Canadians would rather give up junk food, coffee, television and, some of them, sex rather than park their cars, a World Wildlife Fund poll suggests.

“It confirms that Canadians have a deep-seated attachment to our cars,” Josh Laughren, WWF director of communications, said Wednesday. “Cars aren’t just a method of transportation. They’re a place of comfort. For men, in particular, it’s an expression of our personality.”

Overall, 2 per cent of Canadians decided they’d rather give up sex and only 1 per cent chose driving, with Ontarians, people over 50 and women most willing to go celibate rather than carless.

Far more would decide to dump junk food (36 per cent), coffee (14 per cent) and television (6 per cent) than hang up their keys.

The fund conducted the poll to promote its campaign to persuade Canadians to drive less for the week of May 31 to June 6.

“We’re not saying people should give up the car entirely. That may not be feasible,” said Laughren. “But while it might seem easier to take my car to work, it may be better for me and my pocketbook and my stress levels and my quality of life to take transit.”

More than three-quarters of those polled drive regularly, with the most devoted drivers being people between 30 and 49 years old with children under 18, full-time jobs and good or very good incomes.

The highest numbers of Canadians who say they always drive, even if they could walk, bike or take transit, come from the Prairies. Overall, 29 per cent said they always drive, while 20 per cent said they only drive if they can’t reasonably walk, bike or take transit.

Despite their attachment to their cars, 79 per cent of Canadians said they were very or somewhat concerned about the environmental impact of driving

“Often people don’t know how or don’t see how they can change,” he said. The WWF campaign asks Canadians to “become ambassadors” for alternatives to driving by registering their activities that week and pinning their car keys to their clothing to spur a conversation.