Survey reveals 5 biggest
concerns of motorists
22 June 2011
by Janice May
In the RAC annual report on motoring 2011, in which the views and
driving choices from a survey of over a thousand motorists are
reported, the high cost of running a car remains their primary concern.
The high cost of motoring
Thirty-two per cent cited the high
cost of motoring as their main worry. The other issues in the top five
concerns were drink-driving; the condition and maintenance of roads;
driving without road tax or car insurance;
and hand-held mobile phone use when driving.
Over three-quarters believed that the Government is treating the
motorist as a 'cash cow'. Only 1% believed that what the survey called
'the [Government's] war on motorists' had ended although 8% thought
that the Government's intention was to end that war but that they have
yet to do so.
The report shows that not only do rural residents drive more than town
and city dwellers but that in the absence of public transport
alternatives, they have little choice and therefore cannot easily
reduce their annual mileage to reduce costs.
Many had reduced their car use, with 38% using public transport more
for short journeys and 32% using it more for long journeys.
Of rural dwellers who had been able to reduce their motoring, they were
more likely to have done so for financial reasons than urban residents.
The scourge of drink-driving
As regards drink-driving, we are a
nation with a strong cultural attachment to alcohol and it is no
surprise that drink-driving is a prevalent problem. In the survey, 16%
of motorists knew or suspected that they had driven over the legal
alcohol limit during the last year. Only 18% of the survey sample
supported maintaining the current drink-driving limit of (the breath
test equivalent of) 80mg (per 100ml of blood) compared to 24% that want
a 50mg limit (as used by many European countries). A large proportion,
42%, favoured a 'no drinking at all before driving' model and wanted a
zero limit.
Given the public support for reducing the drink driving limit, it is
regretable that the Government did not recently reduce it despite the
recommendations of the North Report, as well as other stakeholders and
opinion leaders.
The poor condition of roads
The survey found that 84% wanted
the maintenance of current local roads to be prioritised while 71%
wanted targeted improvements to local roads. While these numbers are
high, when the public is asked which publically-funded areas they want
the Government to target for increased spending, it is always health
and education, with only 2% seeing investment in roads as a
Government priority.
There was very little support for prioritising an increase in airport
capacity or of high-speed rail links.
Untaxed and uninsured drivers
Motoring is costly. Road tax and
car insurance are a significant part of that cost. At present,
£30 per car insurance policy funds compensation for unnsured
driver accidents and motorists are not happy that they are put at a
financial disadvantage when behaving legally and responsibly by those
that are not.
That continuous insurance enforcement has now been introduced (just two
days ago) will go a long way towards reducing the numbers of uninsured
drivers on our roads and motoring organisations, the insurance industry
and the public themselves have welcomed this move.
Mobile phone use while driving
27% of drivers admited to use of a
mobile phone without a hands-free kit. Looking at just 17-44 year olds,
this figure was 38%. 24% of young drivers quaetioned admitted to using
email or visiting Facebook and other social networking websites while
driving.
The numbers of drivers distracting themselves in this way has been
increasing. It would appear that the more drivers get away with it or
witness others doing so, the more willing they are to do it themselves.
Speed limit changes
The survey also looked at people's
views on current speed limits. There is considerable support for
raising the speed limit on motorways, but the desire for higher limits
on other roads has reduced compared to previous surveys.
75% would like to see a motorway limit of more than 70mph but only 16%
want to raise the speed limit in 30mph zones. The public is generally
aware of the increased number of child deaths associated with higher
speed impacts, the most likely explanation for the latter finding. The
larger number in favour of a higher motorway speed limit is consistent
with the view that more would be likely to observe it, so reducing
numbers speeding above 80mph (assuming that was the new limit).
A greater degree of police enforcement of speed limits and the
introduction of speed limiting technology to cars were the most
favoured ways to reduce speeding.
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