Transport and economic development - Transport Policy and Planning in Great Britain - page 21

100%

90%

80%

70%

No car in household
Non driver (car in household)
Other driver
Main driver

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

1975/76 1985/86 1995/97 2006

Figure 1.9 Car availability amongst adults 1975/76-2006

of the household cars most), another driver or non-driver. During this period the
proportion of main drivers has increased from 31% to 55% (Figure 1.9). However
because of changes in licence-holding noted previously, the increase has been much
more marked amongst women than men (13 to 47% compared with 51 to 63%). It
is also worth noting that the rate of increase in 'main drivers' (or - possibly more
significant - the decrease in people without this level of availability) has slowed
significantly in the last decade.
The growth in the number of households where all adults are main drivers (i.e.
each has their 'own' car) not only transforms the mobility and independence of the
individuals concerned, it also feeds through into decisions on location and travel by
the household as a whole which are predicated on this attribute. We explore the nature
and significance of 'car dependence' when considering the potential for behavioural
change (Chapter 16).