general
Motor Traffic on All Roads: 1993-2005
Million vehicle kilometres
Vehicle type | 1993 | 1995 | 2000 | 2004 | 2005 |
|---|
Cars | 28,449 | 29,646 | 31,433 | 33,674 | 33,478 |
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Two-wheeled motor vehicles | 203 | 203 | 250 | 309 | 313 |
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Buses | 538 | 565 | 599 | 593 | 586 |
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Light goods vehicles | 3,591 | 3,832 | 4,591 | 5,283 | 5,460 |
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Heavy goods vehicles | 2,156 | 2,250 | 2,436 | 2,615 | 2,637 |
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Total | 34,938 | 36,496 | 39,319 | 42,474 | 42,475 |
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The pollutants emitted by road transport contribute greatly to poor air quality that damages human and ecosystem health. Transport emissions also contain carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases ( GHGs), which contribute to climate change. Leaded petrol was banned in the UK on 1 January 2000 as part of the European Strategy to reduce pollution from road traffic. 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 22% between 1993 and 2005. Major roads (motorways and 'A' roads) account for roughly two-thirds of the volume of motor traffic in Scotland. In addition, minor roads ('B', 'C' and unclassified) have almost 15 billion vehicle kilometres of traffic per year. Cars account for roughly 80% of road traffic.
SOURCE: DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT, SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE