What are the key factors?

Personal mobility
The major driving factor behind increase vehicle ownership is the desire for personal mobility. The distance travelled per passenger is increasing by around 3% in EU countries and a higher proportion of these journeys are made by car (EC, 2002). Journeys by railway have declined from around 70% in the 1950s to 17% in 1997, with a corresponding increase in journeys by car. It is estimated that economic growth will result in a 24% increase in demand for passenger mobility. The desire for the perceived freedom of mobility given by car ownership is a global phenomenon. Car ownership is likely to increase rapidly in EU Newly-Associated States where car ownership is seen as a sign of freedom (EC, 2001) and there is a rapid rate of increase in developing countries.