License Lull

Tue., May 20, 2014

Sharon Peters CTW Features

Q: My son and my two nieces are between 17 and 20 years old, and none of them has sought out a driver’s license. Most of their friends haven’t either. I’m wondering if this is the way of today’s youth. A: Yes, you’ve spotted a mini trend that is being reported across the country. A 2013 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that only 44 percent of teens got a driver’s license within a year of turning the age that qualified them to get one. That compares to the 66 percent who did so 20 years ago. Also, the Highway Loss Data Institute, by examining insurance data, found that the number of kids who were ages 14 to 19 and driving dropped by 12 percent from 2006 to 2012 (there was a decline during that period in the number of youth that fall within that age group, they acknowledged, but it was only a 3 percent drop). Experts think that the economy is contributing, but so is the whole social media mess. Years ago, kids felt they had to drive someplace and gather together (or drive around together) to form bonds and build and maintain friendships (and, let’s face it, do those teenagers-experimenting things). Now teens suffer under the illusion that typing words to someone on a computer or texting qualifies as making a connection and developing a relationship. Face-to-face communication and conversation is regarded as far less important (and I’m generalizing here, but you get what I’m conveying). Sad really. I somehow doubt that they’ve found the simple answer to rich and fulfilling relationships and lives. Q: I keep hearing people refer to “city cars.” I don’t know what they are. A: It’s an unofficial term, but it’s being used by many to refer to the teeniest of the subcompact models. They’re usually pretty inexpensive, have great tiny-space parking capability because of their size, and boast really good turning radius and mpg. They’re generally not regarded as excellent long-commute cars because they can be somewhat uncomfortable and pretty noisy. Among cars that are often categorized as city cars: Mitsubishi Mirage (not the Mirage of olden days), Chevy Spark and Fiat 500. What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, driving and repairing your vehicle. Email Sharon@ctwfeatures.com.

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