Forget trains, Europeans would rather drive

The car remains the vehicle of choice for more than four out of every five Europeans, despite professed concerns about environmental impact. And even when they do change their travel habits, 57% still turn their noses up at public transport, according to a new EU survey.

But just over half (54%) say they would be prepared to pay more for less environmentally harmful transport, whether public or private. Being prepared to spend money on a problem is a good index of how seriously it is taken. But the longer, harder option of mass behavioural change is clearly still some way away.