Have We Bred A Generation Of Introverts That Have A Fear Of Driving?

Given a choice between a new Toyota Corolla or the latest iPhone, 16-year-old Allison Katz of Irvine says that's an easy one.

She'd take the phone.

Texting drives her social life. She doesn't have a driver's license and hasn't rushed to get one.

"I mostly stay near my house except for soccer practice, and then Mom or Dad drives," Allison said.

It's enough to keep an auto executive awake at night.

Thirty years ago, nearly half of 16-year-olds had a driver's license, their passport to independence. By 2010 that figure had dropped to 28%, according to research from the University of Michigan.

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Agent009 - 3/18/2013 2:40:43 PM

+2 Boost

Yep boogered that one up. Too much coffee in the AM.

RLStrad - 3/18/2013 5:49:56 PM

+1 Boost

Gosh, apparently those in the know have somehow forgotten the long line of "introverts" who have excelled at the fine art of steering a car, in fact the best of the lot...Senna and Clark come to mind right away. Not a matter of introversion, more matter of chosing different ways to interact.

Agent009 - 3/18/2013 7:30:47 PM

-1 Boost

What about the basics of getting a job, preparing to go away to college. Driving is essential for many in that regard.

quizz - 3/19/2013 3:27:29 PM

+2 Boost

Times have changed, and the needs of today's youth is not the same as the previous decades, and the car is no longer a necessity for the following trips:
1. Shopping: most shopping of all things (except some groceries) can be done online, including same day delivery by Amazon, etc.
2. Jobs: many jobs can be done online/remotely whether it's grunt work like mechanical turk ( https://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome ) or design/development work.
3. School: online classes and coursework
4. Library: google/wiki
5. Social life/movies: FB, chatting, online gaming, etc.

#1-5 has taken away maybe 50% of the reasons to have a car. The remaining 50% makes it less compelling for a 16 year old to demand a car, and can wait until 21 or 22 even.