RAC Report on Motoring 2018 the Frustrated Motorist
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RAC Report on Motoring 2018 The frustrated motorist CELEBRATING OF THE REPORT ON MOTORING Mark Souster, RAC Patrol #OrangeHero of the Year 2018 CELEBRATING OF THE REPORT ON MOTORING RAC Report on Motoring Contents Foreword 4 5 Vehicle use and choice of next car 66 Executive summary 6 5.1 Car use rising, not falling 70 5.2 Choice of next car: 1 What’s on motorists’ minds? 10 a confusing picture 74 1.1 The state of our roads 16 1.2 The behaviour of other drivers 20 6 Calls to action 80 1.3 The cost of motoring 22 7 Our campaigns 84 2 The state of our roads 26 8 Our successes 86 2.1 The condition of local roads 32 2.2 The strategic road network 38 9 Who is the motorist? 88 2.3 Congestion and journey 10 Appendix 89 times on all roads 40 10.1 Research methodology 89 3 The dangers on our roads 42 10.2 Statistical reliability 89 3.1 Mobile phone use: concern versus compliance 46 11 30 years of the Report on Motoring 90 3.2 Drink- and drug-driving 49 3.3 Speed limits and speed 12 Always innovating to awareness courses 50 help our members 92 3.4 Traffic law enforcement and the Highway Code 53 13 Company overview/Contacts 94 4 Air quality and the environment 56 4.1 Local air quality concerns 58 4.2 Policies to tackle pollution 62 3 RAC Report on Motoring 2018 Foreword Foreword More details at Wing Commander Andy Green OBE bloodhoundssc.com I am delighted to introduce the 2018 RAC Report As in previous Reports, road safety The range of pure electric vehicles is an important theme. There is still is improving and batteries will get on Motoring. This is the 30th annual Report and much debate about speed limits but cheaper, but without common charging like previous editions, tracks motorists’ changing (at the risk of stating the obvious) standards, investors in recharging speed must be appropriate to the infrastructure will worry they are opinions, priorities and concerns. road and the conditions. This is true buying the 21st century equivalent whether you are doing the school run of Betamax video. or trying to break the World Land As the quest for safe and In 1988, when the first Report on Bloodhound is generations ahead Speed Record. In October 1997, we environmentally sustainable road Motoring was published, the World of its predecessors, using the latest had to wait for several days of perfect travel continues, we should look to Land Speed Record stood at 633mph, jet and hybrid rocket propulsion, weather because our dry lake-bed ourselves for solutions, as Britain after Richard Noble’s heroic efforts controlled by multiple high-speed track was damp and inconsistent. remains one of the world’s leaders forced ‘Thrust 2’ to its limit in 1983. computers, with on-board video and We were about to set the world’s in innovation and technology. In 1997, new technical solutions data streaming to a global audience. first ever supersonic record and we allowed Thrust SSC to blast its way It’s been created as an ‘engineering This is the key principle of the needed the right conditions, so we to a spectacular 763mph, becoming adventure’ to showcase science Bloodhound project, as we engage waited until it was safe. This same the only car in history to achieve and technology. directly with more than 100,000 principle applies equally to driving a supersonic land speed record. students every year, and millions Road vehicle technology has arguably a family car. While the car may be Jumping forwards to the present, more online, to inspire and excite advanced even more dramatically, capable of reaching speeds of over Bloodhound SSC is now targeting them about the science, technology, with electronic systems finding 100mph, the national speed limit has the almost unimaginable speed of engineering and mathematics of the their way into almost every part of been set at 70mph for motorways 1000mph. world’s fastest car. These are the young passenger cars, making them more and dual carriageways to provide scientists and engineers of tomorrow, fuel efficient, cleaner, more pleasant an acceptable level of safety for all who will build the high-technology, to drive and ride in, and a lot safer. vehicles on the road. If it is dark, with low-carbon world of the future, and we However, the quality, capacity and rain and poor visibility, then the safe are grateful for the support of the RAC safety of our roads have not made limit may well be substantially lower. in helping to promote the work of the the same progress. Another theme that emerges from Bloodhound Project. Together with the continuing high costs this year’s Report is one of motorists’ Motorists’ own assessment of their of motoring and its environmental uncertainty on what is needed to dependence on their cars has hardly impact, these are key themes of this improve air quality in our towns and changed over the last 30 years and year’s Report. cities. How do we reduce carbon cars remain a central part of life for dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and most of us. As a result, this Report is particulate emissions? What type relevant to anyone that uses the roads of vehicles should we be choosing? and I commend it to you. While the Government has set the Andy Green OBE target to remove new conventional petrol and diesel-powered vehicles from showrooms by 2040, the path to get there is not clear. 4 5 RAC Report on Motoring 2018 Executive summary Executive summary The views of the UK’s Below is a summary of the key Car use has risen for the first time The dangers posed by other motorists’ findings in the 2018 Report: in four years. careless, aggressive or illegal driving approximately 40m remains a significant issue. 1 The top concern among motorists In 2018, 27% of motorists say they are motorists are of the is now the condition and maintenance using their cars more than in 2017, The use of handheld mobile phones utmost importance of local roads. while only 18% say their use has by other drivers at the wheel is the reduced; this follows three years where second most common concern this The state of local roads – in particular, to politicians, local a greater number of drivers reported year: 38% say this is one of their top road surface quality and the presence using their car less. Not surprisingly, four concerns, only slightly down from authorities and the of potholes – has become the most 33% of motorists say they are more 40% in 2017. The percentage of frequently cited concern among motor industry when dependent on their car now than a drivers admitting to using a handheld Britain’s motorists. it comes to developing year ago compared with 27% in 2017. phone while driving has not fallen in This year, 42% of motorists say the Of those who are driving more, 24% the last year despite the stiffer policies and plans condition and maintenance of local blame a deterioration in public penalties introduced in early 2017. roads is one of their four main transport services. for the future. The aggressive behaviour of other concerns, a significant rise on the 33% The 2018 Report on Motoring provides Of motorists who are in work, 62% motorists – which could include recorded in 2017. Almost one in five a detailed picture of drivers’ attitudes say their car is their main way of the likes of tailgating, undertaking drivers (17%) say this issue is their and opinions on important topics – commuting, while for motorists or even road rage – has been named number-one concern. from understanding the continuing with school-age children, 61% drive as a top-four concern by 28% of UK role the car plays in so many people’s Meanwhile, 78% of motorists believe to school – although only 18% of this motorists this year, while drink- lives to the condition and maintenance the state of both local and strategic group do not then go on to drive to driving is a concern shared by 27%. of the UK’s roads and the behaviour roads – major dual carriageways and work. This highlights how difficult it Sadly, the percentage of drivers of other road users. motorways – is ‘generally poor’; 66% is for the majority of those taking their admitting to drink-driving has risen say the condition of their local roads children to school by car to switch to The Report also compares the most to its highest level in recent years. has deteriorated in the past 12 months, alternatives such as walking, cycling recent findings with those from while 40% say the same of major or public transport. These findings are particularly previous annual Reports on Motoring roads. interesting in light of motorists’ views in order to highlight changes and on traffic law enforcement: this year trends in motorists’ views. The majority of drivers (83%) would there has been an increase in drivers like to see a proportion of the motoring The research contained within who believe they will not be caught taxes they pay ring-fenced to fund the Report is based on interviews if they break most motoring laws – maintenance of local roads. conducted with a representative up to 28% from 24% in 2017 – while sample of more than 1,800 drivers more than two-thirds (68%) think from across the UK. there are not enough dedicated roads police officers to enforce existing laws (up from 62% in 2017).