In a world in which approximately 2 billion people will be aged 60 and over by 2050, older people’s attitudes are of particular interest because they face certain types of risk of transport-related social exclusion. Any eventual road pricing scheme not designed thoroughly could create an obstruction to the social inclusion of older people. This is something that may create a dilemma for an all-embracing society.
Our work provides evidence that older people’s attitudes to road charging are different from those of younger age groups. People aged 60 to 74 are the individuals with the most negative attitudes to road charging, while people aged 75 and over are the individuals most likely to be sympathetic or neutral to this measure. People aged 60 to 74 are also the people most likely not to recognise the pro-social character of road charging and to consider that their significant others are negative to road charging. In contrast, people aged 75 and over are the people most likely to recognise the pro-social character of road charging and to consider that their significant others are positive to road charging.
This research reports on a series of focus groups and interviews examining in depth the influence that age, social norms and pro-social value orientations have on older peoples’ attitudes to road charging.
In terms of potential for policy intervention, the work suggests that authorities with serious plans to implement road charging need to consider that many older people might see it as a non pro-social measure. Therefore, it is necessary for them to actively involve older people with any eventual road charging plans through the means of consultation that emphasises the pro-social character of the measure.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
