Photo by Russ Allison Loar via Flickr

Sweet 16.

Here in the United States, age 16 has long been an eagerly anticipated milestone, largely because teens are eligible to get a driver's license at age 16. In the minds of many teens, age 16 = driver's license = increased independence. In the minds of many parents, age 16 = increased insurance costs and anxiety regarding their child's safety.

In fact, fewer teens are getting drivers' licenses at age 16. According to an article published on Wired.com, just 71% of high school seniors have a driver's license; that's the lowest percentage in decades. Societal changes account for the decline: the prevalence of ride-sharing services such as Lyft & Uber means that many teens don't need to drive to get from one place to another, and social media now allows teens to socialize without leaving home. Economic challenges are a factor as well: 36% of non-driving teens cite "overall cost" as a contributing issue.

Whether your teen gets a driver's license or not age 16 is a big deal. It's a step toward independence, and time to talk about responsible decision making.

In this episode, Janet & Jen discuss:

* Learning to drive as a rite of passage

* The importance of following your son's lead (Some are ready to drive at age 16; some have no desire)

* How to tell if your son is ready to drive

* How to set limits and guidelines that fit your son

* Why parents may not be the best driving instructors for their children

* How to talk to kids about the risks & responsibilities of driving (Hint: sharing scary stats does not work.)

* How graduated driver's licenses help teens build experience

* The role of role-modeling (Don't want your teen to text & drive? Don't text and drive!)

* The cost of driving -- how parents & kids can share the expense

* Things to consider when purchasing/helping your son purchase a car

Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 154:

How to Intervene When Life Gives Your Grown Son a Lemon -- article mentioned by Jen at about 20:00

Parent-Teen Driving Contract -- template created by the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control

Street Survival driving school -- driving school mentioned by Janet at 10:02

Age 16 & Learning to Let Go - blog post about what happened after Jen's son got his license