Environmental impact not taken seriously

Motorists don't believe car makers are tackling the environmental impact of driving, according to a new survey.

Of the 1000 drivers questioned in the poll for the Good Business consultancy, 61% thought that the industry did not take the impact of cars on the environment seriously.

However, that goes against what the car industry says it has done to reduce its harmful effect on the environment.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT):
New diesel cars emit 95% less soot from the tailpipe than those made 15 years ago
Average new car CO2 emission have been cut by 19% since 1997
The energy needed to produce each vehicle is down 12% compared with that in 2006
CO2 emissions per vehicle produced have fallen 14% in the past year and by 45% since 1999

The Good Business survey also revealed how people are changing their driving habits:

• 69% said that they had cut the number of car journeys they'd made over the previous year
• 46% said they no longer used a car for local shopping trips
• 37% said efficient petrol cars will be their most likely next purchase
• 27% said hybrid cars would be their most likely purchase

Giles Gibbons, CEO of Good Business, said: 'Climate change and the impact of the environment are clearly the overwhelmingly important issues for car makers to address. Pressure to keep improving their environmental credentials is only going to get stronger.'