CAR drivers in Bury are being targeted by transport chiefs and asked: "Is your journey absolutely necessary."

A campaign entitled Better Travel By Public Transport seeks to address a previously unrecognised facet of motoring behaviour -- the Needless Outing In Car (NOIC).

A NOIC is where the motorist will take their car automatically without considering if it is the best way to get to where they want to go.

Research undertaken by the Greater Manchester Public Transport Executive revealed around four per cent of all car journeys could just as easily be completed on public transport.

A series of "Car-Free, Carefree" advertisements, which can be seen across the buses and cinema screens of Greater Manchester, depict three scenarios where it would have been much better for the protagonists to have travelled by public transport.

Helping to launch the campaign in Bury, Councillor Winston Ramsey said: "We are hoping that this campaign just makes people think a bit more about the times they use their cars. We fully recognise that for much of the time cars are an essential part of people's daily routine.

"The campaign aims to change the attitudes and behaviour of people who unnecessarily use their cars and to remind people that sometimes using public transport is by far the better option."

GMPTE researchers have complied the 'Top 5 NOICs' highlighting the worst offenders:

The five-minute drive to the gym to then 'walk' on a treadmill for 15 minutes.

Driving the kids to a local park for 'a bit of fresh air and a run around' when it easily within walking distance.

Driving to the town centre to window shop.

Driving the dog to an area to walk it.

The drive to the convenience store at the bottom of the road.