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In total, 339 miles are typically travelled during the month of December alone, as people make the most of their freedom and go to parties, pantos and plays. This equates to a collective 10.5billion miles nationwide, across the 31million motorists who will take to the road.

Almost 100 miles will be driven visiting friends and family, while a further 110 miles will be covered shopping for food and gifts.

To highlight the increase in pollution due to high traffic volume over the Christmas period, energy provider EDF created a Christmas Tree-V on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street ‑ powered by an electric vehicle ‑ and featuring lights, which change colour when polluted fumes are particularly bad.

The light display has been programmed to reflect live pollution data and change colour from green to white, once the World Health Organisation annual mean limit for average pollution levels is exceeded.

Philippe Commaret, managing director for customers at EDF, which commissioned the research of 2,000 adults who participate in the festivities and own a motor, said:  “Santa may not ride an electric sleigh, but increasing numbers of motorists are choosing to drive electric vehicles, with COP encouraging more people to consider the carbon impact of their travel this Christmas.

“Thanks to our specially designed Christmas Tree-V, visitors to Glasgow city centre will be able to see pollution levels change throughout the day as the lights change, helping people to see the impact of their transport choices for themselves.”

Of those travelling in the month of December, 18 percent will drive to see festive markets and 15 percent usually go to see the Christmas lights.

 Buying the Christmas tree, a trip to the theatre, and visits to see new releases at the cinema are also common journeys made this time of year.

The average motorist will make five shopping trips during the Christmas period – with 64 percent of adults making the extra effort to visit high streets over online ‑ to buy their presents.

And out of those who are visiting stores for gifts, 61 percent prefer to buy items in person ‑ with 26 percent doing so as part of their Christmas tradition.

Of those who are using a car to travel, 46 percent said it is much more convenient to use during Christmas time.

And four in 10 don’t have to worry about carrying lots of shopping back home if they drive in, according to the OnePoll figures.

A quarter of adults who drive would rather use their car to travel as there are limited public transport alternatives.

But, of those who were aware of the COP26 conference which took place in Glasgow, more than a third (39 percent) had said that it made them more likely to consider their carbon footprint when they travel ‑ and potentially switch to an alternative mode of transport to cut carbon emissions.

 A spokesperson for EDF energy added: “We’re committed to making it as easy as possible for motorists to make the switch to an EV and cut their carbon emissions, from car leasing deals to home charging points and 100 percent renewable zero carbon EV tariffs.”

Top 10 reasons for travelling during the month of December for recreational and social activities 

1.       Visiting friends and family members

2.       Christmas food shopping

3.       Christmas gift shopping

4.       Eating out (i.e. restaurants, bars etc.)

5.       Visiting a Christmas market

6.       To see the Christmas lights

7.       Going to events (i.e. parties, theatre, pantomimes, nativity play etc)

8.       Visiting the city centre

9.       Buying the Christmas tree

10.     Visiting the cinema

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