Motor traffic declines in Q3

Date: 10/11/2011

There has been a decline in traffic across Britain, a new government report has revealed.

Released by the Department for Transport, the figures detail estimates for the number of motorists on the roads in the third quarter of 2011.

All motor vehicle traffic went down by 0.5 per cent in the third quarter of the year compared with the same time in 2010.

Similarly, heavy goods vehicle traffic dipped by two per cent, while there was a one per cent drop in car volumes.

However, light van traffic bucked this trend, as it experienced an increase of one per cent during the time frame.

Some differences were also noted on the various types of roads in the UK, as there was a two per cent decline in thoroughfare on rural A roads compared with a one per cent increase on the same routes in urban areas.

The volume of traffic on motorways remained at around the same level.

Last month, Transport Minister Norman Baker announced the government is to undertake its biggest traffic sign review for 40 years and is likely to relax some current rules.

Posted by Mary Treen