Road Travel Trends.pdf

The total distance traveled on roads in Great Britain has plateaued in the last decade, after decades of strong growth.
The total distance traveled in 2013 was 304 billion vehicle miles, compared to 29 billion in 1949.
Growth in road traffic slowed down in recent decades, with a 12% increase in the decade to 2007, compared to 28% in the preceding decade.
Traffic volumes fell during the economic recession, but have started to grow again, with a 2.2% increase in all motor vehicle traffic in the third quarter of 2014.
The trends in road use vary across different areas, with different factors influencing road travel in different regions.
Income, driving costs, and the location of where people live and work are major determinants of the volume of road travel.

Factors Influencing Road Travel:

GDP, incomes, and employment
The costs of driving
Company car taxation
Population growth, population density, and urbanization
Migration
The impacts of technology
Household and family formation
Attitudes to driving and the environment
Market saturation
Network effects

Future Trends:

Growth in road traffic is expected to resume, driven by income, driving costs, and the location of where people live and work.
The Department for Transport will publish updated road transport forecasts soon.
* The Department will continue to develop its evidence base and engage with experts to ensure that its work and thinking are fully informed by the views of the transport community.