People who were born between 1997 and 2012 are referred to as Gen Z. Teens born in the later years of Gen Z are learning how to drive, or are currently driving. In 2022, a study was conducted by the Declaration of Transportation that found that only 40% of 18-year-olds had their license, which is a 20% drop from the statistics shown in 1987. The study claims that the drop was caused by Gen Z’s anxiety and fears of driving.
“I am a very anxious person, and [driving] causes a lot of anxiety for me, even if it’s just practicing driving with my dad. I’m shaking while driving. I know how to overcome my anxiety, but when I’m in the car, it’s the one time where I have to take a moment,” junior Jason-Grey Moffett, who currently doesn’t have a license, said.
Moffett’s fear stems from a past of vehicular accidents; they have been the victim of several collisions.
“I’ve been in multiple car crashes in my lifetime. I’m scared of getting in a crash while I’m driving, which is probably the scariest thing that can happen,” Moffett said.
Freshman Suri Vang has gone through a similar experience.
“I think it’s just because of my anxiety or something. It’s just because I think someone’s gonna swerve or I’m gonna swerve or crash,” Vang said.
Teens getting their licenses has become less of a priority than it used to be, even if anxiety isn’t a factor. Teens are finding themselves busier and don’t have the time to get their license or even practice driving.
“I’m really busy. [I’m in] the musical, and I’m in choir. I don’t have a lot of time to get my [driving] hours in,” Moffett said.
Some underclassmen don’t find the need to get their permit or put in the work for their license because they don’t have any use for it yet. Vang explained that West Albany High School prohibits the freshman and sophomore class from leaving the school during lunch.
“The only reason I haven’t got my permit yet [is] because I’m not allowed to go off campus yet, so I don’t think it’s really worth it until my junior year,” Vang said.
While some may delay getting their license, other teens try to get their license as soon as possible. Those who choose not to get their license immediately could feel pressure or anxiety from their friends and family who have already managed to get it.
“My friends sure do, [they say] you have to get your license so you can do all these things with us. They don’t want me to be left out, but it’s still [pressuring me],” Moffett said.
Pressure can come from others around you, or even yourself, as Vang described.
“I feel like I can’t do it; I see everyone else doing it, and there’s just me. I struggle to study, and my parents are pressuring me. The pressure is on me because I feel left out,” Vang said.
Even though driving may seem like a drag, some students agree it’s a task that needs to be done if they want their full access to freedom.
“I have to get a car and a license so I can drive myself to [places I need to go]. I wanna start doing theater over the summer again,” Moffett said. “I would bawl my eyes out [if I got my permit], I would be so happy. All the stress would be out of my body.”
The trend of Gen Z procrastinating obtaining their license doesn’t show any sign of stopping, but overcoming fear and anxiety is a necessary step towards achieving any goal.
