What is the future role for the car in society?

The Rees Jeffreys Road Fund Motoring Debate at the Royal Automobile Club saw an expert panel set the agenda for a major discussion taking place across many channels this summer

Richard Hammond

Richard Hammond

(from left to right) Steve Gooding, Rees Jeffreys Trustee, director, RAC Foundation was the debate facilitator. The panellists were Laura Shoaf, CEO, Transport for West Midlands; Chris Boardman, National Commissioner for Active Travel England, Fiona Spowers, Director at Riversimple Movement, and Richard Hammond, TV presenter and producer

(from left to right) Steve Gooding, Rees Jeffreys Trustee, director, RAC Foundation was the debate facilitator. The panellists were Laura Shoaf, CEO, Transport for West Midlands; Chris Boardman, National Commissioner for Active Travel England, Fiona Spowers, Director at Riversimple Movement, and Richard Hammond, TV presenter and producer

Welcome to The future role for the car in society: The Motoring Debate. Starting in June, Landor LINKS will be presenting a series of videos, articles, webinars and interviews will explore the many insights, challenges and opportunities raised by the panellists and audience.

The discussion began on 25 May when the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund, in partnership with the Royal Automobile Club, held a wide-ranging debate on ‘The future role for the car in society’.

The panellists were: Richard Hammond, TV presenter and producer; Laura Shoaf, chief executive of Transport for West Midlands; Chris Boardman, National Commissioner for Active Travel England, and Fiona Spowers, director at Riversimple Movement.

Each panellist has deep expertise in the realities involved with shaping the future role of the car in society, but each comes from a different perspective.

Watch the overview video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIL5ZX2ztik

Steve Gooding, Rees Jeffreys Trustee, director, RAC Foundation and the debate facilitator, says: “For some, the private car has come to represent all that’s wrong with our transport system in terms of congestion, climate change, air pollution and road danger.

“For others, it is a vital part of modern life, providing essential connections to employment, education and leisure opportunities.

“So what is the future role of the car in society? How might that role change as we square up to the challenges of getting to net-zero carbon, improving the quality of the air we breathe and creating a truly inclusive transport system?”

“So what is the future role of the car in society? How might that role change as we square up to the challenges of getting to net-zero carbon, improving the quality of the air we breathe and creating a truly inclusive transport system?”

Gooding and an invited audience from across the transport sector challenged the panel to share their perspectives on how cars might be best used in future, and how the benefits the car has brought us can be preserved in the face of the huge societal and environmental challenges ahead.

Over the following weeks, the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund will be working with Landor LINKS, our magazines and online content channels, sector partners and the wider transport media to publish a series of videos, articles, webinars and interviews exploring the many insights, challenges and opportunities raised by the panellists and audience.

If you’d like to register to receive new additions to this series, please contact conferences@landor.co.uk

For further information, images and other media: please contact juliana.orourke@landor.co.uk

For further information about the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund visit the website