The majority of commuters in Scotland drive cars to work

The Scottish Executive Household Transport 2004 results found that 68% travelled to work by car, with 60% driving and the rest as passengers.

About 16% of commuters use public transport, while 13% cycle to work and 2% opt to walk.

The study also showed that two thirds of households in Scotland had more than one car.

Of those surveyed, 64% of Scots said they could not use public transport, with 57% of them blaming poor services.

The figures indicate that pupils enjoy walking to school more than getting a lift.

Car ownership

Just over half of all schoolchildren walked to classes while only 22% were taken by car or van.

Only 1% of youngsters cycled to school, while 24% regularly took the bus.

About 35% of homes with a net income of under �10,000 a year have a car, while 98% of homes with an overall income of more than �40,000 have one.

Some commuters said public transport was poor

The report showed 65% of those aged 17 or over held a full driving licence in 2004.

Male motorists outnumbered females, with 76% of men having a full licence, compared to 57% of women.

About two fifths of Scots get behind the wheel every day.

Nine out of 10 supermarket shoppers always used a car for their shopping trips, as did 62% of drivers who shop in town centres and 51% of those going to buy food.

Fitness drive

Adults in more than 15,000 households were questioned for the survey, with 44% saying they had made a trip of a quarter of a mile or more by foot that week for either fitness or leisure.

But only 4% had cycled for pleasure or to keep fit within the previous seven days.

The Scottish National Party urged more parents to encourage their children to walk or cycle to school.

SNP health spokeswoman Shona Robison said: "Parents should make it their New Year's resolution to help improve the health and fitness of their children by encouraging older children to safely walk or cycle to school.

"We must also make concerted efforts to support initiatives where younger children can be safely escorted to school whilst getting the added benefit of exercise."