By Letícia Medeiros
Remember in "Clueless," at the climax of the movie, when Tai (Brittany Murphy) called Cher (Alicia Silverstone) a “virgin who can’t drive,” and it was just the harshest burn? Well, things have changed. A study from the Transportation Research Institute at the University of Michigan shows that not driving is becoming common amongst teenagers.
The study analyzed changes in the United States from 1983 to 2014 in the percentage of people with a driver’s license by age groups. One of its main findings were that for 16 through 44 year olds there was a continuous decrease in the percentage of people with driver’s license. From 1983 to 2014, 47 percent less of 16 year olds got a driver’s license, and 34.8 percent less of 17 year olds, for example.
Remember in "Clueless," at the climax of the movie, when Tai (Brittany Murphy) called Cher (Alicia Silverstone) a “virgin who can’t drive,” and it was just the harshest burn? Well, things have changed. A study from the Transportation Research Institute at the University of Michigan shows that not driving is becoming common amongst teenagers.
The study analyzed changes in the United States from 1983 to 2014 in the percentage of people with a driver’s license by age groups. One of its main findings were that for 16 through 44 year olds there was a continuous decrease in the percentage of people with driver’s license. From 1983 to 2014, 47 percent less of 16 year olds got a driver’s license, and 34.8 percent less of 17 year olds, for example.
“For me, and the people that I grew up with, it was important to get it when you were exactly sixteen and a half,” said Mrs. Montesi, teacher for English Language Learners. When asked why that would have changed she suggests that students are just too busy, “They’re highly scheduled with sports, or theater, or jobs.”
A survey conducted in 2013 by the same authors, shows that being too busy really is the reason why people are not getting their driver’s license. Among 618 respondents between the ages of 18 to 39 without a driver’s license, the primary reason (37 percent) reported for not having a driver’s license was that they were simply too busy.
Kaylee Bergstrom, a senior who is yet to get her driver’s license agrees, “Driver’s Ed. is not only expensive but takes time which could be spent working or doing homework,” she says. A licensed Professional Driver’s Education program, required by the State of Massachusetts for applicants under the age of 18, can cost up to 725 dollars and last 10 days although some schools offer “express” courses that last 5 days.
On the other side, Mikayla Frost, a sophomore, sped to the RMV to get her permit just four days after her 16th birthday. When asked why other people her age are waiting to get their license she said, “It’s not really a necessity, it’s more like a privilege. And like, their parents could drive them around.”
She is currently taking a Driver’s Education program, and hopes that getting a license will give her freedom, “I wouldn’t be trapped and have to ask people to like give me a ride all the time,” she says. Besides that, she hopes one extra driver will be useful to help her parents and younger siblings at home.