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Study: Teens can't afford to drive | The Detroit News

Washington — A new study blames high teenage unemployment and the rising costs of driving for the decline in younger people getting driver licenses — not texting, cellphones and lack of interest.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Highway Loss Data Institute reviewed insurance data on insured teenage drivers and found the drop in teen driving coincided with the recent economic slowdown. At the same time, the cost of driving is rising: Auto insurer AAA says the average cost to drive 10,000 miles in a year jumped from 62 cents a mile in 2006 to 77 cents last year.

“It looks like teens just can’t afford to drive,” said Matt Moore, vice president of the insurance industry-funded group. “Paying for their own cars, gas and insurance is hard if they can’t find a job. At the same time, kids who count on Mom and Dad to help them also may be out of luck if their parents have been affected by the recession.”

In Michigan, the number of teen drivers fell sharply for three straight years during the recent economic downturn. But it rebounded this year as the economy continued to improve.