The government will have to overcome a significant tide of public opinion if its grand plan to tempt British motorists out of their cars and onto public transport is to succeed, a survey has revealed. Only one in five car drivers would ever consider switching to public transport, according to a survey conducted by Autocar, and most are prepared to put up with ever increasing costs to stay in their cars.Feeling against public transport runs deepest in the North of the UK, where 85% of those surveyed wanted to sty in their cars, compared to 26% in London. Younger drivers (aged 17-24) are less keen on staying in their cars; 30 per cent of those surveyed can see a time when they will not own cars and use public transport. The survey also reveals that, when looking for a new vehicle, the cost of ownership is more important than environmental issues. Respondents aged 65 and above placed the environment higher on their list than those in the 35 to 44 category, but few rated it more important than running costs."Our survey proves that, for most people, public transport will never be an option for everyday travel," said Autocar editor Chas Hallett. "People just don’t want to give up their cars completely." Autocar commissioned an IPSOS MORI survey of 1000 men and women in the UK.
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