Sustainable Travel

 Staffordshire's County Council's Green Travel Plan (PDF, 450kb)

The real cost of cars

Today's volumes of traffic are large and still growing. Most of us are lax in the way we travel - we use the car too much without thinking of the alternatives or the consequences. This has resulted in a number of serious problems to society. Broadly, these are:

• Pollution and congestion.
• Financial costs to businesses and families.
• Poor health and fitness, and rapidly rising obesity levels.
• Poorer social skills, social exclusion and less quality time with friends and family.

Pollution and congestion

Greenhouse gases:

• Carbon Dioxide
  The main 'greenhouse gas'. An average car produces over 3 tonnes of CO₂ each year contributing to climate change (video). 
• Particulates
  Fine particles carried deep into the lungs where they can cause irritation and inflammation.
• Nitrogen Oxides
  Cars are responsible for over 50% of emissions of nitrogen oxides. Can result in smog and acid rain. High levels of smog cause irritation of the eyes nose and lungs, and increase the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Carbon Monoxide
  Cars produce 90% of the CO in the air. It prevents normal transport of oxygen to the blood. Can lead to headaches, tiredness, stress and breathing problems.

Congestion:

• No one enjoys being stuck in traffic, yet today's journey times are longer than ever. We spend on average an hour a day travelling.
• For many, the frustration and inactivity of slow moving or static traffic results in high stress levels.
• Noise pollution from traffic affects concentration, mental health and sleep, and increases stress and blood pressure.

                                       
                                                "Unlock the Gridlock"

Financial costs

Costs to business:

• Traffic congestion costs UK businesses around £16bn per year. (CBI)
• Businesses spend about £12bn per year on transport fuel, with fuel costs likely to increase more than any other element of a fleet budget.
• Many working hours are lost due to employees involved in road traffic incidents.
• Between 25% and 30% of serious or fatal road traffic accidents involve someone who was at work at the time.

Costs to families:

• On average, 15% of household spending is on transport; almost as much as food or housing.
• Most cars cost above £50 a week (1999). Over only one year, this adds up to £2600!

Health costs

Respiratory illness:

• Illnesses such as bronchitis and asthma are exacerbated by vehicle emissions, particularly in congested areas.
• Up to 15million people in the UK could be suffering minor health problems caused by heavy traffic near their homes.

Obesity:

• Around 60% of British men and 70% of women are unhealthy due to poor exercise habits and inactivity. Adults should take a minimum of 30 minutes moderate exercise per day and children at least one hour per day. However, many children take much less than this or none at all. As a result, 56% of 16-24 year olds are overweight or obese.
• People who are overweight have more chance of acquiring linked problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer of the gallbladder, uterus, breast, cervix and ovaries.
• Being overweight can also lead to emotional problems, low self-esteem and depression.

                                         
                                                "Caution - Hazardous Waist!"

Social costs

Emotional cost:

• The emotional cost to families where a family member has been seriously injured or killed cannot be measured, yet there is a 1 in 200 chance of being killed on a British road in your lifetime.

Social exclusion:

• High levels of traffic = more roads. More roads = more traffic. This vicious circle stops people using the streets for socialising, increases loneliness and damages community spirit.
• Car parks take up land that could be used for parks and play areas.
• There is a range of evidence suggesting that excessive car use and its consequent adverse effect on public transport facilities can increase social exclusion in disadvantaged areas. According to the government's Social Exclusion Unit:

"People who are disadvantaged often experience serious difficulties in getting around. They are much less likely to have access to a car than the general population. Regular and reliable public transport services are not available in every community, are sometimes unaffordable for people on low incomes or simply do not take people where they need to go. Walking and cycling may not be suitable options for accessing services which are distant or in environments where traffic levels and accident rates are high.

Transport problems of this kind make a particularly significant contribution to social exclusion where they make it difficult for people to get work or to access critical services on which many depend, including healthcare, learning and shops. They can also contribute powerfully to feelings of isolation and insecurity and prevent people taking part in a wide variety of everyday activities."

Last Modified: 19/09/2008 08:57:53
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