The results of a recent survey indicate the primary reasons for the steady decline in the number of young Americans getting drivers' licenses. Hint: the top reason isn't that it costs too much to own a car.
A new survey [PDF] published by Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak of the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, "found that about 15.3 percent of the U.S. population aged 18 to 39 now gets by without a license, a big increase from past years," reports Brad Plumer. "And, within that group, [the researchers] asked 619 people their primary reason for not owning one." The top three reason given were:
- 37 percent said they were either too busy or didn’t have the time to get a license.
- 32 percent said that owning and maintaining a vehicle was just too expensive.
- 31 percent said they could hitch a ride with someone else if needed.
Though the percentage of young Americans without a drivers’ license is still relatively small (15%), "the number of young non-drivers in the United States has been rising steadily, a trend that has implications for everything from transportation policy to future auto sales," notes Plumer. "And this survey offers some clues as to why — owning a car seems to be more of a hassle, while alternatives (from biking to public transit to telecommuting) are becoming more popular."
FULL STORY: Why aren’t young people getting drivers’ licenses? Too much hassle!
Blaming Millennials for Decaying Road Infrastructure
If you thought inflation and fuel efficiency, along with politicians unwillingness to raise gas taxes were the main causes of America's decaying road and bridges, S&P adds another contributing factor—millennial transportation preferences.
Study Finds More Age Groups Ditching the Driver's License
It's not just millennials anymore. A new study finds more people are going without driver's licenses than in previous decades.
Demographic Changes Spell Trouble Ahead for Auto Industry
It's not only young adults who are delaying in getting drivers licenses, but a drop in licenses among all age groups according to a new analysis of license data from 1983-2014 by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.
Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?
Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont