The Number Of Young Drivers Is Now At A Record Low
The number of young people in the UK with a full driving license has now fallen to a record low, according to new figures…
Young Drivers In Decline
The number of young drivers in the UK is now at a record low. According to data compiled by the DVLA, 2.97 million people aged between 16 to 25 hold a full license; that’s declined from 3.32 million in March 2020. For further perspective, it’s also the lowest number since records began back in 2012. Back then, the figure stood at 3.42 million.
Multiple factors have been blamed for the declining numbers. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic saw driving lessons and tests suspended as a result of lockdowns and social distancing rules. The financial costs of driving have also consistently risen, too; making owning and operating a car increasingly difficult for young people.
According to a survey conducted by the Department for Transport, the most common reasons for 17- to 20-year-olds in England not getting behind the wheel were exclusively financial. According to the survey, 41% cited the cost of learning to drive, 31% pointed to the cost of actually buying a car and another 30% blamed the cost of car insurance policies. Just 19% of young drivers said they weren’t interested in driving; further evidence that many are simply being priced off of the roads.
A Stressful Time Learner Drivers
Edmund King, president of the AA, has stated that the pandemic has been a difficult time for budding drivers. He said, “this has been a very stressful time for many learners and indeed their instructors, who were unable to work”. He also suggested that the situation had been made worse by the government’s refusal to extend the two-year period between passing the theory exam and taking a practical test.
Steve Gooding, speaking for the RAC Foundation, wasn’t surprised by the declining figures. He said, “perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by this fall in the number of full licence holders aged 25 and under in a year. When the Covid-19 pandemic increased financial pressures for many, meant driving lessons and driving tests had to be suspended, and resulted in more young people being locked down in their family home”.
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