IN THE DRIVING SEAT: PSYCHOSOCIAL BENEFITS FROM PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSPORT COMPARED TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT

To promote public health and reduce environmental pollution, the United Kingdom's current transportation policy emphasizes reduced reliance on private motor vehicle transportation. Paradoxically, epidemiological studies have consistently shown that car access is associated with longevity and better health. This study uses a mail survey of adults in Scotland to investigate the psychosocial benefits associated with public and private motor vehicle transportation. Results show that those with access to a car appear to gain more psychosocial benefits (protection, autonomy, prestige, self-esteem, mastery) from their habitual mode of transportation than do public transport users. Being a car driver conferred more benefits than being a passenger, except for self esteem, which was only associated with driving among men. Self-esteem was also associated with type of car among men but not women. One policy implication of these findings is that public transportation has to be made a more attractive, convenient and prestigious option which incorporates the benefits that people derive from travel by car (or that car access and use has to be made less psychosocially advantageous) in order to decrease car use and increase public transportation use.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13698478
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

  The Boulevard, Langford Lane
  Kidlington, Oxford  United Kingdom  OX5 1GB
• Authors:
  • Ellaway, A
  • Macintyre, S
  • Hiscock, R
  • Kearns, A
• Publication Date: 2003-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 217-231
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1369-8478
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13698478

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile drivers; Automobile travel; Males; Private transportation; Psychological aspects; Public health; Public transit; Social benefits; Surveys; Transportation policy
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00963384
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 30 2003 12:00AM