Are young Americans retreating from the open road?

Another casualty of the poor economy in recent years? The 16-year-old behind the wheel.

According to a study conducted by the Frontier Group and the US PIRG Education Fund, the number of young Americans without a driver’s license has risen in the last decade.

In fact, now a full quarter of 14-34-year olds in the U-S can’t legally drive.

But is this a cultural shift, or a sign of the economic times?

Here to talk with us in today’s Mid-day Extra is Tony Dutzik of Frontier Group, who co-authored the study.