Pew Research Center survey shows Americans’ undying love affair with cars; ranks cars above all else among list of necessities; but cutting back on driving
(Source: TOLLROADSnews)
Americans are driving less because of the recession but a survey by the Pew Research Center show they still rank a car as the number one necessity of modern life. Driving less and eliminating “unnecessary” car trips has been one of the leading ways people say they save money, according to the poll (see bottom of this report.) Asked to say whether an item is a necessity or a luxury 88% say a car is a necessity compared to:
- 66% for a clothes dryer;
- 54% home airconditioning
- 52% TV
- 50% home computer
- 49% cell phone
- less for other items
The Pew Center opinion pollers describe the automobile as the “ultimate survivor.” “It’s been around for nearly a century, but in good times or bad, it retains its pride of place at the top of America’s list of everyday necessities.” The survey was conducted April 2-8 2009 with a sample of 1003 persons.
Click here to access/download the survey report. Here is a related article published on Transportgooru reflecting a significant decline in the vehicle miles traveled across the US, somehow validates the data on the above image (“Is there anything else that you have done to save money during the recession”?)
