1. Main points
1.1 Men were more likely to drive: 57% of men reported driving on the previous day, compared to 43% of women. Women were also much more likely to be a passenger than their male counterparts (18% vs. 9%). [ Table14]
1.2 Most journeys were driven: Half of all journeys in 2007/2008 were driven compared to over a third (34%) by sustainable modes of transport, which includes walking and public transport. [ Table 14]
1.3 The majority of all commuting journeys had only one occupant in the car. Around 63% of all commuting journeys were as a driver of a car or van, compared to only 19% for education. Of all commuting journeys, 85 per cent had only one occupant in the car/van. [ Tables 14, 24]
1.4 Across Scotland the average number of occupants in a car/van was 1.6. Commuting journeys had a lower average number of occupants per vehicle (1.2), as did those journeys starting before 7am (1.3). Conversely, journeys at the weekend had a higher average number of occupants per vehicle (1.7). [ Table 24]
1.5 Car usage increased with income; bus usage decreased. 65% of journeys reported by high income households (net income over £40,000 p.a.) were by car, compared to 28% of journeys made by those in low income households (up to £10,000 p.a.). Correspondingly, only 4% of journeys made by high income households were by bus, four times lower than respondents in low income households. [ Table 14]
1.6 The majority of journeys were less than 5 km. In 2007/2008, the average (mean) journey distance was 10 km, compared to a median of only 3 km. This showed that half of all journeys were 3km or less; in fact 40% were less than 2 km. Over half (53%) of all driver journeys were less than 5 km, with 28% less than 2km. [ Tables 18, 20]
1.7 13% of driver journeys were delayed by congestion in 2008, compared to 14% in 2007. [ Table 10]