82% of Irish motorists don’t trust Gen Z drivers, survey finds

Ottoline Spearman

Irish motorists stand out globally for being particularly cautious of younger Gen Z drivers, a new survey has found.

Gen Zers - those under 25-  are seen as the riskiest drivers on the road by 82 per cent of the Irish motorists surveyed.

Scrap Car Comparison surveyed more than 3,500 drivers across 18 countries to explore how age shapes global attitudes to driving skill, confidence and safety.

It found that older millennials, aged 35-44, are crowned Ireland's most trusted drivers by almost half of respondents (44 per cent).

When it comes to patience, 69 per cent of those surveyed in Ireland believe that drivers over 75 are the slowest on the road, more than in any other country.

Only 39 per cent of people feel safe with an 80+ driver behind the wheel, which is higher than the global average of 18 per cent.

Nearly half (48 per cent) of all drivers globally think people should stop driving in their 70s, whereas in Ireland, the majority (54 per cent) answered they should stop in their 80s.

However, 74 per cent of respondents said experience, not age, is what makes a truly safe driver.