Contrary to what one might think, motorists are increasingly playing solo at the wheel. This is the observation drawn up by Vinci after an observation of 700,000 vehicles on its network, over ten days, in June.
According to the results of his barometer Annually, 85.7% of drivers drive alone in their car in the morning during peak hours, an increase in “solo driving” of almost 3 points (+ 2.9%) compared to spring 2023.
According to the study, which covers 13 French metropolises, the practice of carpooling is therefore “in sharp decline”, standing squarely “at its lowest level since the creation of the barometer in 2021”. A situation which “raises questions, even though the two previous editions of the barometer gave hope for the start of a positive change in behavior”.
“Multiply by three” the number of carpoolers
In particular, there is still work to be done for commuting : the occupancy rate in cars only amounts to 1.22, far from the objective of 1.75 by 2030 established as part of the national “low carbon” strategy. Vinci estimates that “the number of carpoolers should be multiplied by three”.
Among the 13 metropolises studied, only two saw the share of carpooling increase: Bordeaux and Toulon, even if Poitiers is still in the lead. For Vinci, it is necessary to develop “infrastructures and services intended to facilitate and anchor” the practice.