(NewsNation) — While earning your driver’s license is usually a right of passage for many in their teens, Generation Z teens seem less interested in achieving this milestone.
Among the youngest group of drivers, aged 19 or younger, only one in 25, or 3.6%, are a licensed U.S. driver, according to new research from MarketWatch Guides obtained by Fox News. Meanwhile, when including drivers under 25, the combined percentage is 11%.
Additionally, the study found Americans between the ages of 30-34 were more likely to drive, accounting for 9% in that age span alone.
The study included data on highway statistics from the U.S. Department of Federal Highway Association.
Last year, the agency reported teens with driver’s licenses in the 16-19 age group declined from 64% in 1995 to just under 40% in 2021.
Some young people have opted out of driving due to car costs, and the prices of insurance and gas surging due to inflation. On top of inflation, rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber are a common form of transportation and many young people would rather bike or walk than contribute to pollution.
Teens socialize more online and spend less time gathering in person, shifting away from car travel.
The decline may also be driven by the impact of “graduated” licensing. Starting around 1996, states enacted new rules tailored to ease novice drivers onto the road. Teen drivers must now spend months gaining skills in low-risk settings before they gain full driving privileges.
The Hill contributed to this report.
