Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1495665
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 MARCH 2023 NEWS JAMES DEBONO DESPITE increased awareness on global warming and emis- sions, younger people and stu- dents seem to be more attached to their cars than older people, a survey on the effect of traffic on wellbeing shows. Undertaken by pollster Vince Marmara and commissioned by the Faculty for Social Wellbeing at the University of Malta, the survey suggests that for young people the car remains a power- ful symbol of independence and self-actualisation. And this despite its negative social and ecological impact, and a prevailing perception echoed in other questions in the survey that traffic is having a negative impact on well-being and men- tal health. The study is published in the faculty's second edition sup- plement, Unity, out today with MaltaToday. One of the questions asked to respondents in this survey was whether they agreed with the statement: "I would prefer to not use my car if public transport was more reliable". The ques- tion is particularly interesting as it measures public willingness for a nodal shift if public trans- port becomes more reliable. The most likely to agree with the statement were respond- ents aged over 70, while the least likely to agree were respondents aged between 18 to 29. While among the former the average level of agreement was 5 out of a maximum 7, among the latter the average level of agreement was 3.7. In the survey, 1 repre- sented the least level of agree- ment while 7 represented full agreement. Overall, the survey shows that a majority (53%) would consid- er using the car less if there is a more reliable public transport, but around a third of the popula- tion disagrees. Moreover, one in five (19%) "strongly disagreed" with the statement, in a strong indication that they would keep using their car irrespective of the state of the country's public transport system. Moreover, a breakdown by oc- cupations shows that the most likely to consider reducing car use if public transport is more reliable were retired people, while students were the least likely to consider doing the same. A breakdown by educa- tion also shows that people with a post-secondary level of educa- tion are the least likely to reduce car use if public transport is im- proved. On the other hand, those who attended trade schools or have a primary level of education, who are most likely to be older, were the most likely to reduce the use of the car if public transport is improved. Unsurprisingly, men are also more attached to their car then females. Females were slightly more willing to consider reduc- ing car use if public transport improves. The survey clearly shows that traffic is having a negative im- pact on people's everyday life. For example, a staggering 76% sometime prefer not to go out due to the thought of traffic and parking difficulties. But younger people and students are also the least likely to stay inside because of traffic while older respond- ents are the most likely to do so. Despite increased awareness on global warming and emis- sions, younger people and stu- dents seem to be more attached to their cars than older people, a survey on the effect of traffic on wellbeing undertaken by pollster Vince Marmara and commis- sioned by the Faculty for Social Wellbeing at the University of Malta, suggests. This may show that for young people the car remains a pow- erful symbol of independence and self-actualisation, despite its negative social and ecological impact, and a prevailing percep- tion echoed in other questions in the survey that traffic is having a negative impact on well-being and mental health. One of the questions asked to respondents in this survey was whether they agreed with the statement: "I would prefer to not use my car if public transport was more reliable". The ques- tion is particularly interesting as it measures public willingness for a nodal shift if public trans- port becomes more reliable. The most likely to agree with the statement were respond- ents aged over 70, while the least likely to agree were respondents aged between 18 to 29. While among the former the average level of agreement was 5 out of a maximum 7, among the latter the average level of agreement was 3.7. In the survey, 1 repre- sented the least level of agree- ment while 7 represented full agreement. Overall, the survey shows that a majority (53%) would consid- er using the car less if there is a more reliable public transport, but around a third of the popula- tion disagrees. Moreover, one in five (19%) "strongly disagreed" with the statement, in a strong indication that they would keep using their car irrespective of the state of the country's public transport system. Moreover, a breakdown by oc- cupations shows that the most likely to consider reducing car use if public transport is more reliable were retired people, while students were the least likely to consider doing the same. A breakdown by educa- tion also shows that people with a post-secondary level of educa- tion are the least likely to reduce car use if public transport is im- proved. On the other hand, those who attended trade schools or have a primary level of education, who are most likely to be older, were the most likely to reduce the use of the car if public transport is improved. Unsurprisingly, men are also more attached to their car then females. Females were slightly more willing to consider reduc- ing car use if public transport improves. The survey clearly shows that traffic is having a negative im- pact on people's everyday life. For example, a staggering 76% sometime prefer not to go out due to the thought of traffic and parking difficulties. But younger people and students are also the least likely to stay inside because of traffic while older respond- ents are the most likely to do so. Survey suggests that a third of respondents would still use their car less even if public transport is more reliable. Young people least likely to ditch car for public transport, survey suggests