Survey Shows Americans Find Comfort in Their Cars During Pandemic

New U.S. survey confirms:

-- 80% of Americans feel most safe in their car vs. any other mode of transportation

-- Nearly 3 out of 4 people turn to cars for mental health breaks during COVID-19

-- Despite political divide, liberals and conservatives are united when it comes to how they use their cars during the crisis

News provided by

Fair

Jun 24, 2020, 09:00 ET

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vehicle subscription provider Fair today announced the surprising results of a new online consumer survey conducted by Researchscape revealing Americans' viewpoints on transportation preferences and habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data shows that while 10% of Americans don't feel safe in any mode of transportation right now, 80% feel safe while in cars. In addition, nearly three in four Americans surveyed reported using their car as a mental health escape while in quarantine. The results also show that despite their differences, liberals and conservatives are aligned when it comes to using their cars for acts of kindness, such as delivering groceries to those in need and using money that would normally go toward gas to support small businesses in their local economy.

"While COVID-19 has made public transportation a non-starter for most Americans, an overwhelming majority of us are looking to our personal vehicles to provide safety and peace of mind during essential travel – and even to serve as escapes from the stresses of this moment," said Georg Bauer, Fair's Co-Founder and President. "While we all look forward to whatever 'normal' will look like post-pandemic, it's clear that our cars will remain a staple of our American life for a long time to come."

Public Transportation Goes On Life Support… Cars Become King
The Fair-sponsored survey found that the pandemic has heightened Americans' fears regarding public transportation. The survey results showed the following:

Americans feel most apprehensive riding buses (55%) vs. other modes of transportation, such as rideshare/taxis (49%) and their cars (20%).
Suburban Americans were the most leery about using public transportation, with 60% saying they were afraid to ride trains/subways vs. 52% of urban dwellers and 51% of those in rural areas.

Americans Are Seeking Refuge in Their Cars
Along with helping people feel safer on their daily commutes and errand-running, more Americans are turning to their cars to be a personal safe haven. During the recent periods of sheltering at home:

30% of surveyed Americans said they used their car to take a mini-break by driving around their neighborhood.
24% reported taking a long drive to clear their head.
16% responded that they have sat in their car outside their house listening to music or audiobooks.

Politically Correct: Parties are United Around Cars
Americans may have different opinions about how the pandemic is being handled by government leaders, but they are united on the idea that cars can be a source of social good and service during this time. According to the survey:

An equal share of self-identified Republicans and Democrats (21% of each group) used their cars to deliver groceries during the pandemic as an act of kindness to friends/family/neighbors in need.
Democrats and Republicans were also equally likely (14% of each group) to use the money they saved on gas during the pandemic to support their local economies.
There was less alignment regarding so-called "car parades," with 27% of liberals reporting having participated in the drive-by celebrations during the pandemic vs. only 18% of conservatives.

The Future of Transportation Remains Uncertain
According to the survey, American's aren't optimistic about the prospect of resuming their normal transportation habits – even into next year:

Only 19% of people in the Western U.S. responded that they would return to their regular use of rideshare services in 2021 if proper safety measures were put in place vs. just 10% of Northeasterners. Among Southerners, 17% felt the same vs. just 12% of Midwesterners.
By next year, 44% of people surveyed said they will still fear traveling on planes, while 39% said they plan to skip international travel altogether in 2021.
Regionally, only 31% of people in the Western U.S. said they planned to travel outside the U.S. in 2021 vs. 42% in the Northeast and Midwest, and 44% in the South.
In place of international travel, 35% of those surveyed said they would be down for a road trip instead.

When it comes to the safety measures that might lure people back to public transportation, survey respondents cited:

A vaccine (chosen by 47% of respondents).
Touchless hand-sanitizing dispenser (38%).
Mandatory face masks/shields (37%).
New touchless services (30%).
New touchless gadgets/tools (26%).
Temperature screening processes at airports (25%).
Saying goodbye to the middle seat forever (20%).

About The Transportation Safety Survey
This survey was conducted online within the United States by market-research consultancy Researchscape on behalf of Fair from May 7-8, 2020, with 1,046 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Alexis Evans.

About Fair
Fair offers a new way to get an affordable pre-owned car in response to consumer demand for more freedom. Fair gives customers the flexibility to choose how long they drive, whether it's month-to-month, or on a 2-year or 3-year lease for an even lower monthly payment. Fair allows you to choose your car, miles, and view your payments—all in a mobile and paperless end-to-end app experience that's simple, flexible and affordable. Fair is headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif. For more information, please visit www.fair.com and follow us at @fairtheapp.

SOURCE Fair