Older Drivers Prefer Cars To Buses

• News
• Published: 20 Apr 2009 in Motoring and Car Insurance

While young people are taking more public transport trips rather than in cars, older people prefer to keep using their vehicles, a report from the RAC Foundation has shown.

There has been a drop in the number of car trips taken by 16-29 year olds in the past decade, but this has been offset by a rapid growth in car ownership, usage and in the number holding car insurance policies among those aged 70 or more.

The report found car licence holding is greatest among those aged 30-69, while those aged 30-49 use their cars the most and drive for 69% of all trips taken.

A team of leading transport academics found the number of licensed cars has grown 30% over the past decade - from 22.7 million to 29.6 million.

Now 70% of adults now have licences and two thirds of trips are by car, especially short journeys, as car use accounts for 78% of all trips of 2-3 miles, and 80% of all trips of five miles and over.

Generally people prefer using the car to public transport, but 45% of people say they could reduce their car use.

Researcher Dr Karen Lucas from Oxford University, said: "Our research suggests that most people cannot envisage a future without their cars and many would go to considerable lengths to continue using them."