Car prices driving young people away from driving

Shocking new figures have emerged that show that half of under-25s won’t apply for a job if they’d need a car to get to work.

According to research from uSwitch.com, the cost of buying and running a car for the first time is a major deterrent for young people seeking jobs further afield.

Comparison site GoCompare has estimated the cost of taking to the road for the first time as being in the region of £6,786, with £2,232 of that cost coming from insurance alone, with the price of driving lessons, applying for a driving licence, car purchase and running costs making up the rest of the bill.

Young drivers still pay extra for insurance as they are still statistically more likely to be involved in a collision than any other age group.

Ian Crowder, insurance expert at the AA, says: “Young people, particularly men, do not just have more accidents than anybody else, but the accidents are more likely to involve written-off cars and serious injury or fatalities, both to their passengers and others.”

There is hope for young drivers however, as the adoption of telematics technology has already been proven to improve driving standards and lower premiums, with some devices even contacting parents if their child breaks speed limits or road rules.

According to CompareTheMarket.com, 75 per cent of adults believe that telematics should be mandatory for drivers aged under 25. Meanwhile half of young people voiced their support for the suggestion.

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