Report on motoring 2003 - introduction

RAC’s Chief Executive Andrew Harrison states:

Combining in-depth research and insightful analysis, the RAC Report on Motoring is an essential guide for all those with an interest in roads, cars, drivers and driving in Britain today. Now in its 15th year, it offers a compelling account of the current state of the country's transport infrastructure and, crucially, how motorists themselves are faring behind the wheel.

Rather than producing a single volume as in previous editions, we have split this year's report into a series of individual studies, a decision which allows us to focus in much more detail on the most important issues of the last 12 months. This decision has also provided us with the opportunity to invite opinion from experts in these specialist areas and I am grateful to these commentators for their contribution to the reports.

RAC Motoring Facts, is a comprehensive summary of the key motoring-related facts and statistics. The figures starkly illustrate the huge changes that have affected us all over that time. Charting our increasing road capacity being outstripped by car numbers, the new demographics of today's driver, changes to journey patterns and driver behaviour, the report leaves no doubt as to the central role of the car in society today.

It is one of a series of studies issued in January. Making the Most of Britain's Roads reveals that motorists are more dependent than ever on their cars, but they recognise that congestion is an intractable problem that needs to be effectively managed rather than eliminated. Even so they are extremely unhappy about the state of many roads on which they travel. Journey planning is playing an increasing role in their lives as they seek to avoid the worst of the ongoing traffic problems.

Driving on Company Business covers issues specifically affecting the 11 million people for whom driving is part of their job. It highlights the increasing, and very welcome, prominence of work-related road safety among fleet managers but points out that the major issue is not the safety of the 'traditional' company car driver, but the safety of staff driving their private cars on company business. Driver training continues to be the exemption rather than the rule which may explain that, while most business drivers believe they are 'good drivers' they also admit to poor driving practices and low concentration.

Finally, the RAC Report on Mobile phones, published initially in November 2002 in response to Government consultation, charts the increased use of the mobile phone in cars, whether with a hands-free kit or hand-held, and finds the motoring public in support of the proposed legislation to ban the use of hand-held mobile phones.

These reports make clear that today, more than ever, it is vital for RAC to champion the interests of motorists. But this cannot simply mean rehearsing the familiar arguments of the past. As we encounter the continuing challenges of driving in 2003 we face increasingly difficult choices to ensure that we can still enjoy motoring and stay mobile for years to come. With our programme of research as its foundation RAC will remain at the forefront of these important debates.

My thanks to the RAC project team led by Harry Mirpuri, Ann Skey and Rebecca Bell and to Market Dynamics and RAC Design for producing the report. I am also grateful to Sample Surveys and Swift Research for conducting the studies and to David Leibling, who provided valuable editorial input.

I hope you find the reports useful.

Andy Harrison