Young drivers survey

E M Wood and MarplanConsultants: Marplan

Cost: 17,500
Published: 1987

This 1987 project was a limited study, linking to a later major project (FDN7), and set out to explore current attitudes among young drivers towards motoring law and aspects of their current lifestyle, with particular reference to drinking and driving.

In a sample, 1000 motorists aged under 24 were interviewed in their homes, using a structured questionnaire to explore vehicle ownership, car usage, accidents, involvement with the police and attitudes towards various offences.

Main findings were:

• 64 per cent owned the car they drove most often;
• 22 per cent relied on parents for a car;
• 38 per cent of the cars owned were Fords;
• 59 per cent drove cars under 1400cc;
• 73 per cent drove cars more than five years old;
• 51 per cent used the car to go to work;
• 35 per cent had been involved in an accident, most commonly involving another car;
• 52 per cent of men and 22 per cent of women had been stopped by the police;
• 62 per cent believed that one was judged by the car one drove;
• 36 per cent of men and 21 per cent of women believed that the police considered young motorists to be irresponsible;
• drinking and driving was considered more serious than careless driving, and the latter was considered more serious than speeding;
• lager was the most popular drink - 61 per cent drove a car when going for a drink but 45 per cent cut down and 17 per cent abstained.

NOTE:

In the comments on all the above AA Foundation reports published since 1987, any reference to individuals will quote the position he or she held at that time. No attempt has been made to update data to take account of positions held at the time this booklet was updated.