COVID-19 Public Attitudes Survey Data: Wave 1

Transport Scotland is monitoring public attitudes to transport and travel during the COVID-19 outbreak. We are doing this through a telephone survey carried out on our behalf with a representative sample of over 16s across Scotland. This information provides the key findings from the survey. This information is used to gain an understanding of the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting current travel behaviour and intentions for future travel in Scotland. This information cannot be used to determine compliance with government guidance relating to non-essential travel in isolation. Police Scotland hold information in relation to penalty notices issued under emergency legislation. These findings are for the first wave of the survey which took place from 5 – 13 May 2020. The key findings are:

Current Behaviour

• The majority of people have left home at least once in the past seven days (87%).
• The main trip purposes have been to shop for essential items or groceries (86% leaving the house at least once) and outdoor exercise (83%).
• People shop for essential items less frequently (1-3 times a week) whereas they take part in outdoor exercise more frequently (6-7 times per week).
• Private car or van is the main mode of transport used across all trip purposes in the past seven days. 89% have used car in the last seven days for at least one trip purpose.
• For those still travelling to work, 86% indicate that they are travelling by car or van; 8% have used active modes; while 6% have said that they used public transport.
• Prior to lockdown, car or private van was the main mode of transport used by respondents. However, 62% say they are using car or van less since lockdown restrictions came into effect and 9% are walking or wheeling more than they did prior to lockdown.
• Concern about contracting or spreading the virus while using public transport or being able to have enough space to observe physical distancing is high. Of those who used these modes prior to lockdown, concern is highest among train users (though sample size is small) and bus users. There are lower levels of concern regarding walking and lower still regarding private car or van use.
• People are reporting that they are more likely to exercise outside the home by walking (59.7%); are more likely to use contactless payments (56.9%); are more likely to contact family and friends by phone, video call or texting apps (56.3%); are more likely to shop closer to home (49%); and for those who work, are more likely to use conference calls and video call to communicate with colleagues, customers and clients (47.8%) compared to before restrictions were put in place.

Looking Ahead

• Just under half (49%) of respondents agree with the statement “I will avoid public transport and use my car or other vehicle more than I did before when restrictions on transport are lifted”. The main reasons for avoiding public transport are the risk that others are still carrying the disease; and unable to stay 2 metres apart.
• 51% agree with the statement “I will travel less by air than before when restrictions on transport are lifted”.
• 48% agree with the statement “I will go back to doing all of the things I did before including vacations and travel”.
• 63% agree with the statement “I will walk and cycle more when restrictions on transport are lifted”.
• In the next three months, 44.9% would be very or fairly likely to book at least one leisure trip in Scotland; 30.8% would be very or fairly likely to book at least one leisure trip in the rest of the UK; 18.2% would be very or fairly likely to travel by air abroad; while 8.2% would be very or fairly likely to travel by air in the UK.