Generation Z vs. The Wheel: This is what everyone thinks

For enthusiasts, driving is therapy, a fun affair. But for people who view cars purely as a means of transportation, it is a very demanding skill that should not be taken lightly. In simpler words, the latter are the ones who wouldn’t think twice before choosing an autonomous car! Driving requires coordination, attention and presence of mind. Today we also have a vibrant age group of drivers ranging from young Gen Z to experienced millennials.

So the peeps at Scrap Car Comparison UK brought together drivers of all stripes for a survey to find out what they think of each other and answer a tough question: what makes a good driver? The outcome is both fascinating and alarming. But the key findings from this study do give us insight into what the public thinks specifically about younger drivers, and that’s not pretty!

Young Generation Z drivers are risk takers

77 percent of people agree with this through a global survey

The guys at Scrap Car Comparison UK have embarked on an extensive survey, asking drivers in 18 countries around the world to share how they really felt about the driving styles of different generations on the road. The results are, shall we say, not very pleasant. According to the survey young Gen Z drivers under the age of 25 are considered the biggest risk takers on the road and therefore the most dangerous.

Australians are quite skeptical of Gen Z drivers, with 90 percent agreeing with the ‘risk factor’. In seven of the 18 countries in this survey, 80% or more of drivers express concern about the way Gen Z drivers behave on the road. There are quite a few people who believe that people under the age of 25 cannot be trusted with a car.

National breakdown of this poll

This is why Gen Z drivers are in the spotlight

Distraction and lack of experience top the list

While a lack of experience on the road is a strong factor, another killer factor is the outcome of the study, which came in favor of this study. Gen Z’s always-connected lifestyle is to blame here, with smartphones being the main culprit. Unlike millennials, Generation Z has had much more technological exposure. This has also permeated their daily lifestyle. A good example is screen time. Mastermind Behavior states that Gen Z leads all generations in daily screen useon average about 9 hours.

This effect has also permeated their driving habits, with Gen Z drivers spending an alarming amount of time behind the wheel looking at their smartphones. The shocking results were revealed through a study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention. It says that 26.5 percent of the more than 1,100 teen drivers in this study looked at screens for two seconds or more, a duration that dramatically increases the risk of a crash. The most common distractions were entertainment (65 percent), texting (40 percent) and navigation (30 percent). This, combined with the lack of driving experience, makes Gen Z drivers deadlier.

Here’s how Gen Z can contribute to a safer driving environment

Less screen time is key, but…

For a generation that grew up with screens, it’s a tough nut to crack. But less screen time is the key to making roads safer and giving money Gen Z drivers an opportunity to rebuild lost trust. However, it’s easier said than done because even new cars these days are packed with technology and screens. Some even have three screens spread across the dashboard.

Therefore, a more logical approach is to integrate these unavoidable technological features and create software features to help reduce distractions. A simple start would be to have a locked, driving-oriented interface when the vehicle is in motion. The screen should not display functions beyond what is necessary while driving. When it comes to the use of smartphones, it is the driver who must impose the rules on himself.

Notable ways to tackle distractions and enforce safe driving habits

• Consciously limit phone use to only when the car is stationary

• Put the smartphone in silent mode

• Set clear rules and enforce consequences

• Participate in various driving courses, including the latest digital ones.

There is another side to this story in which Generation Z should be appreciated

There has been a significant decrease in fatal crashes involving young drivers

As we continue to bash Gen Z for their dangerous driving, we’ve forgotten that this is an apples-to-oranges comparison. Sure, the road is common, and we can’t swerve in favor of one generation, but there is a positive side to the Generation Z wave of drivers. Generation Z drivers appear to be much safer teen drivers than previous generations.

NHTSA data shows that the number of fatal crashes involving young drivers (15 to 20 years old) has decreased significantly over the past 30 years. Since NHTSA began publishing traffic safety facts for young drivers in 1994, the fatal crash rate among young drivers has dropped to nearly 40 percent. Since Generation Z entered the age of driving, the U.S. has averaged just over 1,800 fatalities among young drivers per year, compared to over 3,000 for both Generation X and Millennials.

However, you could argue that given the recent trend of Generation Z teens not being interested in drivingthis information is no longer applicable. But on the other hand, the number of cars on the road is at its highest right now, making the driving environment much more challenging than it was during the millennial and even Gen X teen days.

Older Millennials Are the ‘Most Trusted Drivers’

With experience comes wisdom

This global survey also revealed some other fascinating insights. Older millennials (35-44 years) were crowned the world’s most trusted drivers. The majority of trust came from Spain (58 percent), Germany (57 percent) and Hungary (57 percent).

Overall, more than 54 percent of people believe this age group has the best driving skills. The reason is most likely patience, the result of years of driving experience. Years of driving on different types of roads also builds confidence, which is why these drivers should have improved their driving skills.

But this confidence fades for drivers aged 70 and over. This comes as almost half of respondents worldwide expressed concerns and believe drivers should stop before the age of 70. South Africans believe that even this is extreme, as they believe people should consider giving up driving at age 60.

This outcome is mainly due to the fact that people generally develop weaker coordination skills and attention spans. Generalizing across an age group on this factor is problematic an 80-year-old who drives around with flair in a Ferrari F40 is enough to shake things up. But that’s what most drivers say, which does add to the general consensus. Furthermore, 69 percent of Irish and 68 percent of British believe that drivers over the age of 75 are the slowest on the road, which in turn hinders traffic flow.

So, what is the most important driving characteristic?

Since there are numerous defects in each of the generations, the most crucial question is: what exactly is the parameter that defines a safe and vigilant driver? Well, 70 percent of drivers who contributed to this study believe that, in addition to age, ‘experience’ is the key. Like any other skill, the more hours you spend behind the wheel with the willingness to adapt and learn, the better you become.

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Sources: Comparison of scrap cars UKNY Post, cArsales AU, Codot GovernorateAnd NHTSA.