Research and analysis

Understanding the drivers of road travel: trends in and factors behind roads use

Sets out evidence of road traffic trends and the factors driving them.

From:
Department for Transport
Published
15 January 2015

Documents

Understanding the drivers of road travel

PDF, 8.78 MB, 92 pages

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Details

The evidence review shows that the recent levelling off in traffic growth masks different trends for different vehicles, areas, road types and population groups.

The review assessed evidence on 10 broad explanatory factors to consider how each has contributed to the change in travel trends, including:

  • economic
  • demographic
  • social
  • technological

The findings suggest that there is reasonable evidence that these help explain the fall in average distance travelled by car in the areas of:

  • the effect of incomes
  • costs
  • company car use
  • urbanisation

The report includes possible implications for future traffic growth, across different groups and locations affected.

Published 15 January 2015

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