Advertisement
UK markets close in 14 minutes
  • FTSE 100

    7,960.92
    +28.94 (+0.36%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,889.35
    +78.69 (+0.40%)
     
  • AIM

    743.77
    +1.66 (+0.22%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1700
    +0.0030 (+0.26%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2633
    -0.0005 (-0.04%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    56,090.72
    +1,834.18 (+3.38%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,252.45
    +3.96 (+0.08%)
     
  • DOW

    39,783.66
    +23.58 (+0.06%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    82.54
    +1.19 (+1.46%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,236.40
    +23.70 (+1.07%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • DAX

    18,496.18
    +19.09 (+0.10%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,211.08
    +6.27 (+0.08%)
     

Electric vehicle push could see increase in automatic-only licences, says survey

A combination of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales as well as and the lack of a manual gearbox in EVs could see more younger drivers apply for an automatic-only driving licence, according to a new survey.

Conducted by independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, the study questioned 1,000 drivers aged between 17-24 and found that 61 per cent were planning to apply for an automatic-only driving licence.

In addition, 81 per cent of those spoken to said that they were ‘very likely’ to purchase an EV as their next car, while only a small number – just five per cent – said that they were unlikely to buy an electric vehicle.

The study also highlighted the buying habits of younger drivers, with 51 per cent of respondents saying that they’ll save money and pay upfront for a new car, with 17 per cent stating that they would finance instead. Only 10 per cent were in favour of getting a bank loan in order to purchase a new vehicle.

ADVERTISEMENT

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, commented: “Our research highlights how young people are being proactive, not reactive to climate issues and the changes to the automotive industry set to come by 2030, which is great to see.

“What these figures demonstrate is that the traditional split between manual and automatic driving licences is becoming less and less relevant to modern motoring. It’s time that this artificial distinction was ditched as part of an overall review of learning to drive that prioritises experience in all traffic conditions over the type of gearbox you have.

“Until things change however, young people need to be aware that manual driving licences will always open up a wider range of job opportunities for them, particularly as the country recovers from the pandemic.”

The study also highlighted changing views on EVs in young people, with 70 per cent stating that they believed electric vehicles to be easier to charge compared with filling a traditional fuel tank in a petrol or diesel car.