Archived press release

FOE says "Give up your car for two days a week"

6 March 1996

Exactly one hundred years after motor manufacture started in the UK, environmental pressure group Friends of the Earth today launched Cars Cost the Earth! - a year-long campaign aiming to change British attitudes to the motor car and to encourage people to use their cars less [1].

Members of the public will be urged to give up their cars for two days each week to demonstrate to the Government that they want to see less traffic on the roads [2].

Friends of the Earth's Cars Cost the Earth campaign specifically aims:

to secure the entry of the Road Traffic Reduction Bill [3] into Parliament this November - exactly one hundred years after the repeal of the "Red Flag" law ushered in the age of the motorist [4];

to force the motor industry to introduce cleaner, less polluting cars from the year 2000 [5].

Friends of the Earth groups throughout the land will be holding events and protests to publicise the campaign.

Roger Higman, Senior Transport Campaigner said:

"100 years of car-dominated transport policies have left Britain polluted, congested, criss-crossed by tarmac and stressed out by road rage. We can no longer tolerate this devastation. The Government must bring in new policies to reduce car use and promote alternatives".

The launch of Friends of the Earth's campaign is timed to coincide with the 100th birthday celebrations of the British motor industry which begin today with a service in Coventry Cathedral and celebratory banquet in Birmingham [6].

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

[1] On January 17th 1896, the Daimler Motor Company of Coventry was registered as the first manufacturer of motor cars in the UK.

Cars Cost the Earth! campaign press packs are available from Friends of the Earth.

[2] The Government has said it can "only lead where people are prepared to follow". Friends of the Earth is therefore asking people to sign a pledge card promising to give up their cars for two days a week. A second part of the card will be sent to MPs to demonstrate people's support for traffic reduction.

[3] The Road Traffic Reduction Bill was launched by Friends of the Earth, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru in July 1994. It addresses the environmental and social problems of road traffic in the UK. The Bill would require the Secretary of State for Transport to draw up a National Traffic Reduction Plan to achieve specified traffic levels across the UK: stabilisation at 1990 levels by 2000; a 5% reduction by 2005; a 10% reduction by 2010. Further details are available from Friends of the Earth.

[4] The law requiring a man carrying a red flag to walk in front of all motor cars was repealed on November 14th 1896.

[5] Proposals for the next stage (Stage III) of EU vehicle emissions standards are due to be published shortly by the European Commission. These will come into effect in the year 2000, and will be the subject of much discussion at both UK and European levels during 1996.

[6] The service in Coventry Cathedral is a commemoration of 100 years of the car industry. The banquet celebrating the centenary of the British motor industry will take place at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust