Variations in teenage activities with and without a driver's license

High school students were surveyed every 6 months from their freshman throu gh senior years concerning licensing, driving, and transportation to and fr om their various activities. Students in Delaware (learner's permit can be issued at age 15 years, 10 months; driver's license at age 16) were compare d with students in Connecticut and New York (permit at age 16; license at a ge 16) and in New Jersey (license at age 17) During the junior year, most D elaware students, some New York and Connecticut students, and few New Jerse y students were licensed. However, even during the junior year, students in the respective states did not differ significantly with respect to time sp ent at activities such as a paying job, homework, watching television, dati ng, parties, being with friends, talking on the phone, or participating in sports or school activities. Graduated licensing systems can delay full-pri vilege teenage licensure and reduce teenage crash rates. These systems also can increase the number of times parents and others must drive. However, t he present study's results indicate that licensing delays of as much as I y ear have minimal effects on the nondriving activities of high school studen ts.