The 45-minute claim (how long it takes to get to work)

The British spend more time commuting than anyone else in Europe, and despite the best efforts of the Government they are still in love with the car, a study shows.

Typically, Britons are in transit to and from work for 45 minutes a day and the average distance between home and work has risen by 17 per cent to 8.5 miles in the past decade, the RAC Foundation found. Only 5 per cent of commuting was by national rail.

The survey by the foundation also showed 72 per cent of commuters outside London used cars to get to work, with buses the preferred mode of travel for two thirds of those using public transport. Of all car trips, 22 per cent are made for travelling to and from work. Commuting accounted for 46 per cent of all rail journeys, with more than half of such journeys in London and south-east England.

Commuters chose an area to live because they liked it, rather than because it was convenient for work. That was the main reason people did not live closer to their place of employment, the study found.

Some 28 per cent said they commuted from their present home because they liked the area, about 7 per cent said it was because of good housing and and an equal proportion cited good schools. Some 27 per cent said they had "never thought about it".

Drivers said the period spent commuting was not entirely "lost time" because it helped them to prepare for the day and to unwind in the evening.

Given government attempts to persuade people to abandon their cars in favour of public transport, ministers will derive little satisfaction from the main reason given for using the car for work, that it was quicker than other options. Under the 10-year plan unveiled by the Government in 2000, commuters were to be persuaded to abandon cars by the efficiency and speed of public transport.

Edmund King, the RAC Foundation's director, said the survey showed Britons remained a nation of car commuters. "We have the longest commute in Europe and even if our commuting time doubled most of us would just shrug and leave more time for the journey.

"Drivers would rather sit in their cars twice as long than change jobs, move house or change their work base. But many commuters would revolt over the prospect of having to pay workplace parking levies."

The Italians spend the least time commuting, with 23 minutes on average. The Germans spend one minute less than the British going to and from work and the Dutch, two minutes. The average in the European Union was 38.

Commuters in London and the South-east especially are expected to be deterred even more from commuting by rail, with fares about to rise. The Strategic Rail Authority has said ticket prices are to increase by 1 percentage point above the inflation rate from next January, compared with the previous regime in which fares were kept 1 point below the inflation rate.

The RAC survey found that almost half of rail travel was done by those in the top 20 per cent of household incomes.

There was also a wide disparity between regions. Generally, only 3 per cent cycled to work, but 28 per cent did so in Cambridge. Nationally, only 10 per cent walked to work but in Norwich the proportion rose to 24 per cent.

Some local authorities are considering the introduction of levies on workplace parking, a move that would not be popular with motorists, the RAC survey says.

The study found that where a £5 charge was imposed, 53 per cent would park on the road, 13 per cent would change their job and 10 per cent use alternative transport. Just 2 per cent said they would pay the charge.

COMMUTING TIMES

Average in minutes

UK: 45

Germany: 44

Netherlands: 43

EU AVERAGE: 38

France: 36

Spain: 33

Italy: 23

10 THINGS TO DO IN 45 MINUTES

By Oliver Duff

¿ Activate a weapon of mass destruction - allegedly.

¿ Catch the first half of David Beckham's Real Madrid debut against China Dragons in Beijing on 2 August.

¿ Travel from Folkestone to Calais by Eurotunnel.

¿ Orbit halfway round the earth in a space shuttle.

¿ Wait in the Heathrow departure lounge for an undelayed holiday flight.

¿ Speed-date 15 people.

¿ Get lunchtime plastic surgery.

¿ Take a driving test.

¿ Watch the Reduced Shakespeare Company perform The Complete Works of Shakespeare.

¿ Listen to Beethoven's sixth symphony.