Access to a car and the ability of more people – especially women – to drive them has increased significantly over the past decade.

According to findings from the 2007 National Travel Survey, which have just been released by the Department for Transport, the proportion of households that do not have access to a car has fallen from 30 to 25% over the past decade, while the proportion of households with two or more cars has increased from 25 to 32%.

There are now significantly more households with at least two cars than households with no car.

Over the same 10-year period, the proportion of men with a driving licence has remained relatively stable, at around 80% but it has increased among women from 57 to 63%.

In addition, those aged 70 and over who hold a licence to drive has increased from 38 to 52%.

In 2007, 58% of respondents said they walked 20 minutes or more at least once a week, although 24% said they did this less than once a year or never.

Not surprisingly, 90% of households in rural areas have access to a car.

Car access declines in more urban areas, being lowest in London where 57% of households had access to a car.