Reliance on private car use on the rise, research shows

Reluctance to use public transport at its highest level in 18 years

Reliance on private car use on the rise, research shows
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More than half of UK drivers (57 per cent) say having access to a car is more important than it was before the coronavirus pandemic, research for the RAC’s annual Report on Motoring has found.

Two-thirds of drivers in three specific groups – young drivers, those with fewer than 10 years’ driving experience and people living in the capital – are all significantly more likely to say they need a car more now than they did before March.

When it comes to needing to use a car for work, a majority (64 per cent) still expect to drive to offices or other places of work in the future, a figure which is almost unchanged on the 67 per cent who said they did so before the pandemic.

Related: UK car parc is “older than ever” despite push towards electric vehicles

A little over a third of drivers (36 per cent) said they expect to work from home more frequently in the future as a result of the coronavirus.

Nearly seven-in-ten drivers (68 per cent) say a car is essential for carrying items like shopping, up from 54 per cent last year – perhaps partly driven by the rise in click-and-collect services and people carrying out fewer, larger grocery shops than before the lockdown.

Meanwhile, six-in-ten drivers (59 per cent) say the car is essential for meeting up with friends and family who live elsewhere in the country, significantly up from 45 per cent in 2019.

Related: Repair investment prompts 3.8 million owners to keep their car for longer

For the first time since 2002 fewer than half of drivers (43 per cent) say they would use their cars less, even if public transport was improved – down sharply from 57 per cent in 2019.

RAC data insight spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Even with lower traffic volumes, the pandemic appears to have reinforced the bond between drivers and their cars – with public transport less attractive than ever.

“Motorists see having access to a car as being even more important for the trips they need to make, be that shopping for essentials or getting out to see family and friends in other parts of the country when restrictions allow.”

Related: Millions of cars on UK roads with defective headlights, study suggests

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