What are the key factors?

Urbanisation and decentralisation
Exacerbating increase in car ownership is rapidly increasing urbanisation in many developing countries. The proportion of people living in urban environments has increased from 30% in 1950 to 47% in 2000, and is predicted to increase to 60% by 2030. Urban populations are increasing by more than 6% per annum in some developing countries (World Bank, 2001). Rapid growth and lack of public transport and road infrastructure in many cities leads to high levels of congestion and pollution.

An associated trend in many cities is a process of decentralisation, with increased activity in the urban fringe such as new estates, out-of-town shopping complexes with easy parking, increasing the distances travelled by car. The flexibility that car ownership offers means that people can live farther from work, shopping and leisure facilities. Economic growth is both reliant on and fosters personal and commercial mobility.