DfT reveals freight statistics for European journeys

Date: 24/2/2012

The number of goods vehicles travelling from the UK to mainland Europe remained steady in 2011, figures show.

Published by the Department for Transport (DfT), data revealed 2.47 million of these vehicles made the journey last year - unchanged from the level seen in 2010.

Although this is 15 per cent lower than the peak seen in 2007, it was a 50 per cent increase on 1996's figure.

While 660,000 of the vehicles were unaccompanied trailers, 1.91 million were powered motors - a one per cent growth on 2010.

The majority of powered vehicles travelled to mainland Europe via the Dover Straits Port Group, which includes the Channel Tunnel, while most unaccompanied trailers used the North Sea Port Group.

Earlier this month, figures from Accident Exchange revealed foreign lorry accidents in the UK cost around £57 million every year, while these trucks were 'at fault' in one in every 31 motorway accidents between December 2010 and the same time the following year.

Posted by Nick Anderson