Neither climate discussion nor high prices can harm the popularity of the car in Germany. In the annual mobility survey of the HUK Coburg, the car even gained in popularity compared to previous years: 75 percent of the 4,222 participants called the car as the means of transport they preferred for the next few years. That was three percentage points more than a year ago, and considerably more than during the Corona pandemic, during which the values were temporarily under 70 percent.
Train and bus still far behind the car
In the common cities of the car, the popularity of the car has even increased even more than in rural regions with less traffic. Although the bus, railway and bicycle also won compared to the previous survey a year ago, they are still far behind motorized private transport with popularity values of well below 20 percent.
Environmental protection plays only a small role
Whether the engine produces exhaust gases or not therefore does not play a significant role for the vast majority. The HUK also expressly asked about the type of drive: both combustion and electric motors and other alternative drives. The survey institute commissioned by the HUK was YouGov, the survey period ranged from the end of January to mid -February.
Many feel safer in the car
Several factors play a role in the preferences. The most important three criteria for the selection of a means of transport are therefore low costs, speed and flexibility. But security also plays a role. Because according to the survey on the bus and train, the feeling of security in traffic, on the bike and also with pedestrians, has increased, but increased in the car. 28 percent said that driving had become safer according to their feeling, twelve percentage points more than a year ago.
At the same time, however, the proportion of those who improve the rail network appears to be more urgent than better streets: 38 percent per rail voted for the car streets. And almost three quarters – 74 percent – supported investments in mobility, if necessary also at the expense of other government spending, for example for culture or social issues.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 250410-930-428974/1
