lot of people who don't even like driving and could easily use public transportation if those systems were better here. They'd probably be happier and have more money for other things that they probably enjoy more as a result.

Also, I'd bet if you look at Germany or Japan, they probably have a much smaller percentage of the population that drives and they seem to do just fine.

Not enough public transportation infrastructure outside of the BIG citites (as already mentioned).

Even in a place like Tulsa with about 1 million in the metro area, the metro area is so spread out, that there is no way to do it effectively.

My youngest brother is 19, doesn't have his license or learners permit, and does not seem too concerned about it.

He might feel different about it if he got himself a job, but he hasnt had one before, and is back from college for the summer and not put forth much effort in getting one this year.

Not my problem.

I've got a friend that's 2....4? and he doesn't have his license. No idea why. He walks to work, which is NBD, but then he's always bummed when there's things going on ,and he has no way to get there, or he's bored because there's nothing to do in his local (walking distance) area. Doesn't help that everyone he knows (myself included) are avowed car nuts and own several... so being able to drive is integral to who we are. We keep trying to convince him to go get it, but he seems reluctant.

Public transit bites. It never goes where you need it, when you need it. You'll just be left in a nasty part of town in freezing weather, and that's provided you weren't shanked for the change in your pocket first.

Yes I have a skewed view of such things. Give me the (relative) safety, comfort, and convenience of my own car.

A person who simply choses not to drive does not get taxi service from me.

My wife didn't get her license until she was 21, and even then that was only because she was offered a promotion, and driving was part of it. She wasn't the least bit interested in driving, I would go take and pick her up from work, and if I were working, her mom or mine would pick her up.