Photo: TheIndependent.co.uk
Despite the high costs that come with owning a car and the increasing levels of pollution that are constantly being mentioned in the press, Brits are too lazy to even try to make shorter trips by any other means than their car.
These are the findings of a new poll conducted by car buying website carwow, as cited by iNews. Motorists admit they could make many of their trips on foot or by bike or even public transport, and add that they’re simply too “lazy” to even bother.
Perhaps not surprisingly, female drivers are more likely to use the car to travel a distance less than a mile, as compared to men. Most respondents cite shopping as the main reason they get behind the wheel in the first place: apparently, the average distance for a shopping trip is of 4 miles, but 15 percent of respondents admit to going less than 1 mile to pick up “weekly essentials.” And they do so by car.
The majority of respondents cite convenience when asked why they use the car instead of any other means of transportation. Of them, 97 percent say they could easily walk the distance, 50 percent admit cycling is an option for them, and 45 percent concede they could use public transport.
As for the reasons they don’t ditch the car, 40 percent claim fear of running late, 56 percent cite bad weather, and 27 percent admit they’re too lazy to bother.
Dependability on the car is strong despite the costs and regardless of repeated warnings on pollution, or considerations like time spent stuck in traffic. According to Andrew Hooks, COO of carwow, this should be a sign for the UK government that improvements to the public transport are needed.
“We rely on our cars for so many things, no matter the length of the journey. Until public transport becomes a constantly reliable option, for many people there is simply no decision to make – the car wins every time,” Hooks says.
He adds, “That is why drivers need to feel reassured about the future of motoring, with so much confusion over [gasoline], diesel and electric at the moment. Only then will we see longer term decisions being made by motorists in the types of car they are buying, relative to the types of journeys they are undertaking.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, female drivers are more likely to use the car to travel a distance less than a mile, as compared to men. Most respondents cite shopping as the main reason they get behind the wheel in the first place: apparently, the average distance for a shopping trip is of 4 miles, but 15 percent of respondents admit to going less than 1 mile to pick up “weekly essentials.” And they do so by car.
The majority of respondents cite convenience when asked why they use the car instead of any other means of transportation. Of them, 97 percent say they could easily walk the distance, 50 percent admit cycling is an option for them, and 45 percent concede they could use public transport.
As for the reasons they don’t ditch the car, 40 percent claim fear of running late, 56 percent cite bad weather, and 27 percent admit they’re too lazy to bother.
Dependability on the car is strong despite the costs and regardless of repeated warnings on pollution, or considerations like time spent stuck in traffic. According to Andrew Hooks, COO of carwow, this should be a sign for the UK government that improvements to the public transport are needed.
“We rely on our cars for so many things, no matter the length of the journey. Until public transport becomes a constantly reliable option, for many people there is simply no decision to make – the car wins every time,” Hooks says.
He adds, “That is why drivers need to feel reassured about the future of motoring, with so much confusion over [gasoline], diesel and electric at the moment. Only then will we see longer term decisions being made by motorists in the types of car they are buying, relative to the types of journeys they are undertaking.”
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