Road traffic statistics information
Guide to road traffic statistics, their source documents, notes and definitions plus supporting technical documents.
Road traffic statistics overview
Road traffic statistics provide estimates of the vehicle miles travelled each year in Great Britain. We release both quarterly and annual estimates. To monitor transport activity on a timelier basis for topical issues relating to transport, daily traffic trends are published monthly.
Annual road traffic statistics information
Annual traffic statistics are compiled using data from around 8,000 roadside 12-hour manual counts, continuous data from automatic traffic counters, and data on road lengths. The annual publication provides estimates at the national, regional and local authority level.
Quarterly provisional road traffic statistics information
Quarterly provisional estimates are based on traffic data collected continuously from a network of around 300 automatic traffic counters. The quarterly publication provides estimates at Great Britain level.
Minor roads traffic estimate review
As part of our continuous review of road traffic methodology, the Department for Transport’s Road Traffic Statistics Team are undertaking a deep dive into minor road traffic methodology. The report summarises the outcome of the historic minor road traffic estimate review, which has been implemented in the latest publications. It also includes further details of planned areas for further investigation and development on future annual minor road traffic estimates.
Minor road traffic estimates review: frequently asked questions
Minor road traffic estimates review: technical report
Daily road traffic trends information
To monitor transport activity on a timelier basis for topical issues relating to transport, daily traffic trends are published as part of the publication Domestic transport use by mode: Great Britain.
COVID-19 domestic transport data: methodology note
General road traffic statistics information
Accredited official statistics status of road traffic statistics
The department’s road traffic statistics team conducted a review of the traffic estimates for Great Britain, with outcomes published in July 2018. The overview document gives a summary to the review, and the conclusions. Alongside the overview document, detailed reports on projects from the review were published as the projects were completed.