Young people aged 16 to 24 are less and less likely to get their driving licence

The survey promoted by the Digital Driving School Platform breaks down the main reasons why future drivers reject the idea of obtaining a driving licence

Following the recent creation of the Digital Driving School Platform (PAD), which brings together several platforms that allow people to prepare for the driving licence tests and operate exclusively online, a survey of 1,200 people aged 16 to 24 reveals the arguments that prospective drivers put forward for not even attempting it.

Taking that threshold into account, 37.2 per cent of respondents did not have a driving licence at the time they were asked.

It is among this group that the views are gathered on why fewer and fewer young people are interested in or want to get their driving licence.

Most of this group without a driving licence claims not to have enough time to prepare for the training process. 42.9 per cent say they cannot devote hours to studying and preparing for the different stages that make up the traffic exams.

A second majority group says it does not have the budget needed to tackle the process of obtaining a driving licence. Specifically, 34.1 per cent cite financial reasons as their excuse.

Of the remaining respondents, 33 per cent who do not have a driving licence did not give the reasons why they had not tried to obtain the permit.

A sharp fall

Over the past 10 years, the number of new driving licences has fallen, in some age groups by as much as 50 per cent.

For example, according to DGT data, in 2007 as many as 146,701 people obtained their driving licence. In 2017, the figure dropped to 69,844.

Reasons put forward include declining interest in motoring, the purchase of new cars, rising acquisition and maintenance costs, and the emergence of new transport alternatives such as carsharing, affordable car rental and the proliferation of private hire vehicle (VTC) companies, all reasons why fewer people are obtaining their driving licence every year.

Beyond these arguments, the study by the Digital Driving School Platform emphasises two fundamental reasons unrelated to the above.

The training or work demands on younger people, together with the difficult economic situation we are in, combine to give compelling reasons for prospective drivers to steer clear of obtaining a driving licence and turn to alternatives to driving a vehicle.