FHWA NHTS Report: Travel Trends for Teens and Seniors: 2017 National Household Travel Survey

NHTSA · 2019 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration

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Summary

This report analyzes travel trends for teenagers (ages 13–17) and seniors (ages 65+) using data from the 2001, 2009, and 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). The study aims to understand how the composition of trips—specifically regarding length, duration, purpose, and mode—has evolved for these demographic groups, which together account for a stable portion of total U.S. trips. The research addresses specific policy interests, including the impact of school schedules on teen travel, the decline in teen driving rates, and whether seniors are working and driving longer than previous generations. The analysis relies on periodic NHTS data, which collects detailed travel information from a sample of U.S. households. The report examines trip characteristics across three survey years, comparing teens and seniors by age subgroups (13–15, 16–17, 65–74, and 75+). It assesses variables such as average trip distance and duration, trip purposes (e.g., school, work, medical, social), and travel modes (e.g., driver, passenger, walking). For seniors, the analysis further distinguishes between urban and rural residents and identifies characteristics of non-travelers. For teens, the data reveals that school-related activities remain the primary driver of travel, with weekday and non-summer trips dominated by school purposes. Average trip lengths for ages 13–15 increased steadily, while those for 16–17-year-olds fluctuated. A significant finding is the decline in the proportion of 16–17-year-olds reporting as drivers, dropping from 63% in 2001 to 50% in 2017. This decline varied by geography and household vehicle ownership, with higher driving rates observed in households with three or more vehicles. Consequently, the proportion of teen trips made as auto passengers increased, particularly for the 16–17 age group. For seniors, the proportion of total trips increased from 13% in 2009 to 16% in 2017. The percentage of seniors reporting at least one driver trip rose slightly to 82% in 2017, driven primarily by the 75+ age group, suggesting this cohort is driving longer. However, the proportion of trips made by driving remained steady, indicating fewer trips per driver rather than increased driving frequency. Work trips for seniors aged 65–74 peaked in 2009 and declined by 2017, contradicting the notion that seniors are working longer. Medical trips remained stable in frequency but increased in distance and duration, particularly for rural residents. Immobility rates and the demographic characteristics of non-traveling seniors remained consistent across all survey years.

Key finding

The proportion of teen drivers aged 16-17 declined from 63% in 2001 to 50% in 2017, while the proportion of seniors aged 65+ who reported driving at least one trip increased from 80% to 82% by 2017.

Methodology

dataset

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• older drivers

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence