Brake is launching a national campaign today (November 23) at the start of Road Safety Week which calls on drivers to drive less, live more.

The road safety charity is urging employers to promote safe and sustainable journeys; use eco-friendly vehicles, fuel, and journey planning; promote eco-driving techniques; and protect vulnerable road users.

Gary Rae, director of communications and campaigns at Brake, said: “Our Road Safety Week theme of ‘drive less, live more’ makes clear the link between improving road safety, preventing casualties, protecting people and the planet, and our choice of transport.

“We understand that not everyone has freedom of choice in the way they travel, hence we continue to have a strong year-round focus campaigning for a safer environment for walking and cycling through our GO 20 campaign.

“We also support the efforts of partner organisations that are campaigning for better public transport. But our main aim through this November’s Road Safety Week is to help people consider the options open to them, and better understand the benefits of driving less, to road safety, health, personal finances, communities and the planet.

“Road Safety Week has become the most crucial fixture in our calendar for raising public awareness of road safety, and it has also become a crucial fixture for many educators, road safety professionals, and employers around the country too.

“We believe this year’s theme is a critical one for all of us, providing a chance to show how road safety is a bigger issue than many people think.”

As part of the campaign, Brake and partners AIG and Specsavers Corporate Eyecare today reveal statistics confirming the effects on health and wellbeing of driving, including the extent of air pollution, the number of deaths it causes, and levels of ‘inactivity’ across different parts of the UK.

The survey of 1,000 driving adults reveals:

  • Eight in 10 (79%) admit to driving on journeys that could be made on foot, bicycle or by public transport.
  • A large majority of people surveyed see overuse of cars as a problem, but point the fingers at others: 75% think people use their cars too much, but only 30% think they are guilty of this.
  • 85% of those surveyed believe people overall should reduce car use, for a variety of reasons: 52% to reduce air pollution and noise, and half (50%) to protect the environment and stop climate change.
  • Significant numbers agreed their driving was detrimental to their own/family’s health (31%), and their family’s finances (28%).
  • The most commonly cited factor people said would help persuade them to drive less (37%) was making public transport in their area more frequent, accessible and convenient.

Road Safety Week 2015 takes place 23-29 November, with support from the Department for Transport and headline sponsors AIG and Specsavers.

A map of the UK showing statistics for each local authority is now live at roadsafetyweek.org.uk/drivelessmap.

Full survey results:

Survey of 1,000 UK adult drivers carried out by Surveygoo on behalf of Brake, September 2015:

Q.1 On average, do you think people in the UK use their cars? (tick one)
Far too much  28%
A bit too much 47%
About the right amount 25%
A bit too little    0%
Far too little 0%

Q.2 On average, do you think you personally use your car? (tick one)
Far too much 6%
A bit too much 25%
About the right amount 57%
A bit too little 10%
Far too little 3%

Q.3 Do you think people in the UK should reduce their car use, and if so, why? (tick as many as you think apply)
Yes, to protect the environment and stop climate change 50%
Yes, to make roads safer, especially for people on foot and bike 31%
Yes, to save money 40%
Yes, to improve public health 39%
Yes, to reduce air pollution and noise 52%
Yes, to help support local businesses 11%
Yes, to make their communities more pleasant and interact with people more 25%
No 15% 

Q.4 Do you think you PERSONALLY should reduce your car use, and if so, why? (tick as many as you think apply)
Yes, to protect the environment and stop climate change 28%
Yes, to make roads safer, especially for people on foot and bike 16%
Yes, to save money 36%
Yes, to improve public health 21%
Yes, to reduce air pollution and noise 26%
Yes, to help support local businesses 6%
Yes, to make their communities more pleasant and interact with people more 13%
No 38% 

Q.5 Do you think your own car use has any negative effects on you and/or your family, and if so, what? (tick as many as you think apply)
Yes, it is making me/us less healthy 31%
Yes, it is putting me/us in danger on the roads 12%
Yes, it is costing me/us too much money 28%
Yes, it is making me/us less likely to meet people and engage with the local community 11%
No 46%

Q.6 Do you think your own car use has any negative effects on society, and if so, what? (tick as many as you think apply)
Yes, it is contributing to making people less healthy because it creates pollution 38%
Yes, it is contributing to making people less healthy because it discourages them from walking or cycling 30%
Yes, it is contributing to putting people at risk on the roads 14%
Yes, it is contributing to costing society money, for instance because of road building costs or delays caused by congestion 21%
Yes, it is contributing to making our community less pleasant and/or sociable 15%
No 39%

Q.7 Would any of the following persuade you to use your car less? (tick as many as apply)
Driving cost more 18%
Public transport in my area was cheaper 32%
Public transport in my area was more accessible, frequent and convenient 37%
Walking and cycling in my area was safer and more pleasant 23%
More was done to convince me driving was harmful to me and my family 9%
More was done to convince me driving was harmful to society 4%
More was done to convince me driving was harmful to the environment 5%
Other people used their cars less 8%
None of the above - I will not/cannot use my car less 35%

Q.8 Choose the statement that most applies to you (tick one)
I never make journeys by car I could make by foot, bike or public transport instead 22%
I often make journeys by car I could make by foot, bike or public transport instead 18%
I rarely make journeys by car I could make by foot, bike or public transport instead 29%
I sometimes make journeys by car I could make by foot, bike or public transport instead 32%

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