Experience of the Covid-19 crisis will transform the way we live, work and travel in the UK, the AA says.
AA President Edmund King says anecdotal evidence from people lucky enough to be working during the coronavirus-enforced lockdown suggests that infrastructure funds might be better spent on broadband to support home working.
It predicts a permanent reduction in the demand for travel because people have learned during the crisis to use home-working technology.
The implications are profound for commuters and for government finances. The chancellor currently plans to spend £27bn to curb congestion on roads and £100bn on HS2 – but if demand falls, that may not be needed.
He was speaking after the Government slipped out a study last week which suggested car use would be discouraged by Government and encouragement given to public transport for regular routine journeys to meet tough new emissions laws coming in over the next few years. However, the inability of public transport to cope with travel disruption over the last month has seriously damaged the Government’s aims.