Ageing parents rely on kids to ferry them about, says AA
- Ageing parents are now 2.5 times more likely to rely on their children to drive them to appointments than five years ago
- Teenagers becoming less reliant on lifts from their family and friends
James Salmon for the Daily Mail
120
View
comments
Many parents grumble that they are used as a taxi service by their children.
But it seems the tables may be turning.
According to the AA, ageing parents are now two and a half times more likely to rely on their children to drive them to hospital appointments, shopping trips and other important journeys, than they were five years previously.
Ageing parents are now 2.5 times more likely to rely on their child for lift to important appointments than they were five years ago an AA survey has found (stock picture)
The motoring group analysed recent data from the Department of Transport, which showed 30 per cent of respondents in 2015 said relying on lifts from family and friends was a reason for not learning to drive.
This is down from 12 per cent in 2010.
-
A sickening waste: £180,000 of care kit including beds,…
Parking firm which took on top lawyer over £85 fine for…
In contrast, teenagers appear to be becoming less reliant on lifts from their family and friends.
Less than a quarter (23 per cent) gave this as a reason for not learning to drive, down from 30 per cent in 2010.
AA president Edmund King said it appeared the ‘mates’ taxi’ had pulled over to make way for ‘gran and grandads’ taxi
The AA said this ‘offers the hope of fewer multiple fatality crashes involving cars overloaded with young passengers’.
Its president Edmund King said: ‘It looks like the ‘mates’ taxi will have to pull over and make way for ‘gran and grandads’ taxi – payback for all the times parents drove their kids to school, sports activities and parties.’
He added: ‘The lower dependence on the ‘mates’ taxi is a hopeful sign. Among 15 to 18 year olds, 58 per cent of accidental deaths happen on the road.
‘Among young males in this age group, it is 55 per cent and a staggering 63 per cent among young women. The likelihood of dying in a crash is even higher when it is a car full of teenagers. It is such a tragic waste.’
Separate figures from the Department for Transport show that for the first time in recent years the percentage of people aged 70 and over with a driving license has dropped from 64 per cent to 62 per cent.
This decline relates almost exclusively to older men, dropping from 81 per cent to 78 per cent. The percentage of older women with a driving license has remained steady at 50 per cent.
Share or comment on this article
-
The chilling nod that betrayed a killer: Parents who… -
Police fail to find a ‘severed human head’ reportedly… -
Parking firm which took on top lawyer over £85 fine for… -
More than 70,000 brave fierce dust storm at Burning Man:… -
Wills rolls his sleeves up: Prince becomes full-time… -
Mother and daughter sleep on Alicante airport floor after… -
Heaviest rain in history: Catastrophic scenes in Houston… -
Police call for the Notting Hill Carnival to be banned… -
What should the West do? Trump says ‘all options are on… -
Lifting spirits: Texas woman breaks out into incredible… -
Jaw-dropping before-and-after images show WAVES rolling… -
Horrifying moment face-tattooed criminal ‘stabs’ himself… -
‘The worst is not over’: Texas governor says Harvey is… -
Furious mother blasts CNN reporter for interviewing her… -
Hungry hippos to the rescue! Incredible moment two… -
What not to watch before skydiving: Parachutist terrifies… -
Sickening moment Chinese man stabs and slits a kangaroo’s… -
Diana death driver could NOT have been drunk says her…
Comments 120
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.