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4x4s(SUVs)
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Car travel

"I don't run a car, have never run a car. I could say that this is because I have this extremely tender environmentalist conscience, but the fact is I hate driving."
David Attenborough

In Jersey there are 620 cars for every 1,000 people on the island (2001 Census) - that's more cars per head of population than anywhere else in the world! This figure is 35 per cent higher than the UK and 7 per cent more than Guernsey and the Isle of Man . Between 1996 and 2001 the total number of cars on the island rose by 14 per cent. To make matters worse, more and more people (and not just farmers or fishermen) are buying large, 'off-road' 'sports utility vehicles' or '4x4s' that are much less fuel efficient and take up even more space on Jersey's narrow roads.

Each gallon of petrol used by a car emits 28 pounds of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Approximately one third of greenhouse gas emissions in Jersey come from motorised vehicles. If you are one of the island's many regular drivers, the single greatest impact you can have on the environment is to change your driving habits and reduce your dependency on your car.

"The car has become the carapace, the protective and aggressive shell, of urban and suburban man."
Marshall McLuhan

What all this means

Emissions are a large part of the problem but not the full story. The impact of more and more people taking to the roads has a number of different economic and environmental consequences, including:

• Congestion (estimated financial cost £20 million per year)
• Increasing demands on land for car parks
• Widening of roads at a substantial and unquantified cost
• Visual domination and downgrading of the landscape
• Poor air quality in some town streets
• Health problems due to inadequate exercise

Recent surveys (Jersey Health Survey,1999; Jersey Crime Victimisation Survey, 2005) of public attitudes to health issues and crime in Jersey have identified a number of problems associated with the large number of cars on the island. Of those surveyed:

• 67 per cent complained about speeding or dangerous driving
• 43 per cent complained about traffic noise
• 30 per cent complained about cars on pavements
• 23 per cent complained about traffic pollution

While many adults view 'stranger danger' as the greatest threat to their children, children themselves appear far more concerned with the speed and volume of traffic. The 2003 Headworks report revealed that 65 per cent of children and 77 per cent of secondary school pupils believe there is too much traffic in Jersey. Only 28 per cent believe they are safe playing in the streets near their home and 64 per cent of those surveyed had witnessed a road traffic accident.

While parental fears of 'stranger danger' seem to be significantly out of proportion with the true scale of the problem, children's concerns about traffic appear to be more realistic and well founded. On the 11th February 2006 the Jersey Evening Post reported from the Public Sector benchmarking report (KMPG, 2006). This report stated that pedestrians and pedal cyclists fare significantly worse in Jersey compared to the UK in terms of accidents with injury.

And as for those 4x4s!!! The link on the left will give you more information ...

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"Why do I need a private car? I will travel as always, by train or public bus. Nothing has changed."
Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz

What can I do about it?

The table below shows mileage and emissions data for some vehicles commonly found in Jersey. It clearly shows the direct relationship between fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and demonstrates what a difference your choice of vehicle makes:

Source: www.VCAcarfueldata.org 13 April 2008

Changing the car you drive for a more fuel efficient model is one of the most significant changes you can make to help tackle climate change. Even if you cannot afford to change your car right now, you can still lower its environmental impact by managing your fuel consumption more efficiently. Here are some of the ways in which you can use less fuel (and save yourself money):

• Avoid using your car for short journeys - use public transport, ride a bicycle or walk instead.
• After a cold start, drive off as soon as possible.
• Avoid harsh acceleration and heavy braking which use more fuel.
• Use higher gears as soon as traffic conditions allow.
• Switch off the engine whenever it is safe to do so. Fuel consumption with the engine turned off is zero.
• Avoid carrying unnecessary weight and remove roof racks etc when not in use.
• Get your car serviced regularly to maintain your engine's efficiency.
• Keep the tyres inflated to the correct pressure for your vehicle.
• Avoid using the air-conditioning unneccesarily - running it continuously will increase fuel consumption significantly.

Source: www.VCAcarfueldata.org

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Air Quality

Surveys carried out in vehicles travelling in traffic have found that the air quality inside the vehicles was actually poorer than outside (States of Jersey Transport Strategy, 2005).

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