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Road traffic statistics

Scotland

In 2024, 30.4 billion vehicle miles of traffic were travelled across the 37.1 thousand miles of roads in Scotland.

Time period
1993 - 2024
Count points
3,838
Local authorities
32
ONS code
S92000003

Road traffic by vehicle type from 1993 to 2024

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in Scotland, split by vehicle type

Road traffic by vehicle type table

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in Scotland, split by vehicle type

Billion vehicle miles driven each year in Scotland, split by vehicle type
Year All motor vehicles Cars & taxis LGVs HGVs Pedal cycles Motorcycles Buses & coaches
2024 30.4 22.4 6.0 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.3
2023 29.8 22.0 5.9 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.3
2022 29.2 21.4 5.8 1.6 0.3 0.2 0.3
2021 26.7 19.3 5.4 1.6 0.3 0.2 0.3
2020 23.2 16.8 4.6 1.4 0.4 0.1 0.2
2019 30.0 22.8 5.1 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.3
2018 29.7 22.6 5.1 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.3
2017 29.7 22.4 5.1 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.3
2016 28.9 22.1 4.8 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.3
2015 28.0 21.5 4.4 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.4
2014 27.6 21.3 4.2 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.4
2013 27.0 20.9 4.0 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.4
2012 26.8 20.8 3.9 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.4
2011 26.6 20.7 3.8 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.4
2010 26.6 20.7 3.8 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.4
2009 26.9 21.0 3.7 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.4
2008 27.1 21.0 3.8 1.7 0.2 0.2 0.4
2007 27.2 21.1 3.8 1.7 0.1 0.2 0.4
2006 26.8 21.1 3.5 1.7 0.2 0.2 0.4
2005 26.0 20.5 3.3 1.6 0.1 0.2 0.4
2004 26.0 20.6 3.2 1.6 0.1 0.2 0.4
2003 26.0 20.6 3.2 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.4
2002 25.7 20.6 3.0 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.4
2001 24.7 19.8 2.9 1.5 0.1 0.2 0.4
2000 24.4 19.5 2.9 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.4
1999 24.6 19.6 2.9 1.5 0.1 0.2 0.4
1998 24.2 19.4 2.8 1.5 0.1 0.1 0.4
1997 23.8 19.2 2.7 1.5 0.1 0.1 0.4
1996 23.3 18.9 2.5 1.4 0.1 0.1 0.4
1995 22.7 18.4 2.4 1.4 0.1 0.1 0.4
1994 22.2 18.1 2.3 1.4 0.1 0.1 0.3
1993 21.7 17.7 2.2 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.3

Road traffic by road type from 1993 to 2024

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in Scotland, split by road type

Road traffic by road type table

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in Scotland, split by road type

Billion vehicle miles driven each year in Scotland, split by road type
Year A-roads Minor roads Motorways
2024 14.2 10.8 5.4
2023 14.0 10.5 5.4
2022 13.7 10.3 5.2
2021 12.4 9.6 4.6
2020 10.9 8.3 3.9
2019 14.6 10.1 5.4
2018 14.3 10.2 5.3
2017 14.5 10.2 5.0
2016 14.3 9.8 4.9
2015 13.9 9.5 4.6
2014 13.7 9.3 4.6
2013 13.5 8.9 4.5
2012 13.5 8.9 4.4
2011 13.6 8.9 4.1
2010 13.6 9.0 4.0
2009 13.8 8.9 4.1
2008 13.7 9.2 4.2
2007 13.9 9.2 4.1
2006 13.9 8.9 4.0
2005 13.6 8.6 3.8
2004 13.7 8.5 3.8
2003 13.5 8.8 3.6
2002 13.4 8.7 3.6
2001 12.9 8.4 3.5
2000 12.7 8.3 3.4
1999 13.0 8.3 3.2
1998 12.9 8.1 3.2
1997 12.8 8.0 3.0
1996 12.6 7.9 2.8
1995 12.2 7.8 2.7
1994 11.9 7.8 2.6
1993 11.6 7.7 2.5

Local authorities in Scotland

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 Scotland.
Traffic by vehicle type
The total volume of traffic across Scotland each year, split by vehicle type.
Traffic by road type
The total volume of traffic across Scotland each year, split by road type.
Average annual daily flow
The number of vehicles that travel (in all directions) past each count point in Scotland on an average day of the year.
Average annual daily flow by direction
The number of vehicles that travel past each count point in Scotland on an average day of the year, split by direction of travel.
Raw counts
The vehicle counts recorded at each count point in Scotland.
Data Description Records Download
Count points Details of each count point in Scotland. 3,838
Traffic by vehicle type The total volume of traffic across Scotland each year, split by vehicle type. 32
Traffic by road type The total volume of traffic across Scotland each year, split by road type. 139
Average annual daily flow The number of vehicles that travel (in all directions) past each count point in Scotland on an average day of the year. 65,027
Average annual daily flow by direction The number of vehicles that travel past each count point in Scotland on an average day of the year, split by direction of travel. 118,939
Raw counts The vehicle counts recorded at each count point in Scotland. 314,544

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