Congestion will not drive most motorists onto public transport even if their journey time by car doubles, a new report suggests.

Only 7% would use public transport instead, though 28% of those who use the car for the school run would stop doing so if congestion got that bad.

"The report demonstrates how cars will remain an integral part of our society", wrote Transport Minister Gavin Strang in the report's foreword. It was produced by car services company Lex using results from a MORI survey.

Gavin Strang: 'The car should not be the automatic choice for all journeys'

One in four motorists would carry on with their driving patterns even if traffic-related pollution became a serious health hazard. Although 45% say they would use their cars less if public transport was better, as many as 66% of motorists never use trains and 69% never use buses.

Nonetheless, improving public transport is the option motorists prefer to reduce congestion. The main reason motorists give for not using it, is that it does not cover the route they want to take.

Only 13% support a city centre ban on cars, but if such a scheme were imposed the majority (55%) of drivers thought the money raised from such a scheme should go back into transport.

Congestion currently adds two and a half hours a week to work-related journeys, but it is set to get worse with the number of cars on the road set to rise by 10% over the next five years.

Women drivers behind rise

Women now buy 35% of new cars, according to the report, and with sales to males falling, they are responsible for overall rises in car purchases this decade.

Ten years ago, women bought 660,000 new cars, but this figure rose to 750,000 in 1997.

The number of two-car households grew sharply last year - rising from 42% in 1996 to 49% in 1997.

Men spend more time on the road, however - they currently drive an average of 11,600 miles a year, while women do 8,400 miles annually.

Pollution levels per car are also falling. Ten years ago, only 14% of cars drove on unleaded fuel, compared with 68% now, though the average age of cars is rising. It was 6.2 years in 1997, compared with 5.6 years in 1988.
 

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