Chapter 5: Road Traffic

Chapter 5: Road Traffic

Chapter 5: Road Traffic

1 Introduction

1.1 This chapter provides information about road traffic, such as the total volume of traffic by type of road, by type of vehicle, and by council area. It also provides some figures on traffic flows at selected points on the road network, some statistics on delays and congestion and information about petrol and diesel consumption.

1.2 Traffic estimates, indicate only the broad level of traffic, so year on year comparisons should be made with care as they are based on a very small cross-section of the roads in Scotland: 12 hours in one day traffic counts taken at around 750 sites per year and data from automatic traffic counters at about two dozen sites in Scotland (then combined with data from automatic counters at similar sites in England and Wales). See Sources section.

Key Points

  • 48 billion vehicle km were driven in 2017
  • 39% of distance travelled is on Trunk roads, which account for only 7% of the road network.
  • 12.3% of driver journeys were delayed by congestion between 2015 and 2017.

2 Main Points

Major & Minor Roads

2.1 The estimated volume of traffic on Scotland's roads in 2017 was around 48 billion (thousand million) vehicle km: 3.2% more than 2016. There have been slight increases in the last six years, following the steady downward trend seen between 2007 and 2011. (Table 5.1)

2.2 The total volume of traffic on major roads (Motorways and A roads) in 2017 was estimated to be 31 billion vehicle-km. Traffic on Motorways accounted for 8.1 billion vehicle km (17% of all traffic).  This was less than the estimated 10 billion vehicle km on trunk A roads (21% of the total), and the 12.9 billion on non-trunk A roads (26%).  Seventy per cent of A road traffic was in rural areas: 16.1 billion out of the A roads total of 23.4 billion vehicle km.  (Table 5.1

2.3 Minor roads (B, C and unclassified roads) accounted for the remaining 36% of traffic in 2017: an estimated 16.6 billion vehicle km  (Table 5.1)   

2.5 The total volume of traffic on major roads (Motorways and A roads) in 2017 was 2% higher than in the previous year (Motorways increased by 3%). Minor road traffic was about 6% higher than in 2016. Traffic levels are around 7 per cent higher than in 2006.  (Table 5.1)

Trends

2.6 DfT estimates suggest a rising trend in traffic volumes on major roads in Scotland, reaching a peak in 2007 when numbers levelled off, 5 per cent higher than they had been in 2003.  Traffic volumes then fell back slightly but after increases since 2011 are now 7% higher than they were in 2007.  Motorway traffic saw a 14 per cent rise between 2003 and 2008, fell slightly over the next two years and has started to rise again over the last seven years; now 21% higher than the earlier peak in 2008. (Table 5.1)

2.7 Traffic on minor roads is estimated to have risen by 9% between 2003 and 2007, falling by 6% between then and 2012, before rising again. The total volume of traffic on all roads in Scotland was also estimated to have risen by 6% between 2003 and 2007, falling by 2% between then and 2011, before rising again. (Table 5.1)    

2.8 Cars account for over three quarters (75%) of the total volume of traffic on the roads (i.e. of the total for major roads and minor roads combined), light goods vehicles for 17% and heavy goods vehicles for 5%. After falls in the previous two years, pedal cycle traffic increased slightly in 2017. However, with pedal cycle traffic volumes increasing by 20% since 2007, pedal cycles still account for less than one percent of estimated traffic volume.  (Table 5.2 & 5.3)  

2.9 In 2017, the volume of car traffic was 5 per cent higher than in 2007, light goods vehicle traffic 31 per cent higher, but heavy goods vehicle traffic 7% lower. (Table 5.3

Local Area volumes

2.10 A fifth of motorway traffic was within the City of Glasgow, whereas Highland had the highest volume (16%) of trunk A road traffic. The five local authorities with the highest traffic volumes (Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Edinburgh, Fife and Aberdeenshire) account for 33% of all traffic on Scotland’s roads. (Table 5.4)     

2.11 The monthly average daily traffic flows recorded at a selection of Automated Traffic Classifier (ATC) sites are given in Table 5.6. The average flow (both directions) at the A80 Cumbernauld site was around 65,000 vehicles per day. In contrast, the average daily flow at the A835 Aultguish site was around 1,600 vehicles. Traffic levels also vary considerably depending on the month: e.g. the A83 Ardrishaig site in September averaged around 7,000 vehicles per day – compared to under 2,000 in January.  (Table 5.6 & 5.7)

2.12 Some trunk road traffic flows are given in Table 5.7. The A80 Cumbernauld was the busiest site from this sample, with an annual average of 64,599 vehicles per day in 2017. Its Monday-Friday average was 50,862 vehicles per day. The A74(M) had the highest Monday-Friday peak hourly flows at 2,641 vehicles in the morning and 2,904 vehicles in the evening.  At the opposite end of the scale, the A835 Aultguish averaged 1,596 vehicles per day over the year as a whole and its Monday-Friday peak hourly flows were around 200 in the morning and 100 in the afternoon. The A7 Langholm and the A75 Carsluith both had the highest percentage of heavy goods vehicle traffic in 2017 at 25% for the week, followed by the M80 Bankhead (16%). (Table 5.7)

Delays and Congestion

2.13 In previous editions of STS Table 5.8 estimated the time lost by traffic due to delays on trunk road routes monitored by Transport Scotland. This table is no longer being updated due to number of factors, including major changes to the network which would have required a substantial rework to the methodology.

2.14 The Scottish Household Survey provides estimates of delays attributed to congestion experienced by drivers (on the previous day). Between 2015 and 2017, 12.3% of journeys made as the driver of a car were said to be delayed due to traffic congestion.  This figure is broadly comparable to congestion level peak in 2007 of around 14%.  Short delays were more common than longer ones - 4% of car drivers’ journeys were delayed by around 5 minutes compared to almost 2% by 15 minutes and 2% by 20 minutes or longer.  Weekday journeys were most likely to suffer congestion delays between 7 and 9 am and 4 and 6 pm (23-25% and 24-28% respectively).  Fewer delays (4%) were experienced by people residing in remote small towns than those in accessible small towns (10%). (Tables 5.8 and 5.9)

2.15 These statistics no longer feature in Scotland’s National Indicator on driver congestion in their old form.  More information on National Indicators can be found on the Scotland Performs website: http://www.gov.scot/About/Performance/scotPerforms/indicator/congestion

2.16 Delays experienced by bus users have fallen since 2008, though changes in recent years are not significant due to small sample sizes.  (Table 5.9)

Fuel Consumption

2.17 DECC estimates suggest that the traffic on Scotland's roads consumed just over 3 million tonnes of petrol and diesel in 2016.  This figure includes fuel purchased outwith Scotland which is consumed in Scotland, and excludes fuel purchased in Scotland which is used outwith Scotland.  It is estimated using information about average fuel consumption, vehicle emissions and traffic volumes - see Notes and Definitions section, page 252.

2.18 Petrol and diesel consumption has been falling since 2007. There has been a steady fall in petrol consumption in cars over the period and an increase in diesel cars, reflecting trends in vehicle propulsion shown in Chapter 1 i.e. increases in the proportion of diesel powered vehicles on the roads and reductions in petrol powered vehicles. (Table 5.10)

Figure 5.1: Scottish Trunk Road Map

Figure 5.1: Scottish Trunk Road Map

Table 5.1: Traffic (vehicle kilometres) by road class and type  
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1 2015 2016 1 2017
million vehicle kilometres
Motorways 6,577 6,683 6,633 6,503 6,570 7,140 7,262 7,421 7,477 7,829 8,054
Trunk A roads
Urban * 928 942 952 945 951 973 960 965 960 988 1,818
Rural * 9,042 8,878 8,960 8,773 8,793 8,678 8,766 8,726 8,905 9,160 8,648
Total 9,970 9,820 9,913 9,719 9,744 9,651 9,725 9,691 9,864 10,147 10,466
Non-trunk A roads
Urban * 4,505 4,493 4,530 4,522 4,471 4,395 4,390 4,478 4,501 4,609 5,399
Rural * 7,933 7,813 7,885 7,752 7,781 7,666 7,670 7,856 8,029 8,262 7,488
Total 12,438 12,307 12,415 12,273 12,252 12,061 12,061 12,334 12,530 12,871 12,887
All A roads
Urban * 5,433 5,435 5,482 5,467 5,422 5,368 5,350 5,443 5,461 5,597 7,217
Rural * 16,975 16,691 16,845 16,525 16,574 16,344 16,436 16,582 16,934 17,422 16,136
Total 22,408 22,126 22,327 21,992 21,996 21,712 21,786 22,025 22,395 23,019 23,353
All major roads 28,986 28,810 28,961 28,496 28,565 28,853 29,048 29,446 29,872 30,848 31,407
1 1 1 1
B roads
Urban * 1,335 1,315 1,283 1,246 1,250 1,254 1,235 1,263 1,261 1,253 1,566
Rural * 2,734 2,748 2,661 2,660 2,577 2,502 2,519 2,662 2,711 2,748 2,677
Total 4,069 4,063 3,944 3,906 3,827 3,756 3,754 3,925 3,972 4,001 4,243
C & Unclassified roads
Urban * 7,133 7,079 6,942 6,732 6,767 6,813 6,725 6,891 6,890 6,960 8,299
Rural * 4,479 4,517 4,371 4,354 4,232 4,127 4,314 4,578 4,639 4,650 4,038
Total 11,611 11,596 11,314 11,086 10,998 10,941 11,038 11,469 11,530 11,610 12,337
All minor roads
Urban * 8,468 8,394 8,225 7,978 8,016 8,067 7,960 8,154 8,151 8,214 9,865
Rural * 7,212 7,266 7,033 7,014 6,809 6,630 6,832 7,240 7,350 7,398 6,715
All minor roads 15,680 15,659 15,258 14,992 14,825 14,696 14,792 15,393 15,502 15,611 16,580
-1
Motorways 6,577 6,683 6,633 6,503 6,570 7,140 7,262 7,421 7,477 7,829 8,054
Urban * 13,901 13,829 13,708 13,445 13,438 13,434 13,310 13,597 13,612 13,810 17,082
Rural * 24,187 23,957 23,878 23,539 23,383 22,974 23,269 23,822 24,284 24,819 22,851
All roads 44,666 44,470 44,219 43,488 43,390 43,549 43,840 44,839 45,374 46,459 47,986

 

Table 5.2: Traffic (vehicle kilometres) on major roads (by class / type) and minor roads (by type) by vehicle type, 2017
Cars Two wheeled motor vehicles Buses Light goods vehicles Heavy goods vehicles All motor vehicles Pedal cycles All vehicle traffic Percent of all roads
million vehicle kilometres
Motorways 1 5,829 25 47 1,260 893 8,054 0 8,054 16.8
Trunk A roads - urban 2 1,403 8 13 275 117 1,816 1 1,818 3.8
Trunk A roads - rural 2 6,350 70 85 1,381 755 8,642 6 8,648 18.0
Non-trunk A roads - urban 2 4,308 22 98 781 169 5,378 20 5,399 11.3
Non-trunk A roads - rural 2 5,564 56 94 1,334 427 7,475 13 7,488 15.6
All major roads 23,454 181 337 5,031 2,361 31,365 40 31,407 65.5
Urban roads 2 7,834 66 200 1,506 98 9,703 162 9,865 20.6
Rural roads 2 4,918 58 45 1,470 136 6,627 88 6,715 14.0
All minor roads 12,753 124 245 2,975 234 16,330 250 16,580 34.6
Motorways 5,829 25 47 1,260 893 8,054 0 8,054 16.8
Urban roads 2 13,545 96 311 2,562 384 16,898 184 17,082 35.6
Rural roads 2 16,831 184 225 4,186 1,318 22,744 107 22,851 47.6
All roads 36,206 305 582 8,008 2,595 47,696 290 47,986 100.0
Percentage of all vehicles 75.5 0.6 1.2 16.7 5.4 99.4 0.6 100.0  

Source: Department for Transport - Not National Statistics
1. Motorways include A(M) roads.
2. DfT's classification of urban and rural roads differs from the built up/non-built up classification - see section 5.1.4 of the notes and definitions at the back of this publication. Totals may not equal sum of parts due to rounding.

Table 5.3: Traffic (vehicle kilometres)  on major roads, minor roads and all roads by vehicle type
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1 2015 2016 1 2017
million vehicle kilometres
Major roads (M and A)
Cars 22,392 22,221 22,496 21,998 21,986 22,170 22,217 22,418 22,573 23,220 23,453
Two wheeled motor vehicles 187 190 196 181 181 171 176 184 181 180 181
Buses 308 320 329 353 352 363 365 366 369 351 337
Light goods vehicles 3,689 3,690 3,684 3,701 3,816 3,906 4,032 4,242 4,481 4,765 5,032
Heavy goods vehicles 2,378 2,349 2,210 2,217 2,184 2,198 2,210 2,193 2,228 2,290 2,362
All motor vehicle traffic 28,953 28,770 28,917 28,450 28,519 28,807 29,001 29,404 29,831 30,807 31,366
Pedal cycles 32 40 45 46 47 45 47 42 41 41 40
All traffic on major roads 28,986 28,810 28,961 28,496 28,565 28,853 29,048 29,446 29,872 30,847 31,406
Minor roads (B, C and unclassified)
Cars 12,153 12,136 11,895 11,593 11,592 11,606 11,594 11,997 12,096 12,122 12,753
Two wheeled motor vehicles 139 125 125 109 114 120 111 113 112 109 124
Buses 342 310 306 298 257 222 242 243 219 211 245
Light goods vehicles 2,436 2,455 2,343 2,406 2,306 2,216 2,287 2,434 2,499 2,670 2,975
Heavy goods vehicles 403 402 347 333 298 268 277 280 276 252 234
All motor vehicle traffic 15,473 15,427 15,016 14,740 14,567 14,432 14,510 15,066 15,201 15,364 16,330
Pedal cycles 207 232 243 253 258 264 282 327 300 247 250
All traffic on minor roads 15,680 15,659 15,258 14,992 14,825 14,696 14,792 15,393 15,502 15,611 16,580
All roads
Cars 34,545 34,357 34,392 33,591 33,578 33,777 33,811 34,415 34,669 35,342 36,206
Two wheeled motor vehicles 326 315 322 290 295 290 286 297 293 289 305
Buses 650 630 635 650 609 585 607 610 588 561 582
Light goods vehicles 6,125 6,145 6,027 6,107 6,122 6,121 6,319 6,676 6,979 7,435 8,008
Heavy goods vehicles 2,781 2,751 2,557 2,550 2,482 2,466 2,487 2,473 2,504 2,543 2,595
All motor vehicle traffic 44,426 44,197 43,932 43,189 43,085 43,239 43,511 44,470 45,032 46,170 47,696
Pedal cycles 240 273 287 298 305 310 329 369 342 288 290
All traffic on all roads 44,666 44,470 44,219 43,488 43,390 43,549 43,840 44,839 45,374 46,459 47,986

Source:  Department for Transport - Not National Statistics
1. DfT have made some small revisions to 2014 and 2016 estimates. 
Totals may not equal sum of parts due to rounding.

Table 5.4: Traffic on major roads (by class / type) and on minor roads, by Council, 2017  1
Council All motor-ways 2 Trunk A  urban Trunk A  rural Non-trunk A urban Non-trunk A rural Total: All major roads (M and A) Minor roads (B, C and unclassified) Total: all roads
million vehicle kilometres
Aberdeen City 156 111 283  79  629  756  1,384
Aberdeenshire 87 953 91  747  1,878 1,268 3,146
Angus 372 105  297  774  401  1,174
Argyll & Bute 419 49  312  780  205  985
Clackmannanshire 52  102  154  180  334
Dumfries & Galloway 756 41 669 76  317  1,859 384  2,244
Dundee City 163 8 162  12  345  538  884
East Ayrshire 117 20 213 97  234  681  430  1,110
East Dunbartonshire 118  97  215  366  581
East Lothian 1 413 69  160  643  359  1,003
East Renfrewshire 234 95  80  409  397  806
Edinburgh, City of 368 146 262 714  258  1,748 1,319 3,067
Eilean Siar - 162  162  68 230
Falkirk 626 13 224  205  1,068 599  1,666
Fife 270 97 529 363  649  1,908 1,194 3,101
Glasgow, City of 1,572 720  43  2,335 1,316 3,651
Highland 102 1,618 21  545  2,286 599  2,884
Inverclyde 25 42 169  23  259  282  541
Midlothian 10 133 83  181  407  310  717
Moray 51 235 42  156  484  313  797
North Ayrshire 119 201 94  115  529  278  806
North Lanarkshire 898 346 45 425  216  1,930 1,367 3,296
Orkney Islands - 86  86  62 148
Perth & Kinross 502 49 1,057 123  468  2,199 420  2,620
Renfrewshire 553 62 156 200  92  1,063 536  1,598
Scottish Borders 32 372 57  444  905  395  1,299
Shetland Islands - 153  153  70 224
South Ayrshire 34 376 118  114  642  388  1,029
South Lanarkshire 1,143 143 109 322  417  2,134 621  2,755
Stirling 286 7 251 125  357  1,026 300  1,326
West Dunbartonshire 126 94 158  48  426  249  674
West Lothian 730 245  320  1,295 610  1,904
Scotland 8,054 1,818 8,648 5,399 7,488 31,407 16,580 47,986

1. Source: Department for Transport - Not National Statistics.  They provide only a rough estimate of the likely total volume of traffic on roads in each area.  For further information, please see the notes on the traffic estimates at the back of the publication.
2. Motorways include A(M) roads.
Totals may not equal sum of parts due to rounding.

Table 5.5: Traffic on trunk roads and on local authority roads, by Council area 1
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 4 2015 2016 4 2017
million vehicle kilometres
Aberdeen City 265 264 253 255 258 263 260 264 263 273 267
Aberdeenshire 840 820 829 822 824 861 872 902 908 948 1,040
Angus 3 319 328 324 335 334 343 357 370 358 367 372
Argyll & Bute 358 356 359 352 353 351 355 362 376 392 419
Dumfries & Galloway 1,299 1,302 1,290 1,274 1,270 1,252 1,272 1,311 1,349 1,387 1,467
Dundee City 187 179 182 180 178 186 182 169 168 173 171
East Ayrshire 3 372 368 375 366 365 365 359 374 369 352 349
East Lothian 409 372 359 354 355 349 349 359 362 391 414
East Renfrewshire 177 175 181 172 208 205 209 214 230 237 234
Edinburgh, City of 714 686 725 677 712 700 719 715 755 779 777
Falkirk 571 567 550 531 537 577 580 581 608 647 639
Fife 889 868 879 848 839 820 833 842 841 878 895
Glasgow, City of 3 1,259 1,305 1,302 1,288 1,313 1,481 1,522 1,510 1,499 1,548 1,572
Highland 1,525 1,519 1,556 1,530 1,535 1,528 1,546 1,557 1,614 1,675 1,720
Inverclyde 78 76 75 72 72 71 71 72 73 75 67
Midlothian 142 140 141 135 136 140 138 143 136 141 143
Moray 277 272 269 263 264 265 266 270 274 286 287
North Ayrshire 326 330 326 318 317 309 308 316 320 326 319
North Lanarkshire 1,143 1,166 1,154 1,161 1,129 1,414 1,402 1,253 1,191 1,217 1,289
Perth & Kinross 1,379 1,345 1,332 1,299 1,324 1,296 1,322 1,363 1,381 1,467 1,608
Renfrewshire 3 710 725 711 693 699 689 703 732 758 774 771
Scottish Borders 400 383 390 382 388 386 387 394 406 419 404
South Ayrshire 393 379 381 384 384 379 379 387 395 406 409
South Lanarkshire 3 1,130 1,169 1,197 1,162 1,163 1,219 1,236 1,261 1,264 1,328 1,395
Stirling 513 505 499 481 478 470 468 485 500 544 544
West Dunbartonshire 189 191 209 204 205 206 206 213 220 223 220
West Lothian 688 711 700 682 675 671 688 693 724 724 730
Total trunk roads 16,548 16,504 16,546 16,222 16,313 16,791 16,987 17,112 17,342 17,977 18,519
Aberdeen City 1,126 1,115 1,075 1,053 1,039 1,040 1,041 1,067 1,075 1,092 1,117
Aberdeenshire 1,993 1,994 1,933 1,894 1,859 1,825 1,860 1,945 1,984 2,008 2,105
Angus 747 758 752 740 731 722 725 749 762 774 802
Argyll & Bute 552 548 541 532 526 516 525 542 551 561 566
Clackmannanshire 3 299 301 316 313 314 310 301 312 316 320 334
Dumfries & Galloway 723 719 708 700 693 676 684 709 724 737 777
Dundee City 719 722 703 687 688 685 676 693 695 703 713
East Ayrshire 3 688 684 674 668 662 647 656 679 691 704 761
East Dunbartonshire 556 547 547 534 533 529 525 542 544 553 581
East Lothian 509 508 503 501 498 484 488 508 516 524 589
East Renfrewshire 3 569 574 565 556 547 537 536 552 557 567 572
Edinburgh, City of 2,326 2,271 2,253 2,207 2,190 2,179 2,169 2,230 2,254 2,287 2,291
Eilean Siar 209 205 206 203 202 203 206 214 219 246 230
Falkirk 953 950 955 949 952 944 945 974 983 998 1,028
Fife 2,022 2,023 2,015 2,000 2,000 1,980 1,992 2,059 2,076 2,105 2,206
Glasgow, City of 3 2,147 2,124 2,089 2,042 2,027 2,011 2,014 2,056 2,039 2,069 2,079
Highland 1,070 1,078 1,067 1,055 1,044 1,024 1,044 1,086 1,105 1,123 1,164
Inverclyde 468 465 458 447 443 438 436 449 451 456 474
Midlothian 507 509 520 517 517 504 504 523 534 544 574
Moray 466 467 460 451 444 446 451 471 477 483 511
North Ayrshire 466 462 456 452 450 435 433 448 452 459 487
North Lanarkshire 1,906 1,894 1,871 1,840 1,829 1,822 1,819 1,867 1,875 1,893 2,007
Orkney Islands 137 137 137 135 133 131 133 139 142 145 148
Perth & Kinross 972 958 960 945 933 918 933 968 989 1,005 1,012
Renfrewshire 3 781 781 766 759 757 753 755 778 786 797 827
Scottish Borders 812 813 808 798 792 779 787 817 836 853 895
Shetland Islands 206 206 203 202 202 200 204 210 215 220 224
South Ayrshire 600 607 602 595 590 572 568 585 592 601 620
South Lanarkshire 1,333 1,298 1,294 1,282 1,273 1,258 1,254 1,296 1,311 1,335 1,361
Stirling 3 763 759 751 747 733 718 719 744 753 765 783
West Dunbartonshire 439 439 438 429 431 434 432 443 444 451 455
West Lothian 1,055 1,051 1,046 1,034 1,042 1,038 1,039 1,071 1,085 1,105 1,175
Total LA roads 28,118 27,966 27,673 27,266 27,077 26,757 26,853 27,727 28,032 28,482 29,467

1. Source: Department for Transport - Not National Statistics. They provide only a rough estimate of the likely total volume of traffic on roads in each area. For further information, please see the notes on the traffic estimates in the text.
2. Roads which changed from trunk to local authority, or vice versa, are counted according to their status on a recent date, rather than on the basis of their status in each year.
NB: to save space, Councils which do not have trunk roads in their areas are not shown.
3. DfT have made some minor changes to the traffic estimates from 2006 onwards. This was due to incorrect LA codes being assigned to a few sections of major road.
4. DfT have made some small revisions to 2014 and 2016 estimates. Totals may not equal sum of parts due to rounding.

Table 5.5: (continued)  Traffic on all roads, by Council area

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 3 2015 2016 3 2017
million vehicle kilometres
Aberdeen City 1,391 1,379 1,329 1,308 1,297 1,303 1,301 1,331 1,338 1,365 1,384
Aberdeenshire 2,834 2,814 2,762 2,716 2,683 2,686 2,732 2,847 2,892 2,956 3,146
Angus 2 1,066 1,086 1,075 1,075 1,065 1,065 1,082 1,119 1,120 1,141 1,174
Argyll & Bute 910 904 900 884 879 866 879 904 927 952 985
Clackmannanshire 2 299 301 316 313 314 310 301 312 316 320 334
Dumfries & Galloway 2,021 2,021 1,998 1,974 1,963 1,927 1,956 2,020 2,073 2,124 2,244
Dundee City 906 902 885 867 865 871 858 862 863 877 884
East Ayrshire 2 1,059 1,052 1,050 1,033 1,027 1,012 1,015 1,053 1,060 1,056 1,110
East Dunbartonshire 556 547 547 534 533 529 525 542 544 553 581
East Lothian 918 880 862 855 852 833 836 868 877 915 1,003
East Renfrewshire 2 745 750 747 728 755 741 745 766 787 804 806
Edinburgh, City of 3,040 2,957 2,978 2,885 2,902 2,879 2,888 2,945 3,009 3,066 3,067
Eilean Siar 209 205 206 203 202 203 206 214 219 246 230
Falkirk 1,524 1,517 1,505 1,479 1,489 1,521 1,526 1,555 1,592 1,645 1,666
Fife 2,911 2,891 2,894 2,848 2,839 2,800 2,825 2,902 2,917 2,983 3,101
Glasgow, City of 2 3,406 3,429 3,390 3,329 3,341 3,492 3,537 3,566 3,537 3,617 3,651
Highland 2,595 2,597 2,623 2,586 2,580 2,552 2,590 2,643 2,719 2,798 2,884
Inverclyde 545 541 533 519 515 509 507 522 524 532 541
Midlothian 649 649 661 652 653 644 642 666 671 685 717
Moray 743 739 729 714 708 711 716 740 751 769 797
North Ayrshire 792 792 782 770 766 744 740 764 772 784 806
North Lanarkshire 3,049 3,060 3,025 3,001 2,959 3,235 3,222 3,120 3,066 3,110 3,296
Orkney Islands 137 137 137 135 133 131 133 139 142 145 148
Perth & Kinross 2,351 2,303 2,292 2,244 2,257 2,215 2,254 2,331 2,371 2,472 2,620
Renfrewshire 2 1,490 1,506 1,477 1,452 1,456 1,442 1,457 1,510 1,543 1,571 1,598
Scottish Borders 1,212 1,196 1,198 1,180 1,180 1,165 1,174 1,211 1,241 1,271 1,299
Shetland Islands 206 206 203 202 202 200 204 210 215 220 224
South Ayrshire 992 987 983 979 974 951 946 973 986 1,007 1,029
South Lanarkshire 2 2,462 2,468 2,491 2,444 2,436 2,476 2,490 2,557 2,575 2,662 2,755
Stirling 2 1,276 1,264 1,249 1,228 1,211 1,188 1,187 1,229 1,253 1,309 1,326
West Dunbartonshire 629 630 646 634 637 639 638 656 665 674 674
West Lothian 1,742 1,761 1,747 1,716 1,717 1,709 1,726 1,764 1,808 1,828 1,904
Total all roads 44,666 44,470 44,219 43,488 43,390 43,549 43,840 44,839 45,374 46,459 47,986

1. Source: Department for Transport - Not National Statistics. They provide only a rough estimate of the likely total volume of traffic on roads in each area. For further information, please see the notes on the traffic estimates in the text.
2. Roads which changed from trunk to local authority, or vice versa, are counted according to their status on a recent date, rather than on the basis of their status in each year.
NB: to save space, Councils which do not have trunk roads in their areas are not shown.
3. DfT have made some minor changes to the traffic estimates from 2006 onwards. This was due to incorrect LA codes being assigned to a few sections of major road.
4. DfT have made some small revisions to 2014 and 2016 estimates. Totals may not equal sum of parts due to rounding.

Figure 5.2: Selected pints used to show average daily traffic flows, peak hourly flows and percentages of HGVs (see Table 5.7)

Figure 5.2: Selected pints used to show average daily traffic flows, peak hourly flows and percentages of HGVs (see Table 5.7)

Table 5.6: Average Daily Traffic Flows1 at Selected Automated Traffic Classifier Sites 2 by Month, 2017
Description Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
A74(M) J18 to 19 27,162  30,807  31,628  36,025  35,570  37,710  40,637  41,372  37,329  36,695  32,699  30,414 
M8 Bishopton 13,844  18,621  25,108  21,954  25,763  27,347  21,226  - - - 17,731  21,621 
M8 Harthill  44,150  46,487  48,402  47,308  51,909  50,923  52,898  56,896  52,878  52,851  52,500  51,855 
M9 Linlithgow - - - - - - - - - - - -
M73 Gartcosh - - - - - - - - - - - -
M74 J9 28,786  24,670  33,265  36,589  36,574  38,642  41,026  42,180  38,994  38,811  23,060        152 
M80 Bankhead 24,260  28,599  35,053  33,689  35,451  36,718  36,982  40,760  38,599  37,358  38,402  18,591 
M90 Kelty 26,734  30,012  31,519  32,900  33,885  34,463  33,913  36,102  33,101  32,682  31,447  28,241 
A1 Grantshouse - - - - - 7,257  10,309  11,456  11,093  5,732  8,839  8,493 
A7 Langholm 3,281  3,513  3,675  3,758  3,928  4,080  3,879  4,050  4,083  3,882  3,718  3,446 
A9 Berridale - - - - - - - - - - - -
A9 Blackford 11,087  - - - - - - - - - - -
A9 Dornoch - - 6,182  6,805  7,299  7,645  8,034  8,286  7,466  6,599  5,804  5,237 
A9 Tomatin - 8,938  9,143  10,758  11,007  11,512  12,389  12,468  11,594  10,702  9,191  8,178 
A68 Jedburgh - - - - - - - - - - - -
A68 Pathhead  - 9,256  9,917  10,047  10,415  10,834  10,179  11,292  10,510  10,472  9,909  7,927 
A75 Carsluith 4,032  4,372  4,630  5,214  5,357  5,275  5,595  6,146  5,483  4,974  4,618  4,451 
A75 Southeast of A751 5,234  6,550  6,846  7,066  7,386  7,399  7,394  7,752  7,542  6,841  6,927  5,545 
A76 Mennock - - - - - - - - - - - -
A77 Lendalfoot 3,086  3,424  3,640  4,262  4,157  4,296  4,799  4,656  3,896  3,820  3,296  2,902 
A77 Kilmarnock 23,953  23,397  28,601  27,774  28,328  29,329  30,846  31,435  30,651  28,844  27,842  23,763 
A78 Loans 16,690  18,895  19,389  18,993  20,595  19,845  19,219  19,401  18,789  18,660  18,616  16,618 
A80 Cumbernauld 65,840  72,600  76,699  76,541  78,269  75,178  - 50,862  78,658  77,891  75,559  65,329 
A82 Ballachulish 3,199  3,996  4,192  5,626  5,587  5,849  7,002  7,850  6,711  5,275  3,766  3,431 
A82 Spean Bridge 3,560  4,280  4,803  6,046  6,907  7,072  7,505  7,992  6,946  5,726  4,485  3,817 
A83 Ardrishaig 1,849  - 3,066  2,924  3,268  3,168  3,195  3,377  3,163  2,823  2,655  2,253 
A85 Riverside Dundee - 17,599  18,357  17,605  18,055  17,948  17,308  18,820  18,086  17,523  17,331  14,384 
A87 Broadford 3,520  3,990  4,523  5,977  7,044  7,365  7,715  7,851  7,059  5,307  4,277  -
A87 Kyle of Lochalsh - - 3,904  4,144  5,304  5,500  5,820  6,319  5,246  4,029  3,155  2,625 
A90 Stonehaven 20,237  19,897  20,248  17,546  18,028  18,303  17,672  18,468  18,045  17,505  18,148  15,322 
A90 Bridge of Don - - - - - - - - - - - -
A96 Forres 9,363  10,655  10,992  11,649  11,811  12,078  12,516  12,963  12,043  11,475  10,778  9,764 
A702 Fulford - - - - - 10,958  11,547  14,315  13,654  - - -
A720 Dreghorn - - - - - - - - - - - -
A737 Lochside  19,079  21,376  22,954  22,371  19,707  23,484  23,073  22,876  18,821  17,140  18,174  11,175 
A835 Aultguish 1,120  1,272  1,424  1,833  2,166  2,370  2,472  2,490  2,061  1,669  1,277  1,092 
A977 Kincardine - - - - 4,400  4,309  - - - - - -

Source: Transport Scotland - Not National Statistics
1. Traffic flows are counted in both directions at ATC sites and the average flows are based on totals.
2. Missing data for these sites is due to equipment failure. 

