This literature review aims to examine factors that influence the development in the driver’s licence rate among young people in different age groups, socioeconomic groups and geographical contexts. The review suggests that the decline in the driver’s licence rate among young people observed in many industrialised countries, can be traced back to several factors: extended youth, increased urbanization among young people, improvements in the public transport supply, poorer financial ability among young people, changes in the populationchanges in the driver’s licence education/more complicated, changes in access to accompanied driving, changes in perceptions of and interests in the car/driver’s licence, and in priorities, increased use of ICT (Information and communications technology). The report aims also to review the research on trends, prognoses and evaluations of future developments in driver’s licence holding in these groups. The literature review also covers the international knowledge of what driver’s licence holding may mean for young people in different geographical and socioeconomic contexts, with respect to its impact on welfare. International knowledge on any links between changes in driver licensing and falling car usage among young people is another topic covered. Concerning welfare impacts, the research reviewed shows a clear link between driver’s licence holding, access to cars and gainful employment. This particularly relates to young people who do not go on to higher education. A driver’s licence acts both as a qualification which makes the holder more employable, and also facilitates (formally) the use of a car in applying for work and remaining employed. Research indicates that the labour market for young people has changed in a way which has increased this group’s dependence on driver’s licences and access to cars in applying for jobs and remaining employed. A small number of studies has been identified which have looked in some detail at links between falling levels of driver licensing and car usage among young people. Findings from these studies indicate that driver licensing, like car ownership/car usage, appears to be declining among young people on low incomes, and among young people living in urban areas with high density, land use mix and access to good public transport services. On the basis of current research results and level of knowledge, it is difficult to reach any conclusions regarding how the current trends of declining licensing rates, car ownership and car usage among young people will develop in the long term. The research does, however, suggest that changing urban land use and transport infrastructure planning, which reduce car reliance for all groups of young people, may result in these trends continuing and possibly becoming stronger, even if the economy picks up and youth unemployment falls. In order to make prognoses of future driver’s licence trends, there is a need for more country-specific research on the importance of the different factors in explaining the decline in driver’s licence holding among young people. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting