Some 40% of drivers say they have no feasible alternatives to the car when it comes to commuting, but for those living in rural locations the figure increases to 70%, new research from the RAC reveals.
Taking the bus to work is only seen as a viable option for 31% of drivers, rising to only half (50%) of drivers in town and city centres where public transport provision is most likely to be at its best.
For those in the suburbs, the figure drops to 26% before reaching a low of 11% for those who live rurally.
Consequently, the car continues to play a pivotal role in drivers’ lives. Some 81% of respondents say they would find it very difficult to adjust their lifestyle to being without a vehicle – a figure that has remained remarkably constant since 1989.
Drivers’ dependency on their cars increases with age, the data shows. While two-thirds (65%) of under-25s say they would struggle to adjust to life without a vehicle, among those aged between 25 and 44 years this goes up to 77%. The proportion then rises to 84% among those between 45 and 64 years, before peaking at 86% in those aged over 65 years.
Looking at some of the most common journey types, nearly two-thirds (63%) of drivers always commute by car, while 57% always drive when shopping for groceries. Forty-two percent always drive when taking their children to school, nursery or clubs while 40% always do so to get to or from an airport. A quarter (26%) always use the car when travelling to a mainline railway station.
In comparison, the proportion of drivers that walk, cycle or use public transport instead is tiny – just 8% of commuters do, while the proportion of those who do so when grocery shopping is just 3%.
In terms of why drivers are so car dependent, the answer may lie in the fact that just 29% of all drivers believe public transport is an attractive alternative to driving, up from 26% in 2023 and 23% in 2022. The rate is highest among the under-25 years at 41% and lowest among those aged between 45 and 65 years (25%).
Yet more than half (53%) of drivers said they would use their vehicle less if public transport was more convenient, reliable and affordable.
Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said: “Our research shows that the car remains central to so many people’s lives. While those in more rural areas are most car dependent, half of those in urban centres also don’t see public transport as a viable alternative for their daily commute.
“What’s more, while there’s a definite willingness to make greater use of alternatives to the car, driving is still the mode of choice when it comes to running errands or making leisure trips, possibly because drivers see it as the most time and cost-effective option.
“Car dependency also seems to increase with age. Young people clearly have a desire and, in many cases, a need to drive, but the convenience and freedom it brings seems to become more important as the decades pass.
“While the current Government is very focused on improving public transport across the board, we suspect the car will always be essential to many people’s lives.”
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