Table 5.7 (a): Average daily traffic flows, peak hourly flows and percentages of HGVs for selected key points: 2017 1, 2
Location Site No.inFig 5.2 Average Daily Flow HGV (Year) Percentage  Peak Hourly Flows
7 Day  5 Day AM PM 
Year August Year August 7 Day 5 Day 7 Day 5 Day 7 Day 5 Day
A74(M) J18 to J19 1 32,156 40,637 37,083 42,598 2,580 2,641 2,808 2,904
M8 Bishopton 2 24,845 21,226 23,024 13 15 1,900 2,377 949 1,027
M8 Harthill 3 51,567 52,898 56,060 61,408 8 9 3,441 4,154 1,953 2,137
M9 Linlithgow 4 41,117 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
M73 Gartcosh 5 39,480 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
M74 J9 37 33,490 41,026 34,098 43,623 2,286 2,356 1,240 1,288
M80 Bankhead 6 .. 36,982 35,120 41,929 16 18 2,446 2,718 1,361 1,403
M90 Kelty 7 26,511 33,913 33,302 36,845 4 5 2,175 2,367 1,304 1,371
A1 Grantshouse 8 8554 10309 9208 11577 15 18 655 625 420 432
A7 Langholm 9 3,604 3,879 4,087 4,232 25 27 302 346 155 170
A9 Berridale 10 1967 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
A9 Blackford 11 25,870 .. 11,953 3 3 924 1,203 400 416
A9 Dornoch 12 5,499 8,034 7,267 8,568 9 10 547 560 309 321
A9 Tomatin 13 8,717 12389 10,834 12,476 6 8 826 842 447 452
A68 Jedburgh 14 6,929 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
A68 Pathhead 15 10,932 10,179 10,630 11,704 6 7 736 820 417 434
A75 Carsluith 16 4,827 5,595 5,369 6,343 25 27 393 419 216 230
A75 Southeast of A751 17 6,620 7,394 7,409 8,172 501 547 299 311
A76 Mennock 18 3,108 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
A77 Lendalfoot 19 3852 4799 4020 4651 .. .. 312 330 179 181
A77 Kilmarnock 20 27,470 30,846 29,571 32,413 4 5 1,952 2,261 1,195 1,264
A78 Loans 21 15,682 19,219 20,627 20,995 3 4 1,535 1,934 842 964
A80 Cumbernauld 36 64,599 .. 77,371 50,862 .. .. .. .. .. ..
A82 Ballachulish 22 4,581 7,002 5,032 7,535 13 15 456 432 240 229
A82 Spean Bridge 23 3,436 7,505 5,965 8,100 6 6 467 479 260 263
A83 Ardrishaig 24 2,779 3195 3,088 3549 15 17 236 255 143 153
A85 Riverside Dundee 25 18,921 17,308 18,805 19,880 3 3 1,375 1,698 787 863
A87 Broadford 26 3,066 7,715 6,214 8,141 7 7 520 539 266 285
A87 Kyle of Lochalsh 27 3,396 5,820 4,774 6,453 3 4 432 440 215 220
A90 Stonehaven 28 24,921 17,672 20,173 19,939 1,764 2,120 795 899
A90 Bridge of Don 29 17,291 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
A96 Forres 30 11,276 12,516 11,917 13,450 5 6 813 885 498 528
A702 Fulford 31 10,479 11547 13,012 14998 5 5 1,127 1,234 582 608
A720 Dreghorn 35 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
A737 Lochside 32 20,469 23,073 21,552 23,986 5 6 1,390 1,674 886 970
A835 Aultguish 33 1,596 2,472 1,802 2,451 8 9 199 212 98 104
A977 Kincardine 34 15,870 .. 4,571 .. 8 9 349 380 183 196

Source: Transport Scotland - Not National Statistics
1.  7 day flows were calculated from Monday to Sunday inclusive, '5 day flows' were calculated  from Monday to Friday inclusive
2. Missing data for some sites is due to equipment failure.  Year averages may be based only on data for part of the year, in cases where equipment was not working in some months.

Table 5.7 (b): Average daily traffic flows for selected key points  1, 2 
Location Site No in Fig 5.2 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
A74(M) J18 to J19 1 31,870 31,910 31,047 31,164 30,902 31,410 32,906 33,313 34,718 ..
M8 Bishopton 2 25,357 24,838 24,563 24,186 24,059 25,318 25,475 .. 16,766 18,954
M8 Harthill 3 54,463 55,589 55,911 53,629 50,170 40,526 .. 53,566 51,129 28,292
M9 Linlithgow 4 30,324 26,070 28,706 .. 28,190 24,853 .. .. 10,877 ..
M73 Gartcosh 5 39,042 38,597 35,666 36,786 41,685 43,330 45,500 43,588 32,419 ..
M74 J9 37 33,716 28,620 34,060 33,020 29,454 33,302 .. 35,795 33,385 21,905
M80 Bankhead 6 .. .. .. .. 33,758 35,386 .. .. 37,934 23,401
M90 Kelty 7 30,787 32,832 32,304 29,572 31,286 31,117 32,224 31,787 31,108 21,704
A1 Grantshouse 8 8,659 8,845 8,616 8,446 8,284 8,427 7,063 8,047 .. 9,026
A7 Langholm 9 3,456 3,336 3,434 3,434 3,426 3,487 3,576 3,614 3,752 2,808
A9 Berridale 10 1,947 2,089 1,938 1,603 1,806 1,714 .. .. .. ..
A9 Blackford 11 25,901 24,690 23,671 24,098 24,672 25,667 24,456 26,338 13,614 1,185
A9 Dornoch 12 5,633 5,743 5,721 5,922 5,863 5,934 6,100 6,211 6,654 6,207
A9 Tomatin 13 9,043 8,987 8,850 8,725 8,453 8,749 10,314 9,307 9,688 7,769
A68 Jedburgh 14 5,845 5,860 5,530 5,668 5,882 5,574 5,493 5,437 5,498
A68 Pathhead 15 8,888 8,919 8,354 9,204 9,362 8,931 .. 10,022 9,705 3,244
A75 Carsluith 16 4,771 4,849 4,724 4,658 4,598 4,244 5,302 4,714 4,860 4,365
A75 Southeast of A751 17 6,830 6,770 6,792 6,830 6,712 6,752 6,734 6,600 6,715 5,857
A76 Mennock 18 3,324 3,147 3,054 2,947 2,891 2,900 2,871 .. 2,833 ..
A77 Lendalfoot 19 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,852
A77 Kilmarnock 20 27,520 27,069 26,763 26,172 25,876 25,062 26,843 27,340 27,387 21,252
A78 Loans 21 15,767 15,295 15,074 14,542 13,873 13,096 13,619 14,378 18,597 13,203
A80 Cumbernauld 36 64,885 63,830 .. .. 67,416 69,314 71,242 71,740 74,319 ..
A82 Ballachulish 22 4,609 4,772 4,625 4,504 4,461 4,631 6,426 5,208 5,353 4,776
A82 Spean Bridge 23 3,185 3,629 3,351 3,289 3,084 4,103 1,729 .. 5,582 2,413
A83 Ardrishaig 24 .. .. .. .. 2,638 2,629 .. 2,857 2,693 1,977
A85 Riverside Dundee 25 18,299 17,581 16,129 16,992 15,430 15,279 .. .. 17,030 13,046
A87 Broadford 26 2,188 3,417 3,227 3,235 3,148 2,083 .. .. 5,413 4,714
A87 Kyle of Lochalsh 27 3,437 3,577 3,367 3,088 3,307 3,418 3,581 3,947 3,779 3,326
A90 Stonehaven 28 26,427 26,778 26,907 26,704 25,796 33,486 39,205 26,650 24,856 9,900
A90 Bridge of Don 29 17,339 17,308 17,860 16,875 17,143 17,412 17,773 18,157 22,875 ..
A96 Forres 30 11,277 11,309 11,416 11,075 11,097 10,244 10,820 10,651 10,962 4,807
A702 Fulford 31 11,875 11,295 10,334 .. 11,146 10,181 13,786 11,963 11,496 9,876
A720 Dreghorn 35 78,179 79,936 77,735 74,858 75,697 76,704 78,110 78,624 79,650 ..
A737 Lochside 32 21,764 21,755 21,528 21,199 20,512 20,311 20,787 22,055 22,448 13,824
A835 Aultguish 33 1,545 1,628 1,246 1,788 1,749 1,048 1,767 1,694 1,803 1,014
A977 Kincardine 34 13,723 4,583 4,370 4,436 4,536 4,532 4,405 4,613 4,368 4,340

