70% of drivers use cars for short journeys

03/12/1997

MORE than 70% of motorists use their car to travel less than one mile, according to new research from Lease Plan. The company questioned a cross-section of 100 people - both private motorists and company car drivers - with 11% of those questioned saying journeys of under a mile by car were a daily occurrence.

Another 18% admitted such a trip happened twice a week, 15% said at least once a week and 24% admitted to school journeys of less than one mile. The survey also revealed that 68% of motorists drove on a motorway to travel just one junction.

Amid concerns over the environment and the possibility of road charging, Lease Plan managing director Vahid Daemi said: 'It is clear that non-essential car journeys are responsible for clogging up roads. Traffic could be considerably reduced if car sharing was promoted by local authorities, schools and parents. For many companies the car is an essential tool. The key has to be a sensible and responsible approach.'