DAN Dare and the Jetsons have been rejected as role models for the future of driving in a new report by the RAC Foundation.

While in 2050 cars will be likely to run on electricity or environmentally friendly fuels, have Internet access, fingerprint identification for security, use satellite and map discs for navigation and be fated with automatic breath sensors to deter drink drivers, they will not fly, park themselves, be immune to breakdown or drive underwater.

That is the vision of the way ahead for motoring according to UK drivers who were surveyed for the RAC Foundation report Motoring Towards 2050.

The survey shows that the majority of drivers think that cars will be more technologically advanced and run on environmentally friendly fuels but will retain their individuality and look much the same as today's vehicles.

The sci-fi style fantasy of the future was firmly discarded, however, with only five per cent of drivers thinking that cars will be beamed from place to place in 50 years' time and only three per cent agreeing that motorists might have a chip containing the Highway Code embedded in their brains.

Other ideas thought more likely were the concept of the "crash-proof" car and electronic control of cars travelling on motorways. Enforcement of traffic violations will also have moved on - with 58 per cent reckoning that speeders will be penalised with automatic deductions from their credit cards.

The report examines the tough choices which need to be taken by Government on transport in order to avoid future gridlock and studies how best the UK can reconcile growing car ownership with care for the environment.