Motorists clutch at going for a spin

A majority of motorists (55 per cent) have given their vehicle a run without going anywhere in particular, an AA/Populus survey showed.

As many as 23 per cent take their car out for a spin at least once a month, while 10 per cent do it weekly, the poll of more than 20,000 AA members revealed.

Motorists living in Northern Ireland (72 per cent), Scotland (63 per cent) and north-east England (63 per cent) were most likely to have just gone for a drive, while those in London (47 per cent) were least likely to have done so.

Men are more likely to have just driven (60 per cent) than women (47 per cent), as are younger drivers in the 18-24 age group (62 per cent) compared with just 52 per cent in the 45-54 age group.

Also, semi-skilled or unskilled workers were more likely to just go for a drive than those in higher managerial professions.

AA president Edmund King said: “Despite cones, congestion, clamping and high costs, drivers’ love affair with the car and driving continues.”