Reasons Why Teens Can't Wait to Get a Driver's License

Most states allow teenagers to apply for a probationary driver's license after passing a written exam and a test of practical driving skills. Some states also require a behind-the-wheel period of instruction by a trained professional or high school instructor before the applicant can apply for a driver's license. Teens typically watch the license application date closely and can't wait to apply for a driver's permit. Most teens have specific reasons for wanting the license as soon as possible, although the reasons may vary from teen to teen.

  1. Media Influence

    • Films and television shows make autos, motorcycles and pickup trucks alluring for some teenagers. Auto manufacturers also target teens with advertising using social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Many teens don't have the money to buy a vehicle immediately after receiving a driver's license, but a driver's license is the first step on the time line towards vehicle ownership. Some automakers target teens by showcasing specific models with special detail packages. These may include certain exterior paint jobs or decals and interior items that appeal to teens, such as a designated place on the dashboard for music players.

    Practical Reasons

    • Some teenagers can't wait to get a driver's license because having one will allow them to drive themselves to a job. Many teens use the income to pay for their entertainment and also to pad a savings account for a college education, for example. Because some teenagers want to make a helpful contribution to the family, teens with a driver's license might offer parents help with shuttling younger siblings to and from school events or sports practice. A teen driver might also want to help parents run other errands.

    Peer Pressure

    • Teenagers in some communities and certain schools feel peer pressure to acquire a driver's license as a rite of passage leading to adulthood. Not getting a driver's license has a negative stigma for some teens. Most teens want to fit in with their peers and having a driver's license offers a way to bond with them.

    Independence

    • Having a driver's license gives teens the feeling of independence and a psychological sense of growing up and taking charge of their life. Getting a license not only indicates greater maturity, but also the concrete prospects of establishing a life apart from parents and other family members.

    Social Reasons

    • Teens tire of asking older siblings or parents for a ride to the shopping mall or to a friend's house, and the constant trips could become equally tiresome for the older driver. A driver's license gives the teen the ability to meet social demands without asking for a ride -- or divulging the details of his or her plans for the evening to the driver. Licenses also help dating teens feel less awkward about having a parent act as chauffeur.

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