The survey, carried out by the European Commission, shows the Irish are behind only the Cypriots when it comes to using their cars to go about their daily business. Sixtynine per cent of us say the car is our main mode of transport for daily activities, a figure that contrasts starkly with the European average of 51%.

Given our passion for the car, it's no surprise just over 13% of us say we use the bus or train to get to get around. This is well below the EU average of 21%. Only the Danes, Dutch and Slovenians use public transport less frequently.

The Irish are even less fond of 'shank's mare', with only 12% of us walking to work.

Although this is close to the European norm, we are far behind Bulgaria, where almost one third of people walk to and from work every day.

Just 2% of Irish people are prepared to follow the example of new Green Party ministers John Gormley and Eamon Ryan and cycle to work, according to the survey.

This is way behind the European average and leaves us at the bottom of the Euro league with the Spanish and Portuguese, where cycling to work is so rare as to be a sign of deviant behaviour.

Although few Irish people use public transport, almost seven in 10 of us . . . the highest figure in the EU . . . believe "better public transport" would improve the traffic situation.

When pressed on how public transport could be improved, more than three in 10 Irish people opted for a "better schedule" followed by "proximity of stops" and "better connections". However, 15% of Irish people would continue to use their car no matter what improvements were made to the public transport system.

When it comes to measures that directly affect motorists, in line with most of our EU compatriots, the Irish are not so keen. Only 13% agree limiting access of private cars into city areas would improve the traffic situation. Six percent feel city tolls or road usage charges would ease the gridlock.

A similar attitude emerged over how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from road transport.

Despite being told road transport across Europe accounts for one-fifth of the EU's harmful emissions, and that these had risen by 26% between 1990 and 2004, just 11% of Irish people agreed the best way to reverse this trend was to introduce restrictions on the use of cars.

Twenty-two percent believe only less-polluting cars should be sold. This is well below the EU average of 35%.

When it comes to government handouts the Irish are among the most enthusiastic, with 44% . . . well above the EU average of 30% . . . agreeing tax incentives to purchase fuel-efficient cars is the best way to tackle the environmental damage caused by cars. Similarly, when asked what measures would be best to encourage the use of biofuels over fossil fuels, tax incentives were the most favoured option. But "higher taxes for polluting vehicles using fossil fuel" got the thumbs down from 85% of people.