WHO WILL REDUCE THEIR CAR USE - AND WHO WILL NOT?

In a recent study (Stradling et al, 1999, 2000a) English car drivers were asked whether they would like, and whether they were likely, to use their cars and to use public transport more, the same or less 'in the next twelve months'. One third would like to use their cars less, one third would like to use public transport more - and 1 in 5 (19%) would like to do both of these. Unfortunately, only 3% thought they 'were likely to' do both. Thus a substantial minority of motorists are presently frustrated - stuck in their cars while the system grinds towards gridlock. The demographic and vehicle characteristics of the different segments were explored using SPSS Answer Tree Exhaustive CHAID analysis, allowing a profile to be drawn of the kinds of car drivers who are keen to reduce their car use - and those who are not. The study also suggested that there are (at least) six broad classes of car trip: (1) driving as part of work; (2) driving to and from work; (3) ferrying children around; (4) life and network maintenance tasks (e.g. shopping, visiting, evenings out); (5) life enhancement activities (e.g. hobby support); and (5) holidays and weekends away. These are arranged in probable descending degree of time pressure - or obligation to others - associated with the task. Two thirds (64%) of those in work (75% of males in work; 49% of females in work) reported that they drove as part of their work at least some of the time. And only 10% of those in work said they 'Never or almost never' used their car to commute. The Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill set UK targets for a reduction in total traffic miles of 5% by 2005 and 10% by 2010. It is suggested that different targets should be set, and that different strategies will need to be employed, for the reduction of private car traffic miles for each of these different kinds of car use. For the covering abstract see ITRD E113725.