We talk a lot about Gen Z being digital natives, but it seems smartphones and Spotify playlists aren’t much help when you pull into a petrol station. A new survey has found that nearly two-thirds of 18 to 24-year-olds suffer from what researchers are calling “refuel anxiety” – and yes, it is leading some to literally run out of petrol.
The research, carried out by online car retailer Cazoo and reported by The Times, revealed that 62 per cent of young drivers feel anxious about filling up their cars. For context, that is almost double the proportion of the total 2,000 respondents, where just 39 per cent admitted to the same nerves.
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So what exactly is stressing them out? Beyond the obvious pain of sky-high fuel prices, young drivers said their worries included parking close enough to the pump, choosing the right type of fuel, and the actual mechanics of using the nozzle. In short, it is not just about money – it is the fear of getting it wrong in front of an audience. Hygiene concerns and the dreaded petrol station queue also made the anxiety list.
The consequences are real. Half of those with refuel anxiety admitted they put off filling up and let their tanks run “dangerously” low. A quarter even confessed they had run out of petrol entirely because they were too hesitant to stop. More than two-thirds of anxious respondents said they had asked a partner, friend or family member to fill up their car for them. Among all drivers surveyed, just over half had done the same.
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Harry Waring, a motoring expert at Cazoo, said: “Filling up may seem like a simple, everyday task to many. But our research shows it’s a genuine source of anxiety for millions of drivers, particularly those that are younger or less experienced. It’s not just about the rising cost of fuel but also confidence, social pressure and the fear of making a mistake in a public setting.”
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It is not the first time younger drivers have been linked with car-related nerves. Cazoo previously found that two-thirds of 18 to 28-year-olds had asked someone else to park their car for them, and a staggering 96 per cent said they felt anxious about parallel or reverse parking.
Combine that with government data showing that only one in four 17 to 20-year-olds hold a full driving licence today – compared with nearly half in 1989 – and it paints a picture of a generation far more comfortable navigating apps than forecourts.
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