National statistics

Road traffic estimates in Great Britain: 2014

Road traffic estimates in Great Britain during 2014.

From:
Department for Transport
Published
21 May 2015

Documents

Road traffic estimates in Great Britain: 2014 report (revised)

PDF, 2.98 MB, 17 pages

Road traffic estimates in Great Britain: 2014 summary factsheet

PDF, 290 KB, 1 page

Road traffic estimates in Great Britain: 2014 data tables

4.91 MB

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Details

Since the original publication of 2014 road traffic estimates in May 2015, a minor processing error has been discovered. This has affected the traffic estimates for seven (out of over 18,000) junction-to-junction links of motorway and ‘A’ road.

At the national level, the impact of the revisions on road traffic estimates is negligible. Traffic estimates for five local authorities have changed slightly as a result of correcting the processing error, and the relevant tables containing local information have been updated. The local authorities affected are Newport, Monmouthshire, Caerphilly, Warwickshire and Birmingham.

If you would like to know more about these revisions, please contact the road traffic statistics team.

Since the 1950s, the long term trend in the volume of road traffic has been one of growth, peaking at 314.1 billion vehicle miles in 2007. Following this peak, motor vehicle traffic then fell for three consecutive years; the first consecutive annual falls since traffic records began. Between 2010 and 2013, traffic volumes were broadly stable, but have once again shown growth between 2013 and 2014, rising by 2.4% to reach 311 billion vehicle miles.

In 2014:

  • motor vehicle traffic in Great Britain increased by 2.4% between 2013 and 2014, to reach 311 billion vehicle miles
  • car traffic increased by 1.9%, to 244.5 billion vehicle miles. This is the largest annual increase since 2002
  • van (LGV) traffic saw the largest annual increase (5.6%), to attain the highest ever figure of 45 billion vehicle miles
  • traffic on all types of road increased in 2014 compared to 2013
  • rural minor roads (rural ‘B’, ‘C’ and unclassified roads) experienced the largest increase (5.5%), and motorways the smallest increase (1.6%). Traffic on motorways in 2014 reached an all-time high of 64.3 billion vehicle miles
  • traffic on the strategic road network (motorways and ‘A’ roads managed by Highways England) in 2014 was 86.9 billion vehicle miles; 32.7% of traffic in England

Contact us

Road traffic and vehicle speed compliance statistics

Email roadtraff.stats@dft.gov.uk

Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

Published 21 May 2015