Teenagers aren't interested in driving anymore

The days when teenagers couldn’t wait to get their learner’s licence might be coming to an end, at least in some countries.

In the UK, research by automotive consumer website, Honest John, has found that the number of 17-year-olds taking the practical driving test has fallen by 100 000 since 2007-08 and the number of under-25s that are learning to drive is down by 20%.

Most of the reasons are due to cost, with many citing the cost of insurance as a reason not to buy a car. In the UK, insurance is mandatory and comprehensive insurance can cost a 17-year-old as much as R255 000 a year.

Even the cost of learning to drive has escalated. The UK Department of Transport says the average learner requires 47 hours of tuition before they can pass their driving test.

It is not all about cost though. Many are following their counterparts in major cities around the world and simply not seeing a need to learn to drive due to the availability of public transport, Uber and a future that is likely to feature autonomous vehicles. – BD Motor News