Attitudes towards car ownership changing, says Goodyear

The number of teenagers who are not learning to drive has fallen by nearly 30 per cent in a decade – a record number, revealed by DVSA data.

The cost of university, rising price of car insurance and changes in mobility, particularly car sharing, are all deciding factors in this decline. Kate Rock at Goodyear Tyres has reacted to the findings, explaining the generational change in people’s attitudes towards driving and the impact this will have on automotive innovation.

Kate Rock says: “We’re seeing a generational change in people’s attitudes towards driving, which we think will cement this paradigm shift of not owning a car, and instead, calling a self-driving vehicle to collect us when we want to move around a city. This might seem like the stuff of science fiction today, but by the time Generation Z reach the age at which they’re able to take a driving test, we wouldn’t be surprised if driverless cars were commonplace.

“As a society, we are increasingly looking for ways to make our lives as convenient and hassle-free as possible. For a young person who has grown up with the idea that they can get around without having to own, and consequently maintain a car, utilising driverless technology, will probably seem like common sense.

“In the short term, the stark decline in young people wanting to take their driving test could be bad news for parents, as it means their teenage and adult children could become increasingly dependent on the family taxi service. Our research has revealed that 58 per cent of fathers spent at least two-hours a week taking their children to various social and recreational events – over 104 hours a year. Rather shockingly, one in five say they travel over 100 miles per week ferrying the kids around.”