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Motorists more dependent than ever on their cars despite concerns about the environment

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02/07/2010

New research into the attitude of UK motorists' towards how they use their cars reveals that while many motorists are more aware than ever of the environmental impact of their cars, they have become more dependent on them in the last year.

Car insurance expert, Admiral and market researcher YouGov surveyed 2,100 motorists on a range of issues as part of the annual Admiral Survey of Motorists. Admiral found the percentage of motorists who said they could live without their car has fallen compared with last year. Only one in ten said they could possibly or definitely manage without their car, down from 16% in 2009.

The survey also revealed twice as many motorists expect their annual mileage to increase over the next twelve months compared with those who expect their mileage to decrease. 14% said they think they will drive more miles, compared with 7% who said they think they will drive fewer miles.

However the increased reliance on our cars is partnered with an increase in concern about the environment from many motorists. Two out of five motorists surveyed said they worry about the damage their car does to the environment, 43% said the environmental impact of a car influences what they choose to drive and one in three motorists are willing to pay more for an environmentally friendly car.

Commenting on the findings of the research, Admiral managing director Sue Longthorn said, "It's clear from our survey that many motorists feel torn; they need to use their cars more than ever and find it hard to live without them, but they are also aware of the potential damage our cars have the environment.

"Interestingly it appears that women are more concerned about the environment than men. 47% of women said they worry about the damage their car does to the environment compared with 33% of men. That is quite a difference between the genders and suggests those promoting greener driving need to target male motorists more."

One factor which does affect how much we use our cars is the cost of fuel and Admiral also asked motorists about this. Perhaps not surprisingly, the vast majority of those surveyed think fuel is too expensive. 88% said we do not pay a fair price for fuel in the UK, while slightly more, 91% believe the cost of fuel will continue to rise during the next year.

Sue Longthorn said, "The huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has highlighted the reliance we have on fossil fuels, and the dangers involved with getting it. It's clear we have tough choices ahead; balancing the need to use our cars and the long term effect of increased motoring on the environment."

The 2010 Admiral Survey of Motorists is issued at the end of July. For more information, visit www.admiral.com/surveyofmotorists.

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