Are less people learning to drive?
Two fifths of people surveyed in the UK have not learned to drive by the time they reached age 25.
The study conducted by voucher code company vouchercodespro.co.uk found that 41% of people
they surveyed in the 25 year old age bracket hadn’t passed their driving test. When compared
among just over a 1,000 surveyed aged 45 years and over – only 28% hadn’t passed by that time.
In the older group surveyed, nearly 50% had passed by the time they had reached the age of 18.
What this shows is a large decline in the amount of younger people of driving age not taking the
plunge to learn. When asked to explain their reasons as to why they hadn’t passed or taken driving
lessons yet, three quarters of the 25 year olds without licences said it was too expensive, too
nervous and 56% surveyed stated that they had already failed at least one driving test so had just
given up.
47% of the survey sample also went on the record to say that using public transport made owning
and running a car prohibitive. But yet 81% of all surveyed said that they felt personally that being
able to drive was a crucial life skill to have.
What is rather telling from the study is that many younger people really want to drive but the costs
are simply too much to bear compared to years past. With car insurance premiums rising annually,
cost of fuel, maintenance and tax it can be a costly exercise when you don’t necessary need a car
every day. With other pressures more prominent now such as rising rents and the desire to get a
foothold on the property ladder, unfortunately having a driving licence and running a car has been
put to the back of the queue.