Most British workers wouldn’t commute on public transport even if it was free, according to a new survey.

Of the 1,910 people who drive to work surveyed by law firm Protecting.co.uk, 97 per cent wouldn’t take the bus instead, due to the current state of public transport systems.

Almost nine in ten (87 per cent) couldn’t be swayed even if the bus service was completely free of charge.

Privacy and convenience seem to be the main factors behind this sentiment, with 86 per cent saying they preferred the solitude and peace of their car, rather than the public space of a bus.

“We’re transport snobs, even if we don’t want to admit it,” said a spokesperson for Protecting.

“The motor car has brought us convenience and independence relatively cheaply and we love our convenience and won’t easily give it up. People just don’t want to get on a bus to work.”

Many companies have tried to dissuade their employees from driving to work by charging for parking spaces. However, many get round the charge by driving in anyway and parking in nearby streets for free.

Lower prices at the pump haven’t helped either, making motoring cheaper than in previous years with petrol and diesel dipping below £1 per litre for the first time since May 2009.