BBC Radio 5 Live Transport Survey

ComRes interviewed 1,002 British adults by telephone between 22nd and 24th November 2013 on the subject of transport for BBC Radio 5 live.

Date Published: 02 Dec 2013

Categories: Public and communities | Social | Transport | UK

Description

BBC Radio 5 live can exclusively reveal that 4 in 10 car owners say they have cut down on driving because of the cost of motoring, expanding existing airports, other than Heathrow, is the most popular way to address the issue of airport capacity and the majority of people are against building HS2.

 

BBC Radio 5 live commissioned ComRes to carry out a recent survey to understand attitudes to transport ahead of BBC Radio 5 live: Phil Williams: Are we there yet?* A series of programming this week looking at the big decisions needing to be made affecting Britain's transport network over the next thirty years. ComRes interviewed 1,002 British adults and discovered:

 

1.    4 in 10 car owners (41%) say they have cut down on driving because of the cost of motoring

2.    Expanding existing UK airports - other than Heathrow - is the most popular way to address the issue of airport capacity, supported by a third of people (34%).  Not expanding the number of runways at any airport was supported by just over a quarter of people (28%), whereas, when given a range of options, fewer than one in six backed either a third runway at Heathrow or a new Thames Estuary airport (both 16%)

3.    Majority of people are against building HS2 – 52% oppose the plans, compared to 38% who support them

4.    Most popular area of transport people think is most in need of improvement is roads (52%).  Only 3% think air travel is most important priority.

 

Please find full survey results attached. Please feel free to use this data in your publication and online. Please credit Phil Williams, BBC Radio 5 live, Monday 2 December, 10.00pm in any coverage or data used.

 

*Monday 2 December to Wednesday 4 December: Phil Williams:  Are We There Yet?

 

From HS2, to the third runway at Heathrow, to the cost of driving...  Britain has some big decisions to make that will affect the future of our transport network over the next thirty years and BBC Radio 5 live will be looking at the multi-billion pound choices we face.

 

Over three evenings, Phil Williams will take his programme round the country to find out what we need to do to keep Britain moving.  He’ll be asking listeners and experts where the vast sums of money should or shouldn't be spent. Phil will broadcast his show live from three of the key locations involved in the debate over the future of transport:

•       Heathrow Airport, to look at the options for airport expansion (Monday 2 December)
•       Birmingham New Street Station, to look at the debate around HS2 (Tuesday 3 December)
•       A14 service station, where Britain's first toll road in ten years is planned, to look at the cost of motoring and road infrastructure (Wednesday 4 December)

 

Phil will talk to the decision makers and the people most affected.  

 

ComRes interviewed 1,002 British adults by telephone between 22nd and 24th November 2013. Data were weighted to be representative of all UK adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.