They’re already abstaining from drugs, booze and sex — now, new data shows Gen Z are also opting out of driving.
While obtaining a license was a rite of passage for previous generations, Zoomers are refusing to get behind the wheel in record numbers, sparking fears that it could have a devastating impact on the auto industry.
Just 25% of 16-year-olds and 45% of 17-year-olds have a license today, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Back in 1997, 43% of 16-year-olds and 62% of 17-year-olds were already on the road.
“Maybe they don’t want to drive because they’re looking for a sustainable option, such as public transportation, ride-sharing, or e-scooters,” analysts at McKinsey wrote in a recent report about the trend, per Newsweek.
Experts at the consulting firm theorized that the economy, in addition to the environment, may also be a factor.
“It’s also possible that a sputtering economy and inflation tinged their entry into adulthood, discouraging spending on big-ticket items such as cars,” the analysts wrote.
The cost of new cars has soared by 30%, while the price of used cars has also revved up.
However, The Post previously profiled Zoomers who say a lack of maturity has stopped them from heading to the DMV.
“Having COVID hit when I was 16 and in the middle of my high school career completely stopped my [mental] age progression and maturity,” college freshman Paige Gartland told The Post last year.
She added that driving just “doesn’t seem that necessary.”
“I do have other options, like getting a ride from my mom or friends, getting an Uber or taking the bus, having a license isn’t really life or death for me,” she stated.
However, Gen Z’s refusal to get behind the wheel is driving older generations mad.
“I have a 21-year-old nephew who still has no plans on driving,” a Los Angeles-area mom named Meghan lamented in a TikTok video posted last year.
“And [my] 13-year-old [son] — I have a truck out front for him [when he’s old enough] — and he said, ‘I don’t need that. You’re gonna drive me or I’ll call an Uber,'” she added.
Another mother on the site complained: “I have a 16-year-old boy who has no desire to drive. We even bought him a Mustang.”
However, McKinsey consultants say it’s too early to tell whether the trend could revolutionize the auto industry.
“It’s too early to tell whether the no-driving trend will hold with Gen Z,” they stated.