Half of young drivers copy their parents’ behaviour behind the wheel - including speeding and road rage

The survey of 1,500 young drivers and 1,500 parents of young drivers found that parental influence can continue well beyond the driving test. More than two-thirds (68%) of young drivers said they had caught themselves repeating a driving habit learned from a parent, while nearly three-quarters (74%) said they drive in a similar way to their parents. 

Parents themselves recognise the influence they can have: 81% said they have either a great deal or a fair amount of influence over a young person’s driving habits. 

When asked which behaviours were most likely to be learned from parents, young drivers identified: 

• Road rage (42%) 
• Attitudes towards road rules (40%) 
• Seatbelt use (32%) 
• Speeding (32%) 
• Mobile phone use (28%) 

Among young people who said they had copied a parent’s driving behaviour, the most commonly cited examples were driving confidence (41%), parking style (37%) and use of indicators (24%). However, nearly a quarter also pointed to speeding (23%) and overtaking behaviour (23%). 

The findings also suggest that young drivers closely observe their parents’ conduct on the road. More than half (54%) said they had seen a parent become frustrated or angry with another driver, while two in five (40%) had witnessed a parent exceed the speed limit. 

There are potential financial consequences too. More than four in five young drivers (82%) believe poor driving habits can increase insurance premiums, particularly if they result in points on your licence. They were most likely to identify speeding (61%), aggressive driving (47%) and mobile phone use (42%) as behaviours that could push up the cost of cover. 

Steve Ramsey, Car insurance expert at Go.Compare says: “Passing a driving test is only the start of a driver’s education. Young motorists continue to learn from what they observe on everyday journeys, whether that is calm, considerate driving or frustration, rushing and risk-taking. “Parents and carers should not underestimate their influence. Modelling good habits, like properly using indicators,  staying within the speed limit, and putting the phone away, can help young people build the confidence and judgement they need to drive safely and responsibly.” 

Alex Jones, Senior Training Manager at Bill Plant says: "Young drivers often inherit everyday driving behaviours from their parents, including speed choice, following distance, use of indicators, attitudes toward mobile phone use, and general levels of patience or aggression behind the wheel. 

"Parents are typically a young person's first and most frequent driving role models but unfortunately, parents often fail to realise that their children are watching them from a very early age and what they see becomes the ‘norm’. Parents often shape how young drivers perceive risk and young drivers exposed to cautious driving tend to be more aware of safety and may choose insurance policies that prioritise protection and telematics. Those who observe riskier driving behaviours may underestimate driving risks and be less motivated to seek options that encourage safer driving habits. 

"We find many young drivers initially copy their parents' driving styles because these behaviours feel familiar and normal. However, some consciously reject habits they view as unsafe, especially after professional driving instruction, passing their test, or gaining independent driving experience. The extent to which they copy or reject parental behaviours depends on their relationship with their parents, personal attitudes, and exposure to road safety education." 

To help families talk about safer habits behind the wheel, Go.Compare has created its Parental Driving Playbook, with practical guidance for parents and young people learning to drive. It is available to download here.