TWO out of five drivers say they have no feasible alternatives to the car for getting to work, a new survey suggests.
For those living in rural locations the figure rises to 70 per cent.
The RAC, which commissioned the poll, said the Government is “very focused on improving public transport” but its research shows the car “remains central to so many people’s lives”.
Taking the bus to work was only seen as a viable option for a third of drivers, rising to 50 per cent for residents of town and city centres where public transport provision is generally highest.
More than four out of five respondents said they would find it very difficult to adjust their lifestyle to being without a vehicle.
The RAC said that figure has remained “remarkably constant” since it began asking drivers that question in 1989.
On Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it is “extremely hard” to be a motorist “on a modest income” and that “we need to drive down the cost of motoring”,
Meanwhile, the RAC survey suggests dependency on cars increases with age.
The proportion of drivers saying they would struggle to adjust to life without a vehicle rose to 86 per cent for those aged 65 and over.
More than half of drivers (53 per cent) said they would use their vehicle less if public transport was more convenient, reliable and affordable.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Our research shows that the car remains central to so many people’s lives.
“While those in more rural areas are most car dependent, half of those in urban centres also don’t see public transport as a viable alternative for their daily commute.
“While the current Government is very focused on improving public transport across the board, we suspect the car will always be essential to many people’s lives.”
