Price of Driving Scaring Young Drivers Away

It appears that since the boom of young drivers in the 1990’s, there has been a sudden plummet. Recent statistics show that the percentage of young drivers with a provisional licence has dropped from 43% to 36% in the past few years.

This is predominantly because of the shear expense of learning how to drive and car insurance afterwards. Despite a lot of young drivers choosing to share their parents’ car for a period, the drop in drivers is evident with only 30% or female drivers between 17 and 20 driving with a provisional.

During the peak years of 1995-1997, over 50% of young male drivers aged between 17-20 were driving.

In a recent National Travel Survey , it was found that most potential young drivers are put off driving by the soaring costs of lessons, the price of purchasing and running a car and the rising cost of insurance for inexperienced drivers.

Another theory is that young people are more happy to travel as passengers so that they may be able to use mobile devices. The director of RAC Foundation was quoted saying, "Younger drivers are being priced off the roads but the big question is: what will happen as they age? Will they take up driving or will they go their whole lives without feeling the need to get a car?"

Share this article