Road traffic estimates in Great Britain, 2023: Headline figures
Published 22 May 2024
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
© Crown copyright 2024
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/road-traffic-estimates-in-great-britain-2023/road-traffic-estimates-in-great-britain-2023-headline-figures
About this release
This release presents the headline figures from the 2023 annual estimates of traffic on Great Britain’s roads.
Please see the companion releases for a breakdown by vehicle type, a breakdown by road type, a breakdown for England’s road networks.
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. Please see our methodology note for more details.
The next annual traffic statistics release is expected to be published in May 2025, reporting 2024 traffic figures.
This publication includes both accredited official statistics[footnote 1] and official statistics. For more information, see the background information section.
Headline figures
Traffic levels in 2023 were higher than 2022 but remain below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
Chart 1: Vehicle miles travelled in Great Britain, 2013 to 2023
Chart 1 is a bar chart that shows that 330.8 billion vehicle miles were driven on Great Britain’s roads in 2023, an increase of 2.2% compared to 2022. Traffic in 2023 was 2.3% lower when compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
As shown in the chart, vehicle miles travelled in Great Britain saw year-on-year growth in each year between 2013 and 2019, and then saw a sharp decline in 2020 followed by increases in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Traffic in Great Britain by vehicle type
This section provides the headline figures. Please see the companion release for more information about traffic by vehicle type.
In 2023, traffic levels for cars, buses and coaches and lorries were below pre-pandemic (2019) levels, whereas vans and motorcycles were above the 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Pedal cycles were similar to pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
Chart 2: Vehicle miles travelled by vehicle type in Great Britain, 2019 to 2023
Chart 2 is a bar chart that shows that in 2023:
-
car traffic increased by 3.0% from 2022 levels to 251.3 billion vehicle miles. 2023 car traffic estimates are lower than those for before the pandemic (-4.4% when compared to 2019)
-
van traffic showed little change from 2022 at 57.8 billion vehicle miles. Van traffic estimates for 2023 are higher than levels before the pandemic (+8.1% when compared to 2019)
-
lorry traffic decreased by 2.5% from 2022 to 16.9 billion vehicle miles. 2023 lorry traffic estimates are lower than levels before the pandemic (-1.6% when compared to 2019)
-
bus and coach traffic decreased by 1.7% from 2022 levels to 1.9 billion vehicle miles. 2023 bus and coach traffic estimates remain lower than those for before the pandemic (-18.6% when compared to 2019)
-
motorcycle traffic showed little change from 2022 at 2.9 billion vehicle miles in 2023. Motorcycle traffic estimates for 2023 are higher than levels before the pandemic (+6.8% when compared to 2019)
-
pedal cycle traffic (cyclists on public highways, and the paths next to them[footnote 2]) was 3.6 billion vehicle miles, 7.3% below 2022 levels. 2023 cycle traffic estimates are broadly similar to levels before the pandemic (-0.4% when compared to 2019)
Table 1: Estimates of vehicle miles travelled in Great Britain in 2023 compared to earlier years
| Vehicle type | Latest year 2023 | Last year 2022 | Pre-pandemic 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All motor vehicle traffic | 330.8 billion | +2.2% | −2.3% |
| Cars and taxis | 251.3 billion | +3.0% | −4.4% |
| Light commercial vehicles | 57.8 billion | +0.5% | +8.1% |
| Heavy goods vehicles | 16.9 billion | −2.5% | −1.6% |
| Buses and coaches | 1.9 billion | −1.7% | −18.6% |
| Motorcycles and scooters | 2.9 billion | +0.5% | +6.8% |
| Pedal cycles | 3.6 billion | −7.3% | −0.4% |
Traffic in Great Britain by road type
This section provides the headline figures. Please see the companion release for more information about traffic by road type.
All road types saw an increase in traffic levels during 2023 compared to 2022. All road types saw a decrease when comparing 2023 levels to 2019.
Chart 3: Vehicle miles travelled by road type in Great Britain, 2019 to 2023
Chart 3 is a bar chart that shows that in 2023:
-
motorway traffic increased by 2.4% compared to 2022, carrying 69.9 billion vehicle miles. Motorway traffic estimates for 2023 are lower than those for before the pandemic (-0.9% when compared to 2019)
-
‘A’ road traffic saw an increase of 2.5% from 2022, to 145.6 billion vehicle miles. ‘A’ roads traffic estimates for 2023 are lower than those for before the pandemic (-3.1% when compared to 2019)
-
minor road traffic increased by 1.7% since 2022, carrying 115.4 billion vehicle miles. 2023 minor road traffic estimates are lower when compared to those before the pandemic (-2.2% when compared to 2019)
Table 2: Estimates of vehicle miles travelled in Great Britain in 2023 compared to earlier years
| Road type | Latest year 2023 | Last year 2022 | Pre-pandemic 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All roads | 330.8 billion | +2.2% | −2.3% |
| Motorways | 69.9 billion | +2.4% | −0.9% |
| ‘A’ roads | 145.6 billion | +2.5% | −3.1% |
| Minor roads | 115.4 billion | +1.7% | −2.2% |
Traffic on England’s road networks
This section provides the headline figures. Please see the companion release for more information about traffic on England’s road networks.
All of England’s road networks saw an increase in traffic levels during 2023 compared to 2022. All of England’s road networks saw a decrease when comparing 2023 to 2019.
