Driving is considered a privilege, not a constitutional right, in the United States. While the Constitution protects the fundamental right to travel, this doesn’t inherently include the right to drive a motor vehicle. States regulate driving through licensing to ensure public safety, which is why it’s classified as a privilege.
The argument about “traveling” versus “driving” often comes from a misinterpretation of legal principles. Courts have consistently upheld that operating a motor vehicle on public roads requires a valid license, as it’s subject to state regulation for the greater good of public safety, i.e. to keep the intoxicated, non-skilled off the road.
Well the unskilled drivers are everywhere. Huge number on the road are incapable of operating a MV in anything other than ideal conditions.
Not that I disagree with your statement but it does call into question the ancient title of land where most, if not all of our highways are built. The thing called a "RIGHT" -OF-WAY. The legal title of that land seems to infer more than just privilege. I suppose the powers that be can pile on with the privilege part since the rights-of-way have been value added with asphalt, etc.