The RAC Report on Motoring for 2010 has been released, with claims that British drivers have become more ‘inward looking’.

The annual report made the claim after sampling 1150 British motorists, discovering that they cared less about global issues than they did over the condition of local roads and the behaviour of fellow motorists.

Of those polled, 96 per cent claimed that they were concerned by the ongoing use of mobile phones by drivers, with a further 97 per cent claiming that drugged or drunk drivers were also a worry. 88 per cent said they believed that the state of local roads was becoming worse.

The RAC report also revealed a trend towards more economical vehicles, as the slow pace of economic recovery and higher operating costs turns more motorists away from luxury vehicles and 4×4 cars to smaller, more practical options. However, the state of the environment was not high on the list of priorities for UK motorists, as 35 per cent of those surveyed believed that no matter what action they undertook their contribution would have no difference. Financial incentives were far more attractive than any environmental sustainability, with 74 per cent of drivers claiming they would consider purchasing an environmentally-friendly new car only if they were provided with tax incentives to do so.

Some good news was that 40 per cent of drivers said they had changed the way they drive in an effort to keep down fuel costs, while 66 per cent would use public transport more often if the services were improved. The other notable point was that 69 per cent of respondents agreed with refresher testing for over 70s.