The RAC is paying homage to the Report on Motoring by looking back at the results over the past 30 years providing a definitive study into the highlights of its findings.

Rather fitting is its initial analysis of its findings in 1988, whereby 85% of the motorists asked believed that by 2001 all cars would be required to use unleaded petrol, while 56% thought cars would be banned from town centres altogether. While it took a little longer than that initial 13 years to see bans in cities, we’re certainly seeing the fruits of increased emissions controls which will see more and more cities ban polluting cars from its centres.

Of other motoring significance was the introduction of the first Gatso speed camera on the westbound A316 over the Twickenham Bridge in Surrey. The year prior to that saw further safety measures introduced with seatbelts becoming compulsory, which caused some controversy despite it being proved as a brilliant safety feature.

Here’s a kick in the teeth for motorists, in October 2003, the report noted that the average fuel price was 76.34p per litre; compare that to 2018’s report that suggests the average price per litre in October was some 131.14p…

The report in 2008 deduced that 92% of motorists asked felt that with the higher number cars came the higher amount of dependability on them in comparison to levels in 1998. We suspect that level today had heightened further with more and more access to vehicles thanks to the ease of finance through PCP deals and leasing.

The biggest issue surrounding motoring of recent years, however, is the growing number of people unsatisfied with the condition of the road network. In 2015, 50% of motorists asked felt that the condition of the road in their local area had deteriorated over the course of the year, with 30% of them suggesting that local road investment should be the top priority for government transport investment.

Which leads us nicely on to our question – what is your biggest concern with regards to motoring over the next decade? Drop us an email at cc.ed@kelsey.co.uk.

To view the most recent Report on Motoring as well as the RACs sum up of the last 30 years, visit: www.rac.co.uk/report-on-motoring/30-years-of-motoring.