In a moment of ecological awareness, how will the French go on vacation this summer? This is the question that an OpinionWay* survey for Point S automotive centers wanted to answer. A survey that also reveals that 52% of French people plan to leave this summer (compared to 79% last year) and 13% is still undecided as of early June.
Two thirds of the French go by car
Among those planning to leave, 63% will take a private car as their “main mode of transportation.” In total, 68% will use a car if we add those who practice carpooling (3%) or rental cars (2%). A figure 10 points lower than last year.
The result of a strong desire to reduce their CO2 emissions and various pollutants? Not really. In second place among the means of transport used, we find the plane, with 17%, 5 points more than last year. A sign that air transport is back forever.
And it is the train that pays the price. The railway only gains one point compared to 2022 and falls one position, in third position, to 12%.
Among those who will leave by private car, 87% will use a model with a thermal engine. However, the study points to some progress in hybrid and electric vehicles, with 10% and 2%, respectively, of holiday motorists.
But once they arrive at the location, some “motorized” vehicles will inevitably reduce their emissions: 21% have planned to use a means of soft mobility in the vacation spot: bicycle or scooter, and public transport for 10%. For two-thirds, the car that made the trip will continue to be the primary mode of transportation on the site.
How do you choose your means of transport?
But, how do you choose your means of transport to go out? 45% of those surveyed mention the practical aspect, adapted to the number of people, the number of luggage, the presence of a baby…
31% say that they take the “most suitable” means of transport, eliminating other modes of transport (for example, if they have an electric car with very little autonomy, or a distance that is too long to make the trip by bicycle). Only 15% say they opt for the “cheaper” mode and 5% for “the most ecological”.
Beware of speed cameras
For its part, the French specialist in driving assistants Coyote warns (logically) of the risk of an unexpected souvenir photo on this journey: the famous radar flash.
“On average, a French driver is exposed to 89 control zones during the summer period, the risk of seeing his holiday budget reduced by one or more fines is very high,” states a press release, which is based on data the summer of 2022.
Of the 14 million flashes in 2021, 60% were caused by an excess of between 5 and 10 km/h, recalls Coyote. “Infractions that could be attributed to carelessness and lack of information”, especially since the mess in the passage at 80km/h, in which 46 departments returned.
In this context, Coyote estimates that on a long-distance journey, a French driver is exposed on average to 17 limit changes every 100 km traveled outside urban areas. Easy to get caught.
*Sample of 1008 people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over. The sample was made using the quota method, taking into account the criteria of sex, age, socio-professional category, category of urban area and region of residence. The sample was interviewed using a self-administered online questionnaire. Interviews were conducted from May 31 to June 1, 2023. To acknowledge their participation, panelists received incentives or made a donation to the proposed association of their choice. The results of this survey must be read taking into account the margins of uncertainty: 1.4 to 3.1 points maximum for a sample of 1,000 respondents.
Source: BFM TV
