In the past, getting a driver’s license was seen as an exciting rite of passage. Teens waited eagerly for their 16^th birthday to gain a new level of freedom. Nowadays, more and more teenagers are delaying the process of obtaining their driver’s license. According to a 2020 study, nearly 40% of teens delayed getting their license by one to two years, and according to a 2017 study, the number of high school seniors with a driver’s license dropped from 81% to 72% between 2006 and 2015.

Why are teens delaying driving?

There are multiple reasons for the decline in driver’s licenses among youth, including:

• Cost: Mandated driving programs, insurance, gas and the cost of automobiles put a major strain on family budgets, especially with the inflation experienced in recent years.
• Time: Today’s teens are far busier than their parents’ generation. Teens feel pressured to participate in demanding sports schedules and a wide variety of extracurricular activities, all while maintaining excellent grades. It can be challenging for students to find the time to learn.
• Ride-sharing: Many teens have numerous options for getting places they need to go. Ride-share apps, such as Uber or Lyft, and public transportation are easy alternatives. Some teens have parents, older siblings or friends who are very willing to chauffeur them wherever they need to go.
• Digital world: Today’s youth do not have the same need as their parents’ generation to go somewhere to “hang out” because of the proliferation of online options. Whether its social media, texting, videocalls, or interactive online games, still feel connected without having to leave their room.
• Anxiety: Youth today are experiencing higher levels of anxiety and depression than ever before. A recent study reported that 40% of teens experience persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Teens with depression usually have less energy and may isolate themselves and have trouble concentrating, which can impact their ability to accomplish goals. Additionally, some children with anxiety are afraid of the dangers of driving or feel overwhelmed by the potential for accidents or all of the inputs they need to process at once.
• Peer Un-pressure: It’s extremely common now for a high school student not to have their license, so teens don’t feel pressure from their peers.

Is it okay for teens to delay getting a driver’s license?

While there is nothing inherently wrong with getting a driver’s license later in life, teens will miss out on an opportunity to build independent living skills within a strong safety net. Young people learning to drive obtain valuable parental guidance and special safety limits. The Graduated Driver’s Licensing program, which sets limits for drivers between the ages of 16-18 such as the hours they can drive and how many other young people can be in the car with them, helps novice drivers to safely gain skills and experience and develop safe driving habits early. In addition, we cannot raise competent adults if we are always doing everything for them. Raising your teen to become a capable adult means letting them try new things, tackle challenges, experience negative consequences, navigate failures, and ultimately feel confident in themselves. Developing driving skills is one of those important tasks that young people need in order to take care of themselves.

How can parents encourage their teens to get their driver’s license?

If your teenager is refusing to get their driver’s license, try these strategies:

Determine reason for delay. Try to figure out why your child doesn’t want to learn to drive because that information can inform the approach you take. Perhaps they’re nervous about driving. Maybe they don’t see a reason to because their friends and family members give them rides. Once you know the reasons they don’t want to learn how to drive, you can create a tailored strategy to address their concerns.

Require license for ID purposes. Encourage your teen to take the written test for their learner’s permit by focusing on the need for having an official form of identification. Explain all the different times you need an ID so they understand the value. Let them know that they can get their license and not use it right away and that you will do periodic check-ins about getting behind the wheel. 

Make transportation more difficult. Don’t chauffeur your teen around town. If they use ride-sharing apps or public transportation, require them to pay for these services with their own money.

Discuss the benefits. Youth are inundated with the “dangers” of driving, so many teens are harboring irrational fears about it instead of seeing the positives driving can offer them. Consider how you can make driving more appealing, interesting, and/or non-threatening to your child. Be sure to explain how the world opens up for them once they have their license – for example, they can pursue a new opportunity, get a job to buy things they want, have greater freedom to see their friends, or be a help when there is an emergency or an adult is sick.

Take practices very slowly. If your teen is reluctant, do not push them too quickly once they finally agree to get behind the wheel. Let them drive around a large empty parking lot for as long as they need to become comfortable. If you feel that you and your teen are not working well together as teacher and student, then consider looking for a driving instructor or a relative. For my ideas, please read our previous blog on teaching your teen how to drive.

Final Thoughts…

To become fully independent, teenagers need a driver’s license. Even if a teen does not plan to drive frequently, having a driver’s license as a form of identification and developing the ability to safely drive a vehicle are important steps towards leading to responsible adulthood. Parents should encourage their teens to develop their driving skills and obtain a license, even if it’s a very slow and gradual process.