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Road traffic statistics

The latest estimates of road traffic in Great Britain. This web page provides provisional quarterly road traffic estimates and more detailed annual estimates. The annual estimates are also provided at Local Authority level.

Please note that free flow vehicle speeds statistics are now published separately.

Special note: Traffic estimates for major roads are based on a census of all major roads. However traffic estimates for minor roads are estimated by calculating growth rates from a fixed sample of count points on the minor road network. Every ten years or so traffic estimates for minor roads are benchmarked against a larger data sample, and adjusted if necessary. The last time this was done was for 1999, and in 2008 and 2009 a larger sample was drawn so that the benchmarking exercise could be repeated and the traffic estimates recalibrated. Data from those larger samples will be used to recalibrate the traffic estimates for 2009, as a new benchmark point. This could mean that the 2010 Annual traffic statistics may need to be adjusted to take account of the implications of the new benchmark for 2009. We anticipate publishing the outcome of this exercise, along with any revisions to traffic estimates from 1999 to 2010, early in 2012.

The latest information on road traffic in Great Britain

Latest update: 30 June 2011

Summary of latest key results

  • In 2010 the overall motor vehicle traffic volume in Great Britain was 308.1 billion vehicle miles, down by 5.1 billion vehicle miles from last year.
  • Car traffic was 243.8 billion vehicle miles in 2010, accounting for 79.1 per cent of all motor vehicle traffic. Car traffic has accounted for about 80 per cent of all motor vehicle traffic since 1980. In 2010 car traffic was 2.1 per cent lower than in 2009, but 4.1 per cent higher than 2000.
  • Light van traffic increased by 0.9 per cent between 2009 and 2010 to 41.8 billion vehicle miles. This was 28.6 per cent higher than 2000. Light van traffic showed the greatest increase in traffic volume in 2010.
  • In 2010 heavy goods vehicle traffic was 16.4 billion vehicle miles. This represents a 0.3 per cent increase from 2009; although heavy goods vehicle traffic levels remain 6.3 per cent lower than 2000.
  • In 2010 20 per cent of traffic was on motorways, 28.2 per cent on rural 'A' roads, 16.1 per cent on urban 'A' roads, 14.1 per cent on rural minor roads and 21.8 per cent on urban minor roads.

Tables and charts on road traffic

The tables provide further details on the topics covered in the road traffic statistical releases. Please refer to the notes on the tables themselves and the technical guidance documents further down this web page

Complete set of tables and charts

Quarterly traffic estimates

In vehicle miles

In vehicle kilometres

Annual road traffic estimates

Traffic volume (in vehicle miles)

Traffic volume (in vehicle kilometres)

Traffic flow

Traffic by mode

Road traffic for regions and local authorities

In vehicle miles

In vehicle kilometres

Technical information

Previous traffic and speed statistical releases

These are superseded publications. The most recent traffic and speed statistical release is available at the top of this web page.

Help accessing downloadable file formats

Most publications are available in portable document format (PDF) or rich text format (RTF) for downloading and reading offline. PDF files may only be compatible with the latest version of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader .

People with visual difficulties may find it useful to learn about improving the accessibility of Acrobat documents at the Adobe Accessibility Resource Centre .

For information about RTF and zip files please visit help with downloads.

If you are unable to access a publication, please email roadtraff.stats@dft.gsi.gov.uk or phone 020 7944 3095 to organise a suitable alternative format.