Fewer Florida teens are getting behind the wheel as driving is increasingly taking a backseat to the information superhighway, according to a new report.
From 2006 to 2012, there was a 10 percent decrease in teen drivers, Courtney Heidelberg, spokeswoman for the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, told the Sun-Sentinel.
In 2006, there were 793,020 drivers between 15 and 19 in Florida, but by the start of this year, the number was at 712,767.
The numbers are surprising, given that the number of Sunshine State teens between 15 and 19 has increased over 16 and a half percent between 2000 and 2010.
While the costs associated with owning a vehicle may have to do with it somewhat, the ability to communicate with friends through electronic communication may mean fewer teens are taking to the roads.
"We haven't done any studies or correlations as to what's driving those numbers," Heidelberg said. "Using your smart phone to talk to one another may have an effect."
