In fact, several young people drive without their parents' consent!
A new Ford survey reveals just how risky young drivers are behind the wheel of the family car. The results are shocking, with a large majority of respondents driving mum and dad's car without asking them, breaking speed limits, driving drunk and using smartphones taking selfies or texting via apps!
So the stressed parents cover the expenses - at home and on the street, since the lack of work on the one hand and the high cost of housing on the other hand force young people to stay longer at home.
Ford is educating young drivers about the dangers of driving through the Ford Driving Skills for Life programme and helping parents with Ford My Key technology.
Young drivers are taking risks behind the wheel of their parents' cars - which they may borrow without even getting permission - speeding, using mobile phones and driving drunk.
These are the findings of new research carried out for Ford, which highlights the need for specific driver training in Europe, where road accidents are the leading cause of death for young drivers, and where financial pressures are forcing young adults to live at home longer.
The vast majority, 82%, of respondents drive the family car, 39% have broken the speed limit, 35% drive without parental consent, while 27% use smartphones for calls, texts or selfies. Finally, a whopping 6% drive under the influence of alcohol.
"Going back to the family home - or staying there all the time - can lead to friction between parents and children who are now adults," said Jim Graham, manager of the Ford Driving Skills for Life training program. "Young adults may see the family car as a ticket to freedom, or a base for social activities. But for their safety and the safety of other road users - especially if they are driving a faster car than they are used to - it is essential to ensure responsible driving."
In Europe, around half of young people aged 18-29 live at home with mum and dad. High youth unemployment and high rents contribute to this situation. Students often return to their parents' home after their studies - it is the so-called 'boomerang generation' phenomenon.
Of the respondents, 74% owns his own car but still drives the family car, mainly for reasons of economy, or to show off to his friends. For parents, this can incur significant costs. According to the survey, a young adult's stay in the family home can translate into costs of more than €4,300 a year - including additional insurance contributions, fuel and repairs.
Ford Europe has invested a total of €12 million in training through the accredited Ford Driving Skills for Life programme since 2013. The programme is aimed primarily at young drivers and offers free practical courses covering hazard recognition, vehicle handling, speed and space management. The programme also highlights the dangers of social media distractions such as texting and taking selfies behind the wheel, as well as the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or driving after taking drugs.
In addition to the Ford Driving Skills for Life programme, Ford offers Ford MyKey in its models.This technology allows parents to program the car's second key - the one usually given to their children - and thus configure various functions to make driving safer. MyKey can prevent the ESP from being turned off, prevent incoming calls while driving, limit the top speed of the car and turn off the sound system completely if the occupants are not wearing seatbelts.
Driving under the influence of alcohol
Driving after consuming medicines
