Motorists take greener stance on car use

New research of over 3,000 British motorists reveals we are becoming increasingly environmentally aware, with four in ten of us concerned about the affect our car has on the environment. And it shows a big jump in the number of motorists using public transport.

Car insurance expert, Admiral surveyed 3,167 UK motorists for its annual Survey of Motorists. It found the percentage of motorists who have used public transport frequently has gone from 14% in 2008 to 23% this year. While only 41% say they haven't used public transport, compared with 56% last year.

Car sharing is also on the up. In 2008 just 19% of motorists who travel to work by car shared their space with at least one other passenger. This year 24% said they car share.

Admiral Managing Director, Sue Longthorn, said, "Motorists are notoriously reluctant to consider other ways of travelling. Our research shows there has been a big shift over the last twelve months in the percentage of them willing to change their habits.

"15% more motorists have taken public transport compared with last year. This could be down to the recession - the fact that cars can be seen as a personal luxury and by cutting back on car use, you can save a bit of money."

This view is echoed in the response to another question in Admiral's survey. When asked how motorists feel about their car, the percentage who said they think they could possibly or definitely live without their car rose from 11% in 2008 to 16% this year.

Admiral's research also shows many more motorists are influenced by environmental factors when using their cars. 43% said they worry about the damage their car does to the environment, up from 36% in 2008. Four out of ten even went as far as to say the environmental impact influences their choice of car.

Six out of ten motorists said they would consider buying a hybrid or electric car, although only 32% would be happy to pay more for an environmentally friendly car.

Sue Longthorn, said, "The motor industry has had to wake up to the impact motoring has on the environment and to the fact that oil is a finite resource. It would seem that this message is also getting through to many motorists, I doubt if you asked motorists ten years ago if they worried about the environment, you'd have found nearly half of them saying they did. We have definitely seen a shift in opinion among motorists on the environment."