DEARBORN, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — New data from a study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says that the number of teen drivers is on the rise.
According to an official press release, more than 60% of teens got their driver’s license before the age of 18, which is an 11% increase since 2012. When the report was first issued in 2012, the country was just emerging from a recession and many young people cited their family’s inability to afford the high cost of driving as a reason why they did not obtain their license sooner.
“The trend for teens to acquire their driver’s license has changed over the past 10 years,” Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson for the AAA Auto Club Group said in a press release. “Many are getting licensed before the age of 18, which means more of Generation Z is learning to drive under the protection of state graduated driver licensing programs and parental supervision.”
Data for drivers aged 18-24 surveyed found that 40.8% got their license at or before age 16 and 60.3% got their license before the age of 18. Other findings in the study include:
- Only half (49.8%) of teens in large cities obtain their license before the age of 18, compared with nearly two-thirds of those in less urbanized areas.
- Teens living in the Midwest tend to be licensed at younger ages — 55% at or before age 16 and 70% before age 18. While only one-third (32.2%) of teens living in the West and fewer than a quarter (22.3%) of teens in the Northeast reported getting their license at or before age 16, only 56% (Northeast) and 48% (West) did so before age 18.
The findings also show that new teen drivers ages 16-17 years old are three times as likely as adults to be involved in a deadly crash.
“The fact that more teens are starting to drive at an age when they can gradually learn the necessary skills to be safe behind the wheel is great news for all drivers,” Woodland added. “Past trends of waiting until you turn 18 to be licensed was a cause for concern. Many of these young drivers were getting behind the wheel with minimal knowledge or support, putting themselves and others at risk.”
About 28% of the young adults surveyed said that they waiting until they were 18 or older to get their license. Of that 28%, reasons cited for delaying licensure included:
- Nervous about driving (68.4%)
- They could do everything they needed without driving (52.6%)
- Driving was too expensive (33.3%)
- Too busy to get a license (28.9%)
- Family members did not have time to help them get their license (20.5%)
“It is imperative that all new drivers practice driving with a skilled coach through a variety of routes and in different weather conditions before heading out on their own,” Woodland said. “Novice drivers shouldn’t let the first time that they drive in the rain or on the freeway be at a time when they’re alone.”
New drivers are encouraged to practice the following driving strategy:
- R = Right speed, for right now: Always mind the speed limit and reduce your speed when traveling in adverse weather conditions.
- E = Eyes up, brain on: Always scan the road to anticipate dangers ahead. Eliminate distractions and keep your mind focused on the task of driving.
- A = Anticipate their next move: Be aware of other drivers on the road. Anticipate their next move and always have a plan to respond.
- D = Huge DONUT of space around your vehicle: Keep large amounts of space to the front and sides of your vehicle.
The data for new drivers comes as new data has been released into teen distracted driving statistics by researchers at MSU.
Both of these surveys and their data arrive just in time for national Teen Driver Safety Week, which lasts from October 20 – 26th.
More information on teen driving can be found online at https://teendriving.aaa.com/MI/.
