20% of drivers suffer from ‘green guilt’ when driving in cities

New research from Prudential Car Insurance finds that 20% of motorists experience ‘green guilt’ when driving in cities. Men and those living in the south-East are most concerned about their environmental impact and that those under the age of 24 show less concern.

Car dependency is very much pronounced in the survey as 57% describe driving in urban areas as a ‘necessary evil’, a choice which is made as 51% think the car is more reliable than public transport. The good news from this survey is that people appear to increasingly recognise the environmental impact of driving on the environment, but few are willing or able to make the leap and change their behaviour.  

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Are catastrophic warnings for travel the way forwards?

New research from the IPPR suggests that air travel and car adverts should carry a ‘cigarrette style’ warning about the environmental impacts of travel. Encouraging people to ‘think’ before they travel can only be a good thing, but to brand car travel warnings in the same way as smoking warnings is slightly misplaced. To start with there is an actual ’need’ to travel, certainly by car in areas with poor public transport access, where as there is not the same ‘need’ to use substances such as tabacco. The overall message of ‘too much travel is bad for you and the planet’ is reasonable and is similar to the health message of ‘certain foods such as chocolate should be eaten in moderation’. These are laudible approaches, to be encouraged, but insinuating that we can all ’kick the habit’ of car dependence through approaching it in the same way as smoking is naive – not everyone has the option to ‘kick the habit’ even if they desire to. Our report on Car Dependency found that 20% of all car-bourne vehicle trips could be eliminated, so it is possible for car dependency to be reduced in the right circumstances, but through a targeted and understanding approach. I am a member of the ‘Fostering Sustainable Behvaiour List Serve’ which brings together practitioners across the world to learn from each other. Recent debate centred around the value of portraying ‘positive or negative’ images to encourage sustainable behaviour has prompted me to write this post as a great deal of psychological theory suggests that portaying the ideal outcome is more aspirational to people than providing the doom and gloom scenario. One listserv member, from the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality pointed out that ‘In thinking about what should not be done, it stands in the way of positive possibilities’, supported with an exellent example of how Chicago Zoo has been using a positive approach to reconnecting children with the natural world around them.

A choice needs to be made on how to ‘get the message out there’ to encourage the responsible use of travel, whilst recognising the important role mobility plays in our daily lives. Not an easy task, but the doom and gloom approach leaves a lot to be desired. 

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Commuting…the stress continues but help is at hand

Travelling to and from work plays a significant role in the daily lives of some 25 million UK commuters (Labour Force Survey, 2007). The average person will travel 2114 miles per year for per year for commuting / business and a total of 198 trips are made for this reason alone (DfT, transport Statistics, 2006). Therefore new research from Nottingham Trent University emphasising the stress associated with commuting as well as some ways in which we try to overcome it will strike a cord with many.

The worst problems identified by commuters was a lack of space, loud music, delays and bad smells. Dr Williams said ‘Commuting stress us something most of us can relate to. It can affect a person’s physical and psychological wellbeing and can lead to conflict at home and poor performance at work’ (Scotsman, 20.04.07, p.20) . The report identifies nine ways commuters cope;

1. Self-generated audio coping (Singing / humming / talking to yourself
2. Planning for the day ahead or after work activities
3. Cognitive work (Reading, writing)
4. Emotional focused coping (anger at other commuters, admiring attractive people)
5. Phychological / medical support (Seeking counselling or medication to cope with stress)
6. Other generated audio coping (Listening to music or an audio book)
7. Oral gratification (Chewing gum, talking on a mobile phone, chatting with other commuters, eating)
8. Sustance use (tobacco and alcohol)
9. Religious / spiritual (meditating and praying)

14% of those who took part had low levels of resilience and therefore using simple coping techniques, such as singing, talking or reading had little effect. Results such as this, are interesting, but beg the fundamental question of whether we should be working smarter, such as working from home, or commuting outside peak hours to further avoid this stress altogether. National work from home day takes place on 18th May, and with working from home just one day a week having the ability to reduce congestion up to 20%, adding this smarter and more flexible approach to the daily 9 to 5 ‘beat the stress’ list would add to the stress survival rates of some 25 million commuters. 

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