Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2013

Motor Traffic on All Roads: 1993-2012

The pollutants emitted by road transport contribute greatly to poor air quality that damages human and ecosystem health. Fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) are the pollutants of most concern, due primarily to their effects on human health. Oxides of nitrogen (NO_x), of which NO₂ is a component, contribute to the formation of ozone that can impact on both human health and plant growth. Transport emissions also contain carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs), which contribute to climate change. A reduction in the volume of road traffic would help to achieve reductions in GHG emissions and concentrations of atmospheric pollutants.

Since 1993, the volume of motor traffic on roads in Scotland has increased by 24% to some 43.2 billion vehicle kilometres in 2012. However, since 2007 there has been a reduction in motorised road traffic with 2011 levels 3% less than the peak in 2007. 2012 saw a slight increase in comparison to previous years. In 2012, major roads (motorways and 'A' roads) accounted for approximately two thirds of the volume of motor traffic in Scotland. In addition, minor roads ('B', 'C' and unclassified) accounted for 14.4 billion vehicle kilometres of traffic. Much of the growth in road traffic has been by light goods vehicles, which showed a 70% increase in vehicle kilometres since 1993.

Source: Department for Transport / Metadata