Young drivers’ attitudes to insurance

The DfT commissioned independent researchers at Aegis Media to undertake focus group research among young people and parents with the following objectives:

• To understand attitudes to learning to drive; holding a licence and about the insurance market.
• To explore views on black box technology; reducing minimum driving age to 16; and use of social media to gauge views.

Key findings
• Driving gives freedom but young people feel suspicious that authorities are out to make things difficult and don’t want young people on the road.
• The positive practical associations of driving were of convenience and self reliance. The negative associations were cost, particularly insurance and maintenance.
• Safety was more of a concern for parents, but young drivers felt peer pressure to drive recklessly.
• Males were keener to pass than females.