More women than men drivers in U.S., a new study finds Fewer young people getting drivers licenses

More women than men drivers in U.S., a new study finds Fewer young people getting drivers licenses

Dealers have been hearing for years about the importance of women in the car purchase decision, whether theyre buying a car themselves or influencing couples purchases. So now comes a study that shows there are more women drivers than men on U.S. roads, especially among drivers younger than 45.

The changing gender demographics will have major implications on the extent and nature of vehicle demand, energy consumption and road safety, said Michael Sivak, a research professor at the University of Michigan who coauthored the study. Women are more likely than men to purchase smaller, safer and more fuel-efficient cars, to drive less, and to have a lower fatality rate per distance driven.

The study also confirmed the much-discussed idea that the young are driving less. The share of men age 25 to 29 with drivers licenses dropped more than 10 percent from 1995 to 2010, but the share of young women with licenses dropped only half as much.

One reason the young are less likely to drive may be the increase in Internet usage. There is some evidence to suggest Internet contact is reducing the need for personal contact, Sivak told the Associated Press. Really?