Chart 4: Vehicle miles travelled by road type in England, 2019 to 2023
Chart 4 is a bar chart that shows that in 2023:
-
Strategic Road Network traffic increased by 2.3% compared to 2022, carrying 95.8 billion vehicle miles of traffic. 2023 Strategic Road Network traffic estimates were lower than those for before the pandemic (-1.0% when compared to 2019)
-
traffic on England’s local authority managed motorways and ‘A’ roads, compared to 2022, increased by 2.6% to 88.5 billion vehicle miles
-
traffic on England’s local authority managed minor roads increased by 1.8% compared to 2022, to 98.1 billion vehicle miles
Table 3: Estimates of vehicle miles travelled in England in 2023 compared to earlier years
| Road type | Latest year 2023 | Last year 2022 | Pre-pandemic 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All roads in England | 282.5 billion | +2.2% | −2.4% |
| Strategic Road Network | 95.8 billion | +2.3% | −1.0% |
| Local authority motorways and ‘A’ roads | 88.5 billion | +2.6% | −3.5% |
| Local authority minor roads | 98.1 billion | +1.8% | −2.8% |
Background information
Annual estimates make use of data from around 8,000 manual traffic counts in addition to continuous data from a national network of automatic traffic counters (ATCs). These data sources produce accurate estimates on traffic levels in Great Britain by vehicle type and by road type.
This publication is a compendium of both accredited official statistics[footnote 1] and official statistics. The type of statistics presented is detailed below.
- Accredited official statistics: National and regional road traffic estimates and flow estimates
(Datasets: TRA0101 to TRA0106, TRA0202 to TRA0206, TRA0301 to TRA0303, TRA0401 to TRA0413, TRA3105, TRA4101 to TRA4116, TRA4201 to TRA4216)
These official statistics were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in February 2013. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled ‘accredited official statistics’.
- Other official statistics: Temporal road traffic estimates
(Datasets: TRA0305 to TRA0308)
Traffic temporal distributions are not as robust, as they are based on only the ATC data, and must be treated with caution. These statistics are official statistics. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality, and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics.
- Other official statistics: Static road network road traffic estimates
(Datasets: TRA4201 to TRA4216)
Traffic estimates based on a static road management status were developed after the last review of these statistics. These statistics are official statistics. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality, and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics.
- Other official statistics: Local authority road traffic estimates
(Datasets: TRA8901 to TRA8907)
Traffic at this level is not as robust, due to the sample size of the minor road data, and must be treated with caution. These statistics are official statistics. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality, and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics.
Further information about these statistics is available, including:
-
a detailed explanation of the methodology used to produce DfT road traffic statistics can be found online in the annual road traffic estimates: methodology note
-
notes and definitions for the road traffic statistics
-
the data tables, which give further detail of the key results presented in this statistical release
-
a geographical website that allows users to view and download estimated traffic flows on every link of the ‘A’ road and motorway network in Great Britain
Details of ministers and officials who receive pre-release access to these statistics up to 24 hours before release can be found on the pre-release access page.
Other traffic statistics publications:
Publication of provisional quarterly road traffic estimates
Provisional road traffic estimates, Great Britain is a quarterly statistical publication which includes estimates of road traffic on Great Britain’s roads for each quarter. The road traffic figures are based on the data collected from automatic traffic counters (one of the sources used in this annual publication).
Publication of daily road traffic trends
Daily domestic transport use by mode is a monthly statistical publication which includes estimates of road traffic change on Great Britain’s roads for each day since 1 March 2020. The road traffic figures in the monthly publication use the same data source as the provisional statistics that are published quarterly (above). However, to achieve a daily estimate of traffic change, lower levels of validation have been applied compared to the statistical outputs presented here. Further information is available in the corresponding methodology note.
Users and uses of road traffic estimates
We continuously review the content of these statistics to ensure they are meeting users’ needs. We welcome feedback via email by contacting the road traffic statistics team.
Road traffic data are a key source of management information on the country’s infrastructure. Main uses of road traffic statistics include:
National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI): Road traffic statistics are used to produce the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI), a legal requirement for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Transport Modelling: The Department for Transport’s National Transport Model uses most traffic and speeds outputs to make forecasts and to inform policy decisions on a broad range of issues.
Local transport planning: Local authorities (including Transport for London) and devolved governments use the data for transport planning, road engineering and policy monitoring at a regional or local level.
Road collisions and safety statistics: Road collisions and safety statistics use annual and quarterly traffic estimates to produce road safety and casualty rates, as used for the monitoring of road safety policies.
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: This department uses traffic data on major roads to contribute towards the funding settlement for local authorities.
Public users: The Department for Transport receives over 200,000 visits annually to the traffic counts website and its underlying datasets, which provide street-level traffic data for every junction-to-junction link on the ‘A’ road and motorway network in Great Britain.
Instructions for printing and saving
Depending on which browser you use and the type of device you use (such as a mobile or laptop) these instructions may vary.
You will find your print and save options in your browser’s menu. You may also have other options available on your device. Tablets and mobile device instructions will be specific to the make and model of the device.
How to search
Select Ctrl and F on a Windows laptop or Command and F on a Mac
This will open a search box in the top right-hand corner of the page. Type the word you are looking for in the search bar and press enter.
Your browser will highlight the word, usually in yellow, wherever it appears on the page. Press enter to move to the next place it appears.
Contact details
Road traffic and vehicle speed compliance statistics
Email roadtraff.stats@dft.gov.uk
Media enquiries 0300 7777 878
To hear more about DfT statistical publications as they are released, follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) at DfTstats.
-
Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 ↩ ↩2
-
Estimates for pedal cycle traffic only include cycling on public highways, and on cycle paths and footpaths adjacent to them. Cycle activity elsewhere (for example on canal towpaths, byways or bridleways) is not included in road traffic statistics. Therefore, they may not give a complete representation of cycling. DfT statistics on walking and cycling provide further analyses from other sources, such as the National Travel Survey (NTS) and Sport England’s Active Lives Survey (ALS). ↩