Car ‘addiction’ full of hidden costs

Recent research investigating New Zealand’s car culture has concluded the country has a serious addiction problem 20 times more costly than smoking.

The research by Sensibel, which studies human sentiment, calculated that the external cost of cars to the economy at more than $20 billion per year.

‘‘When putting the model together, we were shocked. Across all measures, we took the most conservative estimates available,’’ says Sensibel founder Carl Pavletich. ‘‘Our car culture is globally unique. We have the highest rate of car ownership in the world and very little exposure to alternative forms of mobility.’’

The research aggregated all publicly accessible data relating to cars, including costs of building and maintaining infrastructure, health costs due to inactivity and the economic impact of lost productivity, as well as carbon emissions.

One of the most concerning costs is the impact on health, in particular obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. With 90 per cent of the working population choosing to drive to work, the researchers say it is little surprise that this inactivity is leading to poor health outcomes. One in three New Zealand adults are now classified as overweight; one of the highest rates in the developed world.

The average New Zealand commute is relatively short. Almost half of all New Zealanders drive less than five kilometres to work each day.

At least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day is needed to remain healthy; that’s the equivalent of a 5km return trip by bike, or walk when catching a bus or train. ‘‘Our daily car commute occupies the space that’s most convenient to exercise. This missed opportunity impacts our personal health and cost our economy over $6.5 billion per year.’’

So how can our over-reliance on cars be classified as an addiction? ‘‘The definition of addiction is continued use despite adverse consequences,’’ Pavletich says. ‘‘Like an addiction, our car culture is so embedded, so convenient and so compelling we need far more persuasive means to enable mode shift.’’

Sensibel’s research highlights New Zealand’s dependence on cars and the investment that reinforces our car culture.

‘‘When confronted with the economic, health and environmental facts, we need to start treating our dependence on cars like it’s an addiction,’’ he says.

What if some of the current $20 billion was re-invested into helping Kiwis break the habit?

‘‘I think over a short period we would see a collective transformation occur, much more livable cities and a healthier happier, more sustainable New Zealand,’’ Pavletich says.

Pavletich co-founded Fab Lab Chch, a social enterprise set up to encourage the uptake of technology and ‘‘active citizenship’’ in Christchurch. It ran from 2014 until March this year.

One of the most concerning costs is the impact on health, in particular obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.

Carl Pavletich, Sensibel

❚ For more about Sensibel’s research, visit sensibel.org/news.