Long-distance journeys taken by Britons in their own country are mainly by car and mostly for pleasure, a report revealed.

Cars account for four out of five journeys of more than 50 miles, the report published today by the Independent Transport Commission found.

Of these long-distance journeys, 28 per cent are taken to visit friends or relatives, 21 per cent are for leisure, 21 per cent are for holidays, 20 per cent for business and 10 per cent for commuting.

Compiled from two studies looking at long-distance travel by Britons in Britain, the report also revealed:

• 80 per cent of all coach journeys are for holiday or leisure purposes;

• Rail accounts for 12 per cent of long-distance travel, coach for six per cent and air for four per cent;

• Half of all domestic air travel is for business purposes, while 40 per cent of long-distance rail travel is for business and commuting;

• If highly efficient, low-emission cars become common, drivers could drive an extra six billion miles a year and rail could see its growth greatly reduced;

• Congestion rather than income or motoring costs tends to have more impact on the amount of long-distance travel done by car;

• Income has a major effect on business travel by rail and commuting by rail;

• An increase in prosperity over the next 20 years could lead to the number of people taking longer journeys growing faster than those taking shorter, local ones. A prolonged recession would have the opposite effect.