- Nearly two-thirds of drivers still expect to commute in the
future
- Seismic shift in drivers’ desire to use public transport –
now at lowest level since 2002
More than half of UK drivers (57%) say having access to a car is
more important than it was before the coronavirus pandemic, with
reluctance to use public transport in the future at its highest
level in 18 years, 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%)
still expect to drive to offices or other places of work in the
future, a figure which is almost unchanged on the 67% who said
they did so before the pandemic. A little over a third of drivers
(36%) said they expect to work from home more frequently in the
future as a result of the coronavirus.
Despite the rise in home deliveries, nearly seven-in-10 drivers
(68%) say a car is essential for carrying items like shopping, up
from 54% 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-10
drivers (59%) say the car is essential for meeting up with
friends and family who live elsewhere in the country,
significantly up from 45% in 2019.
The research also shows the scale of the challenge to encourage
drivers to switch from their vehicles to public transport for
some trips even in a post-pandemic scenario – and if this was a
problem before the lockdown, it’s likely to be an even greater
one in the future. For the first time since 2002 fewer than half
of drivers (43%) say they would use their cars less, even if
public transport was improved – down sharply from 57% in
2019.Taken at face value, the declining appeal of public
transport seemingly represents a seismic shift compared to recent
years, and suggests drivers are more wedded to their cars than
they have been for a long time. It also reflects ongoing safety
concerns of using potentially crowded public transport systems.
The coronavirus aside, the reasons drivers give for not opting
for the bus, train or tram for some trips is consistent with
previous years. Nearly half (46%) say fares are too high (2019:
50%), 43% say services don’t run when they need them to (2019:
41%) and 41% say services aren’t frequent enough (2019: 41%). A
similar proportion (39%) complain that bus or rail lines don’t
run close enough to where they live or are looking to get to
(2019: 38%), while nearly three-in-10 (29%) report services just
take too long (2019: 25%).
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.
“Without a concerted effort from government and local councils,
the pandemic risks putting efforts to encourage drivers out of
their cars for some trips back by years. Even before the
coronavirus, drivers complained that public transport fares were
often too high and services didn’t run when they needed them to.
Now, for the first time since 2002, we have fewer drivers than
ever saying they’re prepared to use public transport even if
services improved – underlining just what a huge role the car
continues to play in 2020.
“As cities seek to improve air quality and make urban centres
cleaner places, it’s clear that low-cost, efficient alternatives
to the car need further thinking and much greater financial
investment. Park and ride sites make a lot of sense and cater for
the many people who are too far from regular public transport
networks, but perhaps now is the time for the concept to evolve
to encompass park and cycle, park and walk, or even park and
scoot.
“A failure to invest in adequate alternatives for drivers keen on
accessing town and city centres risks stifling the recovery of
these areas as shopping and tourist destinations as we eventually
come out of the coronavirus pandemic.”
Why do drivers say they'd find it so difficult to adjust
to life without a car? (Graph attached to the email)
Ends
Notes to Editors
* The RAC Report on Motoring is an in-depth view of driver
opinion and behaviour and has been running every year since 1989.
It is conducted among a sample of the driving public who are
representative of UK motorists. The 2020 survey was completed by
3,068 drivers.
