National statistics

National Travel Survey: 2016

Statistics on the 2016 National Travel Survey. The results cover personal travel within Great Britain by English residents.

Documents

National Travel Survey: 2016 report

National Travel Survey: 2016 data tables

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Notes and definitions: 2016

Technical report: 2016

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Main sample numbers: 1995 to 2016

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Pre-release access list: 2016

Details

Statistics covering personal travel within Great Britain by English residents.

The National Travel Survey shows that in 2016:

  • people made 774 trips on average, excluding short walks
  • people made an average of 954 trips, including short walks
  • the average distance travelled excluding short walks (6,396 miles) was 10% lower than in 2002
  • most of the trips people made were by car, either as a driver or a passenger (62%), or by walking (25%)
  • 78% of the total distance people travelled was by car, either as a driver or a passenger

The second publication in January 2018 contains 4 short statistical articles commissioned from 2 external authors, and 2 authors from the department.

The articles are:

  • an analysis of long-term trends in travel patterns
  • variations in travel between different locations
  • Personal Travel in England – how we use transport and why
  • satisfaction with transport services

The articles show:

  • total number of trips per person per year increased from 1975 until 1990 and has been falling since 1995.
  • In 2011 to 2014, miles travelled per head was 80% more in the smallest settlements and rural areas than in the Greater London Built-up Area
  • around 3% of trips use more than one mode
  • levels of satisfaction with the Strategic Road Network (SRN), local roads, rail, and buses were quite similar
  • satisfaction is lower for cycling provision (27%) and higher for walking provision (73%)

Contact us

National Travel Survey statistics

Email national.travelsurvey@dft.gov.uk

Public enquiries 020 7944 3077

Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

Published 27 July 2017
Last updated 18 January 2018 + show all updates
  1. Second part of the NTS 2016 publication added.

  2. First published.