The End of the Automobile Era?

In 1976, three-quarters of all 17-year-olds had drivers’ licenses. By 2008, that was down to 49 percent. … The shift in mood partly reflects worries about the environment and the price of gas. But there also seems to be a technological aspect, too. Once upon a time, newly licensed teens would pile all their friends into their new used car and drive around aimlessly. Nowadays, teens can socialize via Facebook or texting instead—in a recent survey, over half of all young adults said they’d rather chat online than drive to meet their friends.