Teens are delaying getting their driver's licenses. Parents want to know why | Hacker News Reader

Teens are delaying getting their driver's licenses. Parents want to know why

cnn.com

3 pointsamichail5 comments

The Beach Boys said it well in the early 1960's;

"Well I saved my pennies and I saved my dimes

For I knew there would be a time

When I would buy a brand new 409."

Not just any Chevy that was more commonly within reach for a teenager, but a "4-speed dual quad positraction 409" that you really had to save every penny you could get for years:

https://davidsclassiccars.com/chevrolet/529110-1962-impala-s...

How are today's teenagers supposed to get the idea that they will ever be able to actually afford the cheapest new Chevy that's made now, or drive anything at all after gasoline, taxes, maintenance, insurance and stuff have risen as bad or worse than the cost of the car itself?

At least until after college and see what kind of car loan might not be unthinkable any more, but only once they have gotten lucky enough to land a professional position with well above-average pay, which are only going to become harder to come by over the next few years.

why drive, yourself and maintain a near constant expenditure, when you can "uber" on demand, while staying on your mobile.

Why risk going to prison or dying due to making a driving mistake?

Very realistic, although sometimes I would prefer to be driving when I've been a passenger and it's a complete hold-onto-the-seat experience the whole time :(

Good points, I don't even want a traffic ticket, and had more damage from others' mistakes than mine but it's always costly :\

Uber, too is something I imagine the Beach Boys use today, it has gotten to the point where lots more people couldn't afford a car without the car itself being responsible for making a good share of the income possible, or they have one regardless if they can't survive without it.

It sure didn't used to be that way.

I didn't get my driver's license until I was 24 or 25. Partly because I never drove anywhere and partly because I couldn't afford a car before that. Not sure I was able to afford a car after I got my license ... The only reason I did learn to drive was because I was starting a job in an area of the 'burbs that had horrible public transit coverage. If it wasn't for that, I'd probably still be car and license free.

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