Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2009
Annual publication containing summary of key statistics on environmental trends in Scotland
Background
Motor Traffic on All Roads: 1993-2008
Million vehicle kilometres
Million vehicle kilometres
Vehicle type |
1993 |
1995 |
2000 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cars |
28,449 |
29,646 |
31,433 |
33,517 |
34,466 |
34,545 |
34,357 |
Two-wheeled motor vehicles |
203 |
203 |
250 |
313 |
302 |
326 |
315 |
Buses |
538 |
565 |
599 |
586 |
609 |
650 |
630 |
Light goods vehicles |
3,591 |
3,832 |
4,591 |
5,464 |
5,761 |
6,125 |
6,145 |
Heavy goods vehicles |
2,156 |
2,250 |
2,436 |
2,639 |
2,721 |
2,781 |
2,751 |
Total |
34,938 |
36,496 |
39,319 |
42,520 |
43,859 |
44,426 |
44,197 |
The pollutants emitted by road transport contribute greatly to poor air quality that damages human and ecosystem health. Leaded petrol was banned in the UK on 1 January 2000 as part of the European Strategy to reduce pollution from road traffic. Transport emissions also contain carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases ( GHGs), which contribute to climate change. A reduction in the volume of road traffic would also help to achieve reductions in GHG emissions and concentrations of atmospheric pollutants.
The volume of motor traffic on roads in Scotland has increased by 27% between 1993 and 2008. However, between 2007 and 2008 there was a 0.5% decrease in the volume of motor traffic on Scottish roads. In 2008, major roads (motorways and 'A' roads) accounted for 65% of the volume of motor traffic in Scotland. In addition, minor roads ('B', 'C' and unclassified) accounted for 15 billion vehicle kilometres of traffic per year. Cars accounted for 78% of road traffic.
Source: Department for Transport
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