Pollster Find Out Now and election experts Electoral Calculus have run a poll on motoring restrictions on behalf of the Property Chronicle. This poll, involving 2,118 respondents, was carried out from 15-16 May.
Firstly, we asked our panel if they thought that people use their cars too much.
| Response | All Respondents | Those with a car | Those without a car | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do you agree or disagree that people use their cars too much? | Agree | 46% | 43% | 57% |
| Neutral / Don't know | 38% | 39% | 36% | |
| Disagree | 15% | 19% | 6% | |
| Net agree | +31% | +24% | +51% |
(Excludes those who declined to answer.)
All respondents, including those with a car, think that people use their cars too much.
Note that most people (74%) live in a household with at least one car or van.
Next, we asked if people were in favour of rules to reduce car usage.
| Response | All Respondents | Those with a car | Those without a car | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do you agree or disagree that local councils, mayors and parliament should set rules to make people drive less? | Agree | 17% | 13% | 31% |
| Neutral / Don't know | 25% | 22% | 37% | |
| Disagree | 57% | 66% | 33% | |
| Net agree | -40% | -53% | -2% |
(Excludes those who declined to answer.)
A clear majority of respondents was against local or central government setting rules to reduce driving. This was particularly marked for the majority of people who have a car.
Then, we asked if people thought that politicians are already making things too difficult for motorists.
| Response | All Respondents | Those with a car | Those without a car | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do you agree or disagree that politicians are making things too difficult for motorists? | Agree | 51% | 58% | 27% |
| Neutral / Don't know | 34% | 29% | 49% | |
| Disagree | 16% | 13% | 24% | |
| Net agree | +35% | +45% | +3% |
(Excludes those who declined to answer.)
Half of respondents think that politicians are making things too difficult for motorists and only a sixth of people disagree. Even for those without a car, slightly more people agree than disagree.
Finally, we asked people whether they supported or opposed a range of traffic reduction measures which have been implemented or proposed by local or central government.
| Measure | All Respondents | Those with a car | Those without a car | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Which of the following traffic reduction, or anti-car, measures do you support/oppose?'
[Net Support minus Oppose] | Low-traffic neighbourhoods (blocking vehicles on side roads) | -15% | -24% | 10% |
| Lower speed limits, eg 20mph in towns | +12% | 6% | 31% | |
| Reduction in car parking spaces | -54% | -62% | -32% | |
| Congestion charging zones | -26% | -35% | 1% | |
| Speed cameras | +23% | 19% | 35% | |
| Emission zones, which charge older vehicles to enter | -22% | -31% | 3% | |
| Blocking vehicles from moving between different parts of a city | -47% | -52% | -33% |
The public are net against:
But the public are in favour of
Chris Holbrook, CEO of Find Out Now: "Public opinion suggests a widespread belief that car usage is excessive, but there is strong opposition to measures aimed at reducing it. Surprisingly, support for lower speed limits and speed cameras remains, while regional and demographic differences reveal variations in attitudes towards car freedom."
Martin Baxter, CEO of Electoral Calculus: "Car drivers are the vast majority of the adult population, but they don't like all the new anti-car traffic reduction measures which councils are introducing. There seems to be a disconnect between the people and their representatives on the issue of the right to drive."
Find Out Now polled 2,118 GB adults online between 15 − 16 May 2023. The sample was weighted to be representative by gender, age, social grade, other demographics and past voting patterns. Find Out Now and Electoral Calculus are both members of the British Polling Council and abide by its rules.
Data tables are available here.