Scottish Government

A National Statistics Publication for Scotland

Statistical News Release - PDF version

22nd November 2010

SCOTTISH HOUSEHOLD SURVEY: TRAVEL DIARY RESULTS 2009

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published 2009 results from the Scottish Houhsehold Survey Travel Diary. These web-tables can be found on the Scottish Government website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Transport-Travel/PubSHSTravDiary

Main Findings

Journeys, mode and purpose

• The percentage of adults who made a journey the previous day - using any mode of transport - fell between 2008 and 2009 - 78.5% to 76.6%.This fall was more apparent for males than females.

• Half (51%) of all journeys in 2009 were driven (by car or van) compared to just over one fifth (22%) walking and just over a tenth (11%) using public transport, similar to recent years.

• The majority of journeys were for commuting or shopping purposes (24% and 23% respectively).Eleven per cent of journeys were made to visit friends/relatives and 8% for sport/entertainment, similar to recent years.

Distance, duration, time and day of travel

• Most journeys (63%) were less than 5km, half (50%) were less than 3km and 40% were less than 2km.

• The majority of journeys (71%) took less than 20 minutes.Thirty eight per cent took between 5 and 10 minutes, with only 6% taking longer than an hour.

• In 2009, there were more journeys carried out in the morning (between 7am and 12pm) than in 2008 (36% vs 34%).However, there were fewer carried out in the evening (after 6.30pm) in 2009 compared to 2008 (16% vs 17%).

• More journeys were undertaken on a Sunday than in 2008, rising from 11.7% to 13.7%, whilst journeys made on a Friday fell (from 15.9% to 14.3%).

Car occupancy and congestion

• Across Scotland the average number of occupants in a car was 1.6 (similar to recent years).Thirteen per cent of car journeys had 3 or more occupants (rising from 12% in 2007).

• Eleven per cent of drivers experienced traffic congestion in 2009 lower than 2008 (13%) but similar to congestion levels in 2003.

• Congestion experienced by bus users also fell between 2008 and 2009 (14% to 10%).

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

1.The full statistical publication can be accessed at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Transport-Travel/PubSHSTravDiary

2.The SHS Travel Diary involves interviews with about 10,000 households across Scotland each year and covers journeys made the previous day.Like any survey the results may vary from year to year depending upon the composition of the sample.3.The SHS Travel Diary covers travel for personal purposes. This includes commuting and journeys in the course of work for which the purpose is for the traveller to reach a destination.However, it does not cover travel in the course of their work by people who are employed (e.g. to drive buses or lorries, to deliver letters or parcels etc.).

4.The Travel Diary format changed slightly from 2007 onwards. The inclusion of short journeys (less that ¼ mile or 5 minutes on foot) means that some time series data may not be strictly comparable.

5.Detailed SHS Travel Diary results are published every two years. Today's webtables releases annual results up to 2009 only.Detailed 2009/10 results will be published next year.

6.This bulletin publishes SHS Travel Diary statistics which underpin Scotland's National Indicator on congestion. More information on Scotland's National Indicators can be found on the Scotland Performs website.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/indicators/reduceCongestion

7.Further information on Transport and Travel statistics within Scotlandcan be accessed at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/statistics/browse/Transport-travel

8.Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff - more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotlandcan be accessed at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About

Press Contact: Sarah O'Loughlin : 0141-272 7199