Study finds recent decreases in percentage of licensed drivers across all age groups
19 January 2016
An analysis by Dr. Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle at University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) has found recent decreases in the proportion of persons with a driver’s license across all age groups in the US.
The study examined data came the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) from 1983 to 2014. The three main findings are:
For 16- through 44-year-olds, there was a continuous decrease in the percentage of persons with a driver’s license for the years examined. For example, the percentages for 20- to 24-year-olds in 1983, 2008, 2011, and 2014 were 91.8%, 82.0%, 79.7%, and 76.7%, respectively.
For 45- through 69-year-olds, there was an increase in the percentage of persons with a driver’s license from 1983 to 2008, followed by a continuous decrease from 2008 to 2014. For example, the percentages for 60- to 64-year- olds in 1983, 2008, 2011, and 2014 were 83.8%, 95.9%, 92.7%, and 92.1%, respectively.
For those 70 years and older, there was an increase in the percentage of persons with a driver’s license from 1983 to 2008, followed by an increase from 2008 to 2011, and a decrease from 2011 to 2014. The percentages for 1983, 2008, 2011, and 2014 were 55.0%, 78.4%, 79.2%, and 79.0%, respectively.
Auto makers should be losing sleep over this:
For example, the percentages for 20- to 24-year-olds in 1983, 2008, 2011, and 2014 were 91.8%, 82.0%, 79.7%, and 76.7%, respectively.
I taught my younger son to drive at 17, but he lost interest and his permit expired before he took the driving test--no license yet at age 19. He lives in a dorm at university and has no need for a car; more telling, he shows no interest in getting his license.
Posted by: Nick Lyons | 19 January 2016 at 09:45 AM
Driving in current traffic jams is no longer real fun.
More and more people want to do without it?
Will ADVs become a necessity sooner than many expect?
Posted by: HarveyD | 19 January 2016 at 11:24 AM
With the rising fraction of the young population that is either (a) immigrant, or (b) in school or paying off student loans on subsistence-wage jobs and can't afford a car, this shouldn't be a surprise.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 20 January 2016 at 09:17 AM
Yes, when 62 people control more assets than 50% of the people living in a large rich country like USA, the majority in soon not afford to own or drive as vehicle.
The solution is/may be the transfer of $$$B from the 400+ billionaires to the 50% too poor to own a vehicle.
Otherwise, 80+% will soon be too poor to own or drive a vehicle.
Posted by: HarveyD | 20 January 2016 at 06:40 PM
CORRECTION:
Should read (the majority will soon not afford to own and/or drive as vehicle)
Posted by: HarveyD | 20 January 2016 at 06:43 PM
It IS a trend, reasons for it vary.
This may be why GM and others are going for ZipCar kinds of services.
Nissan said they will not, but that could change.
Posted by: SJC | 22 January 2016 at 11:36 AM