Almost a third of company car drivers say they don’t care about the emissions of their next company vehicle, despite the direct link between fuel emissions and tax, according to RAC’s 2010 Report on Motoring.

It also claims that nearly half (46%) won’t be looking for a smaller vehicle when replacing their current car, compared to a third of private motorists.

Instead, business drivers polled for RAC seem to be looking to Government to provide the setting for their driving behaviour to become greener, with 73% suggesting that better tax incentives would make them more willing to consider an eco-friendly car.

“While the views of company car drivers about environmental motoring are understandable, in that they clock up high mileage and often drive in city congestion, any company wanting to prove its green credentials may want to incentivise its workforce to select smaller and more environmentally friendly vehicles,” explained David Bizley, director of technical, RAC.

However, as it stands now just over a quarter (26%) say they will definitely consider a more environment-friendly model. For about half (53%), going for a greener vehicle is merely a “maybe” right now.

They are also marginally less likely to buy a car powered by alternative energy, with more than a third against it as opposed to three in ten of private car drivers.

Fleet drivers would rather see improvements to existing types of vehicle engines to help their efficiency, with 61% seeing that as the most viable option.

A similar number (62%) feel that teaching motorists how to drive more fuel efficiently is a sensible approach to green motoring. Supporting this, nearly a third (31%) say they are doing more to change their driving style in order to conserve fuel.

As a result of the findings in this year’s RAC Report on Motoring, the motoring organisation is calling for action that encourages motorists to drive vehicles which are more fuel efficient, safer and more reliable.

In addition, the company would like to see more information made publicly available on the running costs and capabilities of electric vehicles, calling on the Government to consider making charging points compulsory in all new building regulations and to take the lead in switching its fleet to electric vehicles wherever feasible.