Over two thirds of Irish people believe that improving public transport is the best way to solve traffic problems in Irish cities, an EU survey has found.
An opinion poll conducted throughout the EU and published today reveals Ireland has the third highest percentage in the 27 member states of people who use a car as their main mode of transport and one of the lowest levels of public transport use.
European Commissioner for Transport Jacques Barrot
A third of Irish people who took part in the Eurobarometer survey said they would be more likely to use public transport instead of their cars if services were more frequent.
Almost a quarter would leave their cars at home if public transport was available closer to where they live.
The Eurobarometer survey reveals that Irish people were also most in favour of tax incentives to purchase fuel-efficient cars.
Ireland has one of the highest levels of car ownership in the EU - about 92 per cent of households have a car, the survey says.
Only 2 per cent of people in Ireland use a bicycle as their main mode of transport compared to 40 per cent in the Netherlands.
According to the survey, more than three quarters (78 per cent) of the population of the EU 27 member states was of the opinion that the type of car people drive and the way they drive it actually exerts a significant influence on their area's environment.
"At the same time, one-fifth (19 per cent) of the population of the EU27 is of the contrary opinion, believing that the above factors have no influence on their respective environment."
Just 13 per cent of people in Ireland think that restrictions for cars and trucks in the city centre would make any difference to traffic congestion, the survey shows.
Nearly two thirds would be prepared to pay more for transport that would cause less pollution such as energy efficient vehicles or clean fuels. The survey also found that most Irish people would like to see the money collected from such schemes invested in public transport and in improvements to road infrastructure.
When asked about the best way to reverse the increase in CO2 emissions from road transport, Irish people were most in favour of tax incentives to encourage the purchase of fuel-efficient cars.
The European Commission, which published the survey, said it showed a high level of awareness among Irish people of the environmental impact of transport.
"This survey clearly shows that mobility is an essential part of EU citizens' lives and that they expect a high quality and reliable transport system," said European Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot.
"We are working for a transport policy focused clearly on our citizens' needs and expectations as reflected by this poll: better environmental protection, higher levels of safety, less congestion in big cities and stronger rights as consumers."