Programme updates

The third and final of this year's three RAC Reports on Motoring has launched today, investigating drivers' feelings on the effects of motoring on the environment over the past two decades and looking towards the impact of motoring in the future.

In RAC we have a vital and well-respected role in representing the views of our members - and with three reports produced this year to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the study, the views of members and motorists in general has been front of mind.

With the report showing that motorists are receptive to the idea of "green" motoring, motorists are calling out for technological development to create more efficient and less polluting engines, improvement and investment in public transport and investment in alternative fuels to generate an improvement over the next 20 years.

Testing motorists' acceptability of environmental incentives and penalties, the research also indicated that drivers would prefer "less carrot and more stick" when it comes to financial penalties and incentives, as well as campaigns to win their hearts and minds - as fiscal disincentives alone will not change attitudes and behaviours.

The report also investigates whether car use is sustainable and looks at what may done to reduce our dependence on this form of transport. For example the cost of motoring is currently of much greater concern to motorists than the environment and although this has changed their driving style (with two out of three drivers saying they now use their car less than before), the challenge will be on how to sustain this once the economic climate improves.

2008 is the first year the Report on Motoring is available online - very appropriate when one considers the environmental calls to action for motoring groups and Government.

• Visit www.rac.co.uk to read the full report online.