We’re car-tious..

Scots commuters ‘look set to change their daily travel habits after lockdown’

A HUGE number of Scots are considering buying cars or else driving their existing motors to work in their post-coronavirus commutes, according to a study.

Research by breakdown provider Green Flag shows 57 per cent of workers north of the Border will actively avoid public transport when they travel to their jobs again.

And while 19 per cent of Scots intend to explore an alternative mode of transport – including driving, 30 per cent said they planned to buy a new or used car to get to and from work.

Not surprisingly, the UK-wide survey found the majority who wanted to change their commuting behaviour were doing so to comfortably adhere to social distancing rules.

Green Flag said city dwellers were the most likely to swap their old habits for new.

In Scotland, Aberdonians (66 per cent) expressed the greatest desire to shun public transport. That compared with 58 per cent of commuters in Edinburgh and 53 per cent of Glaswegians.

But when it comes to buying a new or pre-loved set of wheels, motorists from Glasgow (37 per cent) were most keen, set against 28 per cent from Edinburgh and 24 per cent from Aberdeen.

Across the UK, it is the younger generation of 18 to 34-year-olds who are the most conscientious travellers, with 76 per cent admitting they plan to avoid trains, buses and the like.

And 61 per cent of that age group are also most likely to source an alternative mode of transport – as opposed to just 16 per cent of 55 to 64-year-olds.

As a result of its findings, Green Flag also offered some common-sense tips for those looking to buy a used car.

Chief among them was ditching all assumptions and prejudices and doing some homework to check how reliable various makes and models were – there are numerous websites that can help, including www.reliabilityindex.com and www.vehiclecheck.greenflag.com.

The organisation also pointed out that the condition and service history of a vehicle may be worth more than low mileage and cheaper price of a car that hasn’t been looked after.

Another vital bit of advice was to insist on seeing the machine in daylight before placing a deposit on it – that way, there won’t be the hassle of trying to get your deposit returned if you find that the bodywork or chassis is rusting, the panels appear to be painted different colours or the infotainment screen is on the blink.

It’s also important to remember to take into account all Government guidelines and to maintain a social distance, and potentially carry cleaning products for before and after touching parts of the car.

Finally, it could be well worth getting your intended buy inspected by experts from a recommended garage or franchised dealership, which will usually cost about £100.

Green Flag commercial director Mark Newberry said: “Workers around the country will no doubt be both excited and nervous about the prospect of heading back to the workplace, with the idea of commuting likely to contribute to their worries.

“Our research shows that Scots are taking the necessary steps to prepare for their return to regular commuting – not only to protect their individual health, but to be conscious of their fellow commuters by exploring alternative ways to travel.

“With nearly a third of Scots looking to purchase a car to limit their exposure to other members of the public, we can expect roads to look very different to what they did pre-lockdown.”