BRITS NOW SPEND NEARLY HALF A BILLION MORE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT THAN THEY DID LAST YEAR

• Over a third of Brits have felt an increase in public transport costs
• Despite rising fares, 35.2 million of us have faced public transport disruption
• 2.8 million have missed an important meeting or event due to public transport problems, while 5.5 million haven’t made it to work

New research¹ from Prima, the car insurance provider, reveals that UK adults have seen a sharp rise in public transport costs. In fact, they’ve spent £460 million more on public transport this year compared to last year.

A third are feeling the pinch of rising fares, with the younger generation most affected. Nearly half (46%) of 18 to 34 year-olds say they’ve been hit by transport price hikes.

And while fares have gone up, Brits are increasingly unhappy with the service provided. Over the past year, overcrowding has become a common experience for two-fifths (38%) of UK passengers. Over a third (33%) have been impacted by rail disruptions, including strikes and diversions. And 36% have had journeys cancelled.

Overall, 35.2 million Brits have faced disruption of some kind when using public transport. 27% say they encounter problems most of the time, while 10% say they encounter problems every time they travel by public transport. Problems are most common in London and Yorkshire and the Humber, where 95% and 82% of those asked say they’ve been affected.

Public transport issues have a huge impact on people’s day-to-day lives. A third (32%) of Brits have had to cancel or rearrange plans. Another third have had to fork out extra money on alternative transport. And 15% have had to miss a meeting, interview or important life event, such as a wedding, funeral or birthday.

Workers haven’t been spared. 5.5 million UK adults have had days when they haven’t been able to get to work. Over a third of Londoners have faced this predicament.

As public transport becomes less reliable, almost a quarter (24%) of Brits are turning to their car to travel instead.

Nick Ielpo, UK Country Manager at Prima, says: “With public transport increasingly disrupted, more and more people are turning to their cars to get from A to B. So it’s important that people have the right car insurance policy in place to protect themselves. For instance, if you’re now using your car instead of the train to get to work, you need to make sure your policy covers commuting.”

Table one: Effects of public transport disruption