910. Choosing active travel or public transport, or using shared services, instead of a private road vehicle, can provide carbon savings, cut congestion, and deliver other benefits. There is a risk that as electric vehicles become more affordable and cheaper to run, more people turn to driving and congestion could increase. Similarly, increased uptake of some types of transport services, such as ride-hailing or goods deliveries, could increase car journeys. Congestion could rise from 9 to 32 hours a year by 2040, with costs from £59.5 billion to £121.5 billion.626 This not only wastes people's time, but also creates higher costs for drivers, dents productivity and increases air pollution. Scotland have set a target for reducing the number of journeys taken by road and published a roadmap for delivering this.627 Some countries are using fiscal measures like road pricing to discourage driving. The Review has received calls for interventions like these to be replicated, and notes that it is important that the government considers how congestion can be avoided.
911. People must be brought along on this journey. We have heard that:
"We need more honesty about the need to reduce private car use from government."
"It is important that we help people to get a better understanding' [of the carbon impacts of their transport choices]".
"Consumer understanding of their choices is far too limited." (comments made at Transport roundtable held as part of the Review)628
912. Government should use the public engagement strategy recommended above to communicate to people the need to reduce car journeys and the benefits of doing this. The carbon calculator tool above should include information on the carbon intensity and costs of different transport options, including sharing options like carpooling, to support low carbon journey planning. There should be clear guidelines for businesses on how to calculate their carbon impact to ensure transparency for consumers.
913. Enable individuals to identify appropriate actions as part of wider communities. As part of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, government committed to exploring a sustainable travel reward scheme to encourage use of sustainable travel, allowing different types of communities to set targets, monitor progress and receive rewards for achieving those. Government should bring forward its proposals on this.
914. Supporting people to switch to public transport or active travel requires a combination of actions to ensure that these options are readily available, affordable, and attractive to individuals, explored throughout this chapter.