Young and green - AAMI

AAMI Insurance
October 20, 2008

Generation Ys are known for their social awareness and this is reflected in young drivers' attitudes to 'going green'. The 2008 AAMI Young Drivers Index shows they are leading the way to a greener future, with environmental factors increasingly influencing young drivers' habits and shaping their decisions about how they drive, how they travel and what cars they buy. Young drivers are more willing to pay money to organisations to plant trees which offset greenhouse gases produced by cars.

Almost one in five (18 per cent) young drivers said they participate in programs to offset emissions produced by their car, while only 12 per cent of other drivers take the same steps to reduce their impact on the environment. And despite young drivers generally earning less than other drivers, one-third (33 per cent) said they would pay up to $50 to offset emissions, compared with 23 per cent of other drivers. While the research shows drivers 25 years and over are more likely to consider environmental factors when buying a car (53 per cent), almost half of young drivers (47 per cent) said they also factor the environment into their purchase.

Green Alternatives
Rising petrol prices are hitting young drivers particularly hard but it appears some are turning their economic loss into a win for the environment. According to this year's AAMI Young Drivers Index, almost two thirds of young drivers (62 per cent) said the increasing cost of petrol was forcing them to drive less, a figure slightly higher than for other drivers (60 per cent). And 64 per cent of drivers aged 18 - 24 said the rising cost of fuel had lowered their overall standard of living, compared with 58 per cent of drivers aged 25 years and over.

The research also showed young drivers were more likely to choose an environmentally friendly transport option. Half of drivers aged 18 - 24 said they shared trips whenever possible, whereas only one-quarter (26 per cent) of other drivers said they carpooled when they could, and more than a third (41 per cent) of young drivers said they used the car when necessary and walk or cycle where possible, compared with 40 per cent of other drivers. Young drivers are slightly more likely (28 per cent) to buy ethanol or ethanol-blend fuel than other drivers (25 per cent).

Sweeney Research conducted a telephone survey of 2503 men and women drivers, aged 18 years and older, in the following locations around Australia:

Adelaide, Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton, Batemans Bay, Bega and Ulladulla, Brisbane, Canberra, Central Queensland, Coffs, Harbour and Port Macquarie, Darwin, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hobart and Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle and Gosford, North Queensland, Perth, Regional South Australia Regional Western Australia, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Tamworth, Toowoomba and Darling Downs, Wagga Wagga and Griffith, Wollongong and Nowra

This research is supported by an in-depth analysis of car insurance claims lodged in 2007 by AAMI customers in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

Source: Amazines.com