[LINK] Internet > less need for real contact & driving licences?

[Noel Butler]

On Thu, 2012-07-26 at 08:29 +1000, Tom Worthington wrote:

> On 25/07/12 16:32, Robin Whittle wrote:
> > http://www.ns.umich.edu/new/releases/20646-percentage-of-teen-drivers-continues-to-drop
> >
> >     "Overall, the observed decrease in driver licensing is consistent
> >      with the continued increase in Internet usage," Sivak said. "In our
> >      previous research, we found that the percentage of young drivers
> >      was inversely related to the proportion of Internet users. Virtual
> >      contact, through electronic means, reduces the need for actual
> >      contact."  ...
> 
> This research seems to assume that you need to drive a vehicle in order 
> to have actual contact. Perhaps those using the Internet have discovered 
> they can use it for the business they would usually do by car and can 
> walk to their social contacts.



Research means little, I was in my late twenties before I got my licence. 
lived centrally, worked centrally, socialised centrally, saved thousands on fuel, however

back then IIRC it cost about 16-18 dollars to fill the tank from almost
dead empty, what's it now, 70-80... *sigh* 
and this thing called Internet was only just becoming available, and at
hrmm I think it was compuserv at around 13 or so an hour, cant recall if
that was off peak or peak, either way, back then not many idled at 13
dollars an hour at 2400bps  :)




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