MALAYSIANS prefer to drive alone to work instead of carpooling or taking public transport, a survey by the Centre for Governance and Political Studies (Cent-GPS) found.
It revealed that more than 87 per cent of Malaysians in the Klang Valley drive alone to work; the highest in the world for a single-commuter category.
The survey involved 4,689 respondents who drove to work in the city from Ampang, Seri Kembangan, Sungai Buloh and Petaling Jaya, from Oct 23 to Oct 25 and during the morning rush-hour. The remaining 11.6 per cent were found to travel with one passenger on board, while only 0.9 per cent travelled with two passengers on board.
Cent-GPS said the affordability of fuel and toll among single-driver commuters had led to the large percentage.
“From our literature review, the biggest correlation we find with high levels of single-driver commuters is the cost of fuel and toll.
“The fairly affordable cost of fuel and toll in Malaysia is not a big enough incentive to urge people to seek a carpooling or public transport option.
“The cost of fuel and sitting through traffic is just not as big as the cost of having to sit and listen to your colleague complain about the boss.
“If the government were to increase the cost of toll and fuel, the most affected would be the B40 group, making driving to work alone a luxury afforded by the rich,” it said.
The survey also found that driving alone to work provided relative comfort and privacy to the drivers.
“In our qualitative studies, it is clear from our respondents that many prefer to drive alone because of comfort.
“The drivers would rather spend the morning driving alone to gather their thoughts, listen to their favourite podcasts or even favourite music, which they prefer to do without having to ‘entertain’ a colleague.
“The other reason is that public transport remains difficult (in terms of accessibility). Some even complained that the cost of parking at Light Rail Transt or Mass Rapid Transit stations was the same as parking at work.”
Another reason for rejecting carpooling is the possibililty of being late to work because of tardy colleagues.
Cent-GPS said other countries had started to see a decreasing number of single-drivers with many opting for public transport and carpooling.
Last year, the United States recorded a nationwide average of single-driver commuter rate of 66 per cent while the remaining 34 per cent carpooled.
“In Spain, around 56 per cent of workers commute alone by driving while the other 44 per cent carpooled or use public transport.
“In Belgium, the number of single-driver commuters has been declining at a rate of five per cent a year. This group is now believed to be only around 30 per cent of road users,” it said.
Cent-GPS cautioned policymakers against abolishing tolls or continuing fuel subsidies.
“Our policymakers should not highlight the effect of eradicating tolls or continued fuel subsidies.
“Even the rhetoric of reducing tolls implies that tolls serve as a back-stepping function in our society. This is not true. Tolls need to be seen as a function in a developing country that can begin to regulate and reduce the number of cars on the road.
“As we head towards a decade where climate change will determine our livelihoods, these measures, albeit painful and unpopular, need to be taken for the greater good, for the cleanliness (sustainability) of our children’s future,” it said.