Less Gen Z Americans own a driver's license than previous generations, according to consulting firm McKinsey.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/10937558

This group of Americans is less likely to have a license than its older counterparts at the same age. McKinsey points out that in 1997, 43 percent of 16-year-olds and 62 percent of 17-year-olds held a license. But those numbers have dropped substantially, and by 2020, only 25 percent of 16-year-olds and 45 percent of 17-year-olds have a driver’s license, the consulting firm said citing data from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration.

Rare Gen Z W (as a Gen Z).

I thought this was mainly an European movement, but looking at this it appears that the USA too, despite being a mostly car oriented country, is following suit. Nice.

The article also mentions how having a car might have become too expensive for many, which isn’t something to party about, but I am mostly concerned with young people no longer rushing to grab a licence the second they turn 18 (or earlier, depending on local country laws). Hopefully this will help shaping urban planning in a more sensible and humane direction.

  • Kyrgizion@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    6 months ago

    It’s bullshit. “Gen z prefer not to own things” “gen z has no problem with living at home in adulthood”, “gen z isn’t interested in vacations”. Motherfucker we simply can’t afford it.

    • Nerd02@lemmy.basedcount.comOPMEnglish
      3·
      6 months ago

      How much is a driver’s licence where you live? I had to pay around 400€ for mine, driving lessons included. Sure, it ain’t cheap, but unaffordable? I’m going to have to respectfully doubt that.

      • Z3k3@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        6 months ago

        Does that 400 include the cost of the car insurance running costs and upkeep?

        The car my wife drives (I never got a licence) is my largest monthly expense.

        They ain’t called money pits for nothing.

        • Nerd02@lemmy.basedcount.comOPMEnglish
          1·
          6 months ago

          Running costs and upkeep? Not sure I follow. This is just the cost of getting a driver’s licence through a driving school, so a small part of the money goes to the state (bureaucracy and whatnot), while a sizeable chunk goes to the school for teaching and letting me use their car to practice (strictly during driving lessons).

          It doesn’t include the costs of having a personal vehicle, insurance, car tax or anything like that. I don’t own a car. This was just about the licence.