There was a time when the teenage years, especially ages 16-20 are considered a ‘rite of passage’ for many individuals who want to apply for a driver’s license and formally drive the car as a licensed driver. It isn’t just teens that were excited to reach that defining age; even parents are excited and motivated as well to join their kids in this exciting time. And in an effort to sustain their interests, parents plan out the first car to give to their kids. Unfortunately, times have changed when it comes to teen interests when it comes to applying for a driver’s license. According to industry watchers, there’s a decrease in the number of teens who are applying for a driver’s license. In a study made by Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, there’s a significant drop of 16-year old drivers who applied for a driver’s license, from 63,215 in 2008 to just 61,452 in 2013. And in a research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it discovered that that percentage of high school seniors who applied for licenses dropped from 85 percent in 1996 to 73 percent in 2010. The trend is obvious- there’s a sustained drop in the number of teens who applied and plans to apply for a driver’s license. Although the prevailing norm is to skip the license during teenage years, it’s actually more advantageous to apply for a driver’s license, now. Here are reasons why your teens should be allowed to apply for a driver’s license.
1. Improved access to job opportunities
Part-time job hunting is made easier and convenient if you are backed by a driver’s license even if you are a teen. There are a number of companies, retail stores and food-based businesses that are looking for dependable workers that can work for a part-time basis. For many of these establishments including fast-food chains with delivery networks, they welcome teens or college students who are looking for a part-time job especially if they have driving licenses to show. A worker with a driver’s license to show means that he’s a flexible member of the organization and can do a variety of tasks like delivering orders or helping improve logistics. Teen part-timers can perform dual roles, as staff inside the store or can serve as a business driver when necessary. In short, teens can increase their chances of being hired if they have a driver’s license to show off.