In its "Motors or Modems"...

In its "Motors or Modems" paper, the RAC Foundation suggests that working hours need to be shifted so that everyone is not trying to get to and from work at the same time. As an example it says that working mums spend 3 solid weeks behind the wheel each year on commutes which they could spend with their families with more flexible working.

The report also highlighted the fact that many working mums are not aware of their rights under modern employment law for flexible working patterns.

Sue Nicholson, Head of Campaigns for the RAC Foundation commented:

"The whole culture of working long hours in the UK has to change if we are to achieve a better work-life balance - we work longer and travel for longer than other Europeans. That emphasis has to change to working smarter."

"There are significant spin-off benefits to this as well. If each employee could work from home just one day per week...we would see a cut in traffic equivalent to removing the school run."

BT, a leading exponent of flexible working, claims to have saved employees the equivalent of 1,800 years of commuting time, while also eliminating 47,400 tonnes of CO2 travel-related emissions from the saved journeys.