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Road traffic statistics

South West

In 2024, 35.1 billion vehicle miles of traffic were travelled across the 31.1 thousand miles of roads in the South West.

Time period
1993 - 2024
Count points
4,704
Local authorities
18
ONS code
E12000009

Road traffic by vehicle type from 1993 to 2024

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

Road traffic by vehicle type table

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

Billion vehicle miles driven each year in the South West, split by vehicle type
Year All motor vehicles Cars & taxis LGVs HGVs Pedal cycles Motorcycles Buses & coaches
2024 35.1 27.0 6.3 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.2
2023 34.7 26.6 6.2 1.4 0.3 0.3 0.2
2022 33.9 25.8 6.2 1.4 0.3 0.3 0.2
2021 31.6 23.9 5.8 1.5 0.4 0.3 0.2
2020 27.8 21.0 5.2 1.3 0.5 0.2 0.1
2019 36.0 28.3 5.7 1.5 0.4 0.3 0.2
2018 35.3 27.7 5.6 1.4 0.4 0.3 0.2
2017 35.3 27.7 5.6 1.4 0.3 0.3 0.2
2016 34.3 26.9 5.4 1.4 0.3 0.4 0.2
2015 33.2 26.1 5.1 1.4 0.3 0.4 0.3
2014 32.6 25.8 4.8 1.4 0.3 0.4 0.3
2013 31.6 25.1 4.6 1.3 0.3 0.4 0.3
2012 31.4 25.0 4.5 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
2011 31.5 25.1 4.4 1.4 0.3 0.4 0.3
2010 31.5 25.1 4.4 1.4 0.3 0.4 0.3
2009 31.9 25.5 4.3 1.4 0.3 0.4 0.3
2008 32.1 25.5 4.4 1.5 0.3 0.4 0.3
2007 31.8 25.2 4.3 1.6 0.2 0.4 0.3
2006 31.3 25.1 4.0 1.5 0.2 0.4 0.3
2005 30.6 24.5 3.9 1.6 0.2 0.4 0.3
2004 30.0 24.1 3.7 1.6 0.2 0.4 0.3
2003 29.6 23.8 3.5 1.5 0.2 0.4 0.3
2002 29.0 23.6 3.3 1.5 0.2 0.4 0.3
2001 28.1 22.7 3.2 1.5 0.2 0.4 0.3
2000 27.4 22.1 3.1 1.5 0.2 0.3 0.3
1999 27.1 22.0 3.0 1.6 0.2 0.3 0.3
1998 26.7 21.7 2.9 1.5 0.2 0.3 0.3
1997 26.1 21.4 2.8 1.4 0.2 0.3 0.3
1996 25.7 21.1 2.6 1.4 0.2 0.3 0.3
1995 25.0 20.6 2.5 1.4 0.2 0.3 0.3
1994 24.5 20.2 2.5 1.3 0.2 0.3 0.2
1993 23.9 19.7 2.4 1.3 0.2 0.3 0.2

Road traffic by road type from 1993 to 2024

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

Road traffic by road type table

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

Billion vehicle miles driven each year in the South West, split by road type
Year A-roads Minor roads Motorways
2024 15.3 13.7 6.1
2023 15.0 13.7 6.0
2022 14.6 13.4 5.9
2021 13.2 13.1 5.3
2020 11.6 11.8 4.4
2019 15.4 14.5 6.1
2018 15.1 14.2 5.9
2017 15.0 14.4 5.9
2016 14.5 14.0 5.8
2015 14.0 13.5 5.7
2014 13.8 13.2 5.6
2013 13.6 12.6 5.4
2012 13.5 12.5 5.3
2011 13.7 12.4 5.4
2010 13.6 12.5 5.4
2009 13.8 12.6 5.4
2008 13.8 12.7 5.6
2007 13.7 12.6 5.4
2006 13.9 12.0 5.4
2005 13.8 11.6 5.2
2004 13.7 11.3 5.0
2003 13.6 11.1 4.9
2002 13.4 10.9 4.8
2001 13.1 10.3 4.7
2000 12.8 10.1 4.5
1999 12.7 9.9 4.5
1998 12.6 9.7 4.4
1997 12.4 9.6 4.2
1996 12.2 9.4 4.0
1995 12.0 9.3 3.8
1994 11.6 9.3 3.6
1993 11.3 9.1 3.5

Local authorities in the South 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 South West.
Traffic by vehicle type
The total volume of traffic across the South West each year, split by vehicle type.
Traffic by road type
The total volume of traffic across the South 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 South 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 South 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 South West.
Data Description Records Download
Count points Details of each count point in the South West. 4,704
Traffic by vehicle type The total volume of traffic across the South West each year, split by vehicle type. 32
Traffic by road type The total volume of traffic across the South West each year, split by road type. 141
Average annual daily flow The number of vehicles that travel (in all directions) past each count point in the South West on an average day of the year. 52,036
Average annual daily flow by direction The number of vehicles that travel past each count point in the South West on an average day of the year, split by direction of travel. 95,685
Raw counts The vehicle counts recorded at each count point in the South West. 510,120

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