8 out of 10 drivers would struggle to adjust to life without a vehicle, according to a new study
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8 out of 10 drivers would struggle to adjust to life without a vehicle, according to a new study: A recent survey has revealed the extent to which UK motorists depend on their vehicles for work and leisure activities, with the majority (81%) of those polled admitting they would struggle without a car. According to the report's authors, this figure has not changed since the question was first put to motorists in 1989.
The report also highlighted how two-fifths (40%) of drivers simply do not consider public transport to be a viable alternative to their vehicle. This sentiment was especially pronounced among motorists in rural areas, where nearly three-quarters (70%) believe that public transport is just not a credible option.
The study, conducted by Online95 for the RAC Report on Motoring 2024, surveyed a representative sample of 1,925 UK motorists. Just under two-thirds (61%) reported they always commute by car, while just three in ten (30%) think taking the bus to work would be a practical alternative. A remarkably small fraction of motorists—only 8%—choose to walk, cycle, or rely on public transportation for their daily commute to work.
The study also shows how heavily motorists rely on their cars aside from commuting to work, with over half (57%) admitting they always use their car for grocery shopping, 42% for the school run and /or after school activities, while four in ten(40%) said they always travel to the airport by car.
The survey also found that the older the driver, the more reliant they were on their car. While just over two-thirds (65%) of under-25s said they would struggle without a vehicle, the same was true for 86% of those over 65.
When asked about using public transport, less than a third (29%) of motorists polled would consider public transport as an alternative to driving. However, that figure rose to 53% if public transport was more “convenient, reliable and affordable.”
RAC spokesperson Simon Williams said: “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.”
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