The traditional rush hour could become a thing of the past as hybrid working becomes the norm going forwards.

Close to two-fifths (37%) of respondents expect to work or study remotely more often in the future, but the car remains key to commuting plans

A poll conducted on behalf of vehicle subscription specialist Wagonex among 1,000 working-age Brits found close to two-fifths (37%) expect to work or study remotely more often in the future compared to before the pandemic.

Younger respondents aged 18-24 (56%) and 25-34 (45%) are significantly more likely than the older age groups to expect to do so (35-44s 29%; 45-54s 32%; 55-64s 17%).

And respondents who work in the public sector (52%) are far more likely than those in the private sector (38%) to prefer working/studying remotely more in the future.

But car usage remains key to any commuting. Half of respondents (50%) expect to commute to and from work or their place of study primarily using their car. This figures stays the same for those working in the private sector but increases to 62% in the public sector.

The research has been published on the same day as the Government reveals plans in its Good Work Plan for all employees to be able to request flexible working from the moment they start a new job.

And a recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey found 85% of those currently homeworking would seek a hybrid of home and office working in future.

Toby Kernon, founder and CEO of Wagonex , said: “There are huge benefits to hybrid working. Individuals will be able to achieve a better work/life balance and businesses will have happier, more productive staff. With fewer people travelling to offices there could also be an environmental benefit and improvements in air quality.

“But one big downside is that life could well become even tougher for commuters. If employees can choose on which days they go to the office and have more flexibility in their working hours, it will become incredibly difficult to predict when and where travel peaks will occur.

“Commuters who drive to work may find they breeze into the office one day and then are stuck in tailbacks the next and those using public transport may be alone in carriages and on buses one day and packed in like sardines the next.”