Which generation has the worst drivers?
It appears experience plays an important role in how people behave behind the wheel, according to The Zebra.
When it comes to auto insurance rates, age isn’t everything but it is pretty high up there, with The Zebra reporting that premiums can drop by as much as 9% once a driver turns 20 years old.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), experience plays an important role in how reckless a driver is on the road. The NSC reported that people aged 16-19 account for less than 4% of all licensed drivers, but account for more than 9% of all crashes and 6.3% of fatal accidents.
It also appears that age is an important factor in how aggressive or conscientious a driver is, The Zebra reported.
For example, 29% of Gen Z and 27% of millennial drivers said they experience frustration behind the wheel very frequently or almost always. On the flip side, 43% of Gen X drivers said they rarely or never experience frustration when driving, a sentiment shared by 56% of baby boomers.
Younger generations are most frustrated when another driver cuts them off, while older generations feel the most frustration when someone is tailgating them.
The Zebra also found that younger generations more readily admitted to aggressive driving behaviors and road rage. Slightly more than 60% of millennials and 73% of Gen Z said they’ve driven aggressively or have succumbed to road rage in the past year. When it comes to these types of behaviors, 44% of baby boomers and 54% of Gen X admit to them.
Honking in anger was the most commonly reported bad behavior across age groups. The second most commonly self-reported behavior among Gen Z was making obscene gestures, while millennials admitted to having problems with distracted driving. The second most reported bad behavior among Gen X and baby boomers was changing lanes without signaling.
Older generations are more likely to partake in positive roadway behaviors, such as wearing a seatbelt, yielding to pedestrians, slowing down at yellow lights and avoiding distractions, The Zebra reported. Nearly 90% of baby boomers and 81% of Gen X reported positive driving habits, while 74% of millennials and 66% of Gen Z drivers said the same.
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