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Road traffic statistics

North West

In 2024, 36.8 billion vehicle miles of traffic were travelled across the 23.0 thousand miles of roads in the North West.

Time period
1993 - 2024
Count points
5,610
Local authorities
26
ONS code
E12000002

Road traffic by vehicle type from 1993 to 2024

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in the North West, split by vehicle type

Road traffic by vehicle type table

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in the North West, split by vehicle type

Billion vehicle miles driven each year in the North West, split by vehicle type
Year All motor vehicles Cars & taxis LGVs HGVs Pedal cycles Motorcycles Buses & coaches
2024 36.8 28.6 6.0 1.8 0.3 0.2 0.2
2023 35.9 27.7 6.0 1.8 0.3 0.2 0.2
2022 35.1 26.9 6.0 1.9 0.4 0.2 0.2
2021 32.5 24.6 5.6 1.9 0.4 0.2 0.1
2020 29.1 21.9 5.1 1.8 0.4 0.2 0.1
2019 36.6 28.9 5.4 1.9 0.3 0.2 0.2
2018 35.8 28.3 5.3 1.9 0.3 0.2 0.2
2017 35.4 27.9 5.2 1.9 0.3 0.2 0.2
2016 35.3 27.7 5.1 1.9 0.3 0.2 0.3
2015 35.0 27.6 5.0 1.9 0.3 0.2 0.3
2014 34.5 27.4 4.8 1.8 0.3 0.2 0.3
2013 33.6 26.8 4.5 1.8 0.3 0.2 0.3
2012 33.5 26.7 4.4 1.8 0.3 0.2 0.3
2011 33.7 26.9 4.3 1.9 0.3 0.2 0.3
2010 33.4 26.7 4.1 2.1 0.3 0.2 0.3
2009 33.9 27.2 4.1 2.1 0.3 0.3 0.3
2008 34.1 27.2 4.2 2.2 0.3 0.2 0.3
2007 34.4 27.4 4.3 2.2 0.2 0.3 0.4
2006 34.3 27.4 4.1 2.2 0.3 0.3 0.4
2005 34.0 27.2 4.0 2.2 0.3 0.3 0.3
2004 34.2 27.5 3.9 2.2 0.3 0.3 0.3
2003 33.7 27.2 3.7 2.1 0.3 0.3 0.4
2002 33.6 27.3 3.5 2.1 0.3 0.3 0.4
2001 33.0 26.8 3.5 2.1 0.3 0.3 0.4
2000 32.5 26.4 3.4 2.1 0.3 0.2 0.4
1999 32.6 26.5 3.4 2.1 0.3 0.2 0.4
1998 32.1 26.0 3.4 2.1 0.2 0.2 0.4
1997 31.5 25.6 3.2 2.1 0.3 0.2 0.4
1996 30.8 25.2 3.1 2.0 0.3 0.2 0.4
1995 30.1 24.6 3.0 1.9 0.3 0.2 0.4
1994 29.4 24.1 2.9 1.9 0.3 0.2 0.3
1993 28.9 23.7 2.8 1.8 0.3 0.2 0.3

Road traffic by road type from 1993 to 2024

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in the North West, split by road type

Road traffic by road type table

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in the North West, split by road type

Billion vehicle miles driven each year in the North West, split by road type
Year A-roads Minor roads Motorways
2024 12.8 11.5 12.5
2023 12.4 11.3 12.2
2022 12.1 11.0 12.0
2021 11.1 10.6 10.8
2020 9.9 9.9 9.3
2019 12.8 11.5 12.3
2018 12.6 11.3 11.9
2017 12.4 11.0 11.9
2016 12.5 10.9 11.9
2015 12.3 11.0 11.8
2014 12.1 10.8 11.6
2013 11.9 10.4 11.3
2012 12.0 10.4 11.1
2011 12.1 10.3 11.3
2010 12.1 10.2 11.0
2009 12.4 10.4 11.2
2008 12.3 10.7 11.1
2007 12.4 10.9 11.1
2006 12.5 10.7 11.0
2005 12.5 10.8 10.7
2004 12.5 10.9 10.8
2003 12.3 11.0 10.4
2002 12.2 11.1 10.2
2001 12.1 10.9 10.0
2000 12.1 10.9 9.5
1999 12.1 11.1 9.4
1998 12.1 10.8 9.2
1997 12.0 10.7 8.8
1996 11.9 10.5 8.4
1995 11.7 10.4 8.0
1994 11.4 10.4 7.7
1993 11.2 10.2 7.5

Local authorities in the North West

Download data

Data disclaimer

Traffic figures at the regional and national level are robust, and are reported as accredited official statistics. However, DfT’s traffic estimates for individual road links and small areas are less robust, as they are not always based on up-to-date counts made at these locations. Where other more up-to-date sources of traffic data are available (e.g. from local highways authorities), this may provide a more accurate estimate of traffic at these locations.

It is the responsibility of the user to decide which data are most appropriate for their purpose, and if DfT road link level traffic estimates are used, to make a note of the limitations in any published material.

Quality flags in data downloads

DfT’s road link level traffic estimates are calculated using a variety of methods, with some methods likely to produce more accurate estimates than others.

The data tables available to download here contain a column - estimation_method – showing the method used to estimate traffic for each location and year. Figures having an estimation method of “Counted” are likely to be more accurate than those marked as “Estimated”, and the latter should be used with caution.

Count points
Details of each count point in the North West.
Traffic by vehicle type
The total volume of traffic across the North West each year, split by vehicle type.
Traffic by road type
The total volume of traffic across the North West each year, split by road type.
Average annual daily flow
The number of vehicles that travel (in all directions) past each count point in the North West on an average day of the year.
Average annual daily flow by direction
The number of vehicles that travel past each count point in the North West on an average day of the year, split by direction of travel.
Raw counts
The vehicle counts recorded at each count point in the North West.
Data Description Records Download
Count points Details of each count point in the North West. 5,610
Traffic by vehicle type The total volume of traffic across the North West each year, split by vehicle type. 32
Traffic by road type The total volume of traffic across the North West each year, split by road type. 160
Average annual daily flow The number of vehicles that travel (in all directions) past each count point in the North West on an average day of the year. 71,035
Average annual daily flow by direction The number of vehicles that travel past each count point in the North West on an average day of the year, split by direction of travel. 131,354
Raw counts The vehicle counts recorded at each count point in the North West. 598,692

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