STRINGENT anti-car measures would damage British business and an increased reliance on public transport would severely curtail people's freedom of movement, according to a new survey published on Tuesday by the RAC. The Centenary Mobility Survey found that the real challenge for public transport is to match the convenience, cost and cosiness of the car if Britain's dependence on it is to be reduced.

As well as the survey, the RAC conducted extensive interviews with 'focus groups', which concluded that while many people would welcome better public transport, most people didn't have the time to wait around for buses or trains.

RAC chief executive officer Neil Johnson said the organisation was no longer concerned purely with cars, but the broader issue of personal mobility, which meant tackling the problem of car dependence where more appropriate means of transport could be made available.