Ralph Stanley

Drivers

There are 889 drivers per thousand Americans of legal driving age according to FHWA statistics. New Yorkers are the least likely to have a driving license at 747. Too many of them live in highrises and areas where parking is such a problem it’s too much hassle to own a car. Maryland and DC also have relatively few licensed drivers (798 and 806.) A cop once told me that ten percent of the drivers they stop don’t have licences, but perhaps that’s where I live. The most perplexing statistics are four states with more licensed drivers than people of driving age: VT 1050, FL 1039, AK 1,032, AL 1,005. So either kids are faking their age, or the deceased are keeping their licenses. Or the stats are screwy?