Executive drive fails to slow the rise in car commuting

CAR commuting has reached its highest level since devolution despite efforts by the Scottish Executive to improve public transport, its own figures showed yesterday.

More people are getting behind the wheel to travel to work than at any time since 1999, but increasing numbers are also taking the train and walking.

The figures, from a survey of 15,500 households, come exactly a month after the spending watchdog Audit Scotland warned ministers they would fail to hit their target of stabilising traffic at 2001 levels.

New targets are expected to be announced when the Executive's national transport strategy is published next month.

The SNP blamed the "little progress" on the Executive making the wrong spending choices, while Friends of the Earth Scotland said the figures were "bad news for the environment and bad news for public health".

A total of 60.2 per cent of those questioned drove to work last year, up by almost 1 per cent on 2004 and more than 5 per cent on 1999. The proportion of car and bus passengers at peak times dipped slightly.

However, there was better news on tackling the school run, which is a key goal of Tavish Scott, the transport minister.

Fewer than 21 per cent of pupils were driven to school - the lowest for three years - with those walking and travelling by bus on an upward trend.

A new section of the annual survey showed those questioned were split almost equally on how roads should be funded.

One third backed some form of road charging, while a further third supported incentives for the greenest cars, and the rest backed the current road tax.

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said: "By the end of 2006, 70 per cent of the 1.5 billion we spend on transport in Scotland will be targeted directly at public transport. This kind of investment is exactly why we are seeing rising passenger numbers on our buses and trains."

FACTFILE: HOUSEHOLD TRANSPORT

Commuting to work:

Car 68%, walk 13%, bus 12%, train 4%, cycle 2%

Car commuters who could use public transport instead: 43%

Monthly spending on fuel by one-car families: 50

Monthly spending on fuel by families with at least three cars: 130

People who drive every day: Men 50%, women 34%

Peak age for women with driving licences: 33

Peak age for men with driving licences: 68

People driving in congested traffic daily: 11%

Travel to school:

Walk 53%, bus 24%, car 21%, cycle 1%

Cycling for pleasure: Men 6%, women 3%

Rail passengers who think trains run on time: 81%

Non-rail users who think trains run on time: 31%

Rail passengers who think fares are good value: 60%

Non-rail users who think fares are good value: 23%

Over-60s with bus pass: 81%