The automobile, once a rite of passage for American youth, is becoming less relevant...

[phantom power]

http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=144155

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. I have a son who will be 18 this week.

I want him to get his license, but he's ambivalent.

There are several reasons for this;
a) helicopter parents who would are happy to schlep their kids around wherever the the kids want (I am guilty of this).
b) there aren't any jobs for kids. If you can't work, you can't afford to drive.
c) insurance is ludicrously expensive for kids today. (I started driving in 1978 and insurance was less than $30/month, and it wasn't required by law)

[phantom power]

2. My first year of auto insurance was $1800. On a busted-ass plymouth horizon.

That was (oh god) 25 years ago. I have no idea what insurance is for a young male driver these days. Although as a Middle Aged Guy observing teenage behavior, I admit I can see their point.

[bananas]

6. Probably the drinking age, too

Back in 1978, the drinking age was 18 and DUI laws and enforcement were much laxer.
Many social gathering places (bars, discos, etc) required proof of age to get in,
so a drivers license provided both entrance and transportation to social venues,
whether or not the person drank alcohol.
There was also less social stigma with driving while under the influence.
MADD was founded in 1980, the founder quit in 1985 when it went too far:

Lightner stated that MADD "has become far more neo-prohibitionist than I had ever wanted or envisioned … I didn't start MADD to deal with alcohol. I started MADD to deal with the issue of drunk driving".<5> That year, Lightner left her position with MADD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothers_Against_Drunk_Driving

[lakerboy]

3. This seems like good news, long term.

If we have a significant part of the population who doesn't drive, communities will begin to align themselves more accessibly to pedestrians again. Transit-oriented development will be the norm. It's the sustainable way to go.

Disclaimer- I'm a young driver, just *barely* older than the ages in this graph, but I do try to stay out of the car as much as possible. Lately, I'm down to just a couple of car trips a week on average.

[FedUpWithIt All]

4. My 17 yr old daughter has decided to wait until she turns 18 to get a license.

She has already taken a drivers ed course but she is just not in a huge hurry.

I think this is a very good trend.

[beyurslf]

5. One word: Insurance.

I have teenagers of driving age. To add them to my policy is about $175 per MONTH. If they get their own policies, it is close to double that. And that is liability only.

[Nederland]

7. But, but, but...

...where will they lose their virginity?