Thursday 26th February 2004

The Car is Essential

Independent study shows poor people suffer through lack of acceess to cars

---

Access to a car is essential for full participation in work and leisure activities in modern society says a independent report.

The report, commissioned by the FIA Foundation and the RAC Foundation surveys policy approaches to transport and social exclusion in the 'Group of Seven' industrialised nations, and was coordinated by the Transport Studies Group at Westminster University.

Researchers have concluded that lack of access to a car is the main transport factor in the social exclusion of low-income households and other marginalised groups. The same social groups are also disproportionately affected by the air pollution, congested roads and accidents caused by other peoples' car travel.

On the link between transport and social exclusion the report also finds:

• Even in families which do not own cars more trips are made by car than by public transport; 

• Many on low incomes give up other basic amenities to keep their car and spend the highest proportion of income on running a car. UK drivers in the lowest income group spend 24% of income on motoring, compared with 17% of income in the highest income group. The poorest US households spend more than one third of income on transport, while the highest income group spends just 13% of its income; 

• Those in isolated rural areas, night shift workers, and many women undertaking multi-purpose trips are particularly car dependent;  

• Improving public transport in isolation is not enough to solve the poor accessibility experienced by disadvantaged groups; 

• Children in low income and socially excluded families are most at risk from road injuries, while benefiting least from car use. In the UK children in the lowest social class grouping are five times more likely to be involved as a pedestrian in a road accident as those in the top two social classes. In Germany, children in the lower social classes, particularly Turkish immigrants, are twice as likely to involved in a road accident as those from higher income groups.

Commenting on the study, Saul Billingsley, Programmes Director at the FIA Foundation, said: "A significant minority of people is excluded from the opportunities that society has to offer and lack of access to transport is causing or worsening their exclusion. For better or worse our modern life is structured around the car . The locating of workplaces, key services and entertainment, is often based on the assumption that people are able to access them by car. It is vital that policymakers address in a systematic way the links between lack of access to transport and social exclusion .

Edmund King, Executive Director of the RAC Foundation, said: "Improving public transport in isolation is not enough to solve the poor accessibility experienced by disadvantaged groups. We need to develop transport policies that consider the needs of all sections of the population and that take account of the location of key services such as health and education ."

Copies of the report can be found at  www.racfoundation.org

[B 7 VP]

92% of all passenger journeys are by the car, 6% are by Rail.The population of the UK know the car is Essential, and for some its a matter of Life or death.BUT--we are in the Minority, the Politburo thinks otherwise, and say we must desert the car for Bus & train as they do.What parasites.

[gh0st]

I only bothered to take my driving test BECAUSE the trains were so abysmal!!!

Memories spring to mind of waiting at Stains train station after leaving work at 5.30pm and not getting to Bracknell station until 10pm (usually 3/4 hour journey!!! )

>> Edited by gh0st on Sunday 29th February 15:30

[getcarter]

I picked up a hitcher this morning who was trying to visit his parents - needless to say there was NO public transport between the two villages (11 miles).

How long would it take to walk 11 miles (and back)?

He did however (and I quote) 'fall in love' with the car...

...always nice to create a convert.

[Mr E]

Holy crap, a 911 Turbo.

Remind me to hitch more often.....

[jacko lah]

Interesting that the most expensive cars in our car park are owned by those on lowest incomes. (Not including company cars)

Why ? Engineers and Middle managers have the brains and the ability to be sensible with their hard earned cash, and Assembly operators just live to the limit of their credit. There's a brand new 307 cc parked next to my 18 year old Cavalier, and guess what the owner works on the shop floor. (He's a good bloke, but he's not on big bucks although we do pay more than minimum wage)