young people behind the wheel in the face of clichés

In counter discussions as on the networks, the “Kéké” is this driver who “in fact too”: a wing “the more it is big more beautiful, an xxl sound system for the oldest and an exhaust line producing a maximum of” pop & bang “, with the right driving … but departmental version. The study of the sociologist Maxime Duviau (University of Pau and the Adour countries) :: Loving your car does not automatically make you a “jacky” or a “kéké”. The problem is that the fear of passing for such a brake, however, some young people in the display of their passion. Or simply their simple need for displacement. Above all at a time when the car is already seen as guilty of all evils : pollution, noise, and sometimes aesthetic bad taste.

City vs. Campaign: The match of looks

Some young people therefore hesitate to display their attachment to the car for fear of being perceived as a “jacky”. However in rural areas, having a car is almost obvious: it is often the essential tool for going to work, study, or go out. And even without displaying a too showy aesthetic or an aggressive driving style, you can quickly attract labels. In town, the situation is different: the personal car is not necessary because there are transport. This match between cities and campaigns persists. Moreover, Having driving license is sometimes more experienced as a social obligation than an individual choice. Whether for a move or go on vacation, which is called? Whoever has the license!

Between freedom and responsibility: an assumed paradox

To love your car when you are young in today’s world is often to face a paradox. On the one hand, there is the pleasure of driving, the autonomy it provides, and this feeling of entering the adult world. On the other, the social and environmental criticisms that weigh heavier and heavier. For many, this link to the automobile has a strong identity dimension. The keys that we keep in the pocket are not just a mobility tool, they symbolize a section of freedom. And to give up the car is therefore not only to change means of transportation, it is sometimes to give up a share of oneself. This paradox is coupled with an economic reality: fuel, insurance and maintenance represent almost a fifth of the monthly youth budget. But does the carbon footprint and the accompanying moral pressure become even stronger?