British drivers demonstrate behaviour and attitudes that are less environmentally considerate than many European neighbours, according to research from leading insurer AXA Insurance.
A consumer study among motorists in ten European countries has revealed that the British drive more frequently - and cover more miles - than many European counterparts.
When asked how often they have personally driven in the last year, motorists from Great Britain came second to the Irish with the Swiss least likely to drive every day. Only 65 per cent of motorists in Switzerland use their car every day.
• On top of which Brits are more resistant to ‘green' initiatives and are only really likely to make a change if it hits their pockets.
• 84 per cent of Brits drive every day compared with the European average of 78 per cent.
• 54 per cent of motorists in Britain drive more than 10,000km a year compared with 51 per cent in the rest of Europe.
• Only 19 per cent of Brits drive less than 5,000km a year compared with an average of 23 per cent elsewhere in Europe.
• 30 per cent of Brits are totally against a reduction of the speed limit to reduce CO2 emissions and pollution. In other European countries the average is 25 per cent.
• Only 16 per cent of British motorists would be very favourable towards a speed reduction to reduce emissions and pollution, against a European average of 19 per cent. 30 per cent of Italian drivers are very favourable towards the proposal.
• However, when it hits our pockets, Brits are the most likely to drive less. 76 per cent cite fuel increases as a reason for reducing mileage, against a European average of 64 per cent.
But once fuel becomes more affordable the British are among those most likely to slip back into old habits.
"It’s clear from our survey that environmental matters are less of a concern for British drivers,” said Tina Shortle, marketing director at AXA
Insurance
“But is that because we don't care as much or because our public transport system cannot always give us an equivalent alternative?
“AXA is committed to reducing the effects of climate change and establishing how we, as one of the world's largest companies, can make a difference in the markets in which we operate.
"We recently launched a new direct car insurance product and, as you would expect, offer discounts for driving less. But we will be looking carefully at how we might introduce further incentives for British motorists in order to reduce their CO2 emissions.
"Our study also looked at other features of driving behaviour and interestingly, the ‘green' results are in stark contrast to the other areas around safe driving and keeping within the law, where British drivers largely outperformed other European nations."
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