Car ownership has increased by 30% in the last decade, against population growth of just 4%, according to a new RAC Foundation report.
The report found that the biggest recent growth in ownership was among the poor and older people, with almost half of the 20% poorest families owning at least one car. However, car use has stabilised, perhaps due to the changing nature of the car-driving population, or because traffic congestion has deterred some from using cars, the report suggest.
The RAC Foundation concludes that UK motorists are car reliant rather than addicted, and urges the Government to consider the social and economic consequences of trying to reduce car use to cut carbon emissions.
Stephen Glaister, RAC Foundation director, said: ‘Given so many people do few miles by car and generate low levels of CO2, the chancellor should shift emphasis away from taxing people on what they own, to what they use. This is likely to be through national road pricing. The trade off for drivers would be the abolition of road tax and fuel duty, and more spending on the road network.’
The report found that ‘soft’ transport policy trialled in three areas of England had resulted in an average reduction of car use by 12%. Glaister added: ‘It is a myth to claim public transport is the magic answer. The Government’s emphasis on high speed rail ignores the reality of most people’s lives.’
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