Source: Transport Scotland - Not National Statistics
1.  Flows were calculated from Monday to Sunday inclusive. 
2. Missing data for some sites is due to equipment failure.  Year averages may be based only on data for part of the year, in cases where equipment was not working in some months.

Table 5.8: Car drivers' journeys 1 - whether delayed by traffic congestion 2 and, if so, how much time was lost 3 :  2015-17 (combined) 5
NOT delayed due to traffic congestion Delayed due to traffic congestion: driver's estimate of the time lost due to traffic congestion Sample size (=100%)
none, or just 1-2 minutes about 5 mins (3-7) about 10 mins (8-12) about 15 mins (13-17) 20 to 30 mins4 (18-32) over half an hour (33+) All delayed journeys
row percentages n =
All car driver journeys 87.7 0.7 4.2 3.4 1.5 1.8 0.5 12.3 29,450
by purpose of journey:
Commuting 78.2 0.8 5.6 6.6 3.5 4.1 0.9 21.8 7,810 
Business  83.6  **  5.0 4.7 1.0 3.0 16.4 960 
Education  86.2 1.3 5.0 4.6 1.1 1.5  **  13.8 1,370 
Shopping 94.4 0.5 3.0 1.3 0.3 0.4  **  5.6 6,640 
Visit hospital or other health 86.8  **  6.2 2.6  **  13.2 690 
Other personal business 93.3 0.4 2.7 1 1  **  6.7 1,420 
Visit friends or relatives 92.2 0.8 3.2 1.8 0.8 0.8 7.8 3,390 
Eating / drinking 92.7  .  7.3 530 
Entertainment 90.6 3.3 1.4  **  2.2  **  9.4 370 
Sport 92.6 3.2 1.5 1.1  .  7.4 1,310 
Holiday/day trip 4 89.8 3.0 10.2 440 
Other 89.4 0.7 4.1 3.1 ** 1.5  **  10.6 760 
Escort 88.6 6.7 2.2  **   **  11.4 790 
Go home 89.7 0.6 4.3 2.6 1.0 1.1 0.6 10.3 2,410 
Just go for a walk 92.9 2.8  **  **  **   .  7.1 500 
by day of the week:
Monday 86.8 0.7 4.9 3.6 1.8 1.6 0.2 13.2 5,480 
Tuesday 85.9 0.8 4.4 4.2 1.9 2.2 0.4 14.1 5,340 
Wednesday 84.1 0.6 5.7 3.8 2.0 2.9 0.8 15.9 5,300 
Thursday 85.7 0.7 4.4 4.1 1.9 2.3 0.7 14.3 3,980 
Friday 86.2 1.0 3.9 4.2 1.6 2.1 0.7 13.8 3,540 
Saturday 93.4 3.4 1.4 0.6 0.4 6.6 2,230 
Sunday 95.1 0.4 2.1 1.4 0.3 0.5 4.9 3,590 
Weekday journeys - by start time:
midnight to 6:59 a.m. 85.9 ** 4.9 2.0 2.4 1.2 14.1 940 
7:00 to 7:59 a.m. 75.2 1.0 5.1 6.7 3.9 6.1 1.4 24.8 1,570 
8:00 to 8:59 a.m. 77.0 1.5 7.5 7.3 3.1 2.7 0.6  23.0 2,060 
9:00 to 9:59 a.m. 90.8 0.7 4.5 1.9 0.7 1.1  **  9.2 1,350 
10:00 to 10:59 a.m. 93.8 1.0 2.2 1.0 0.9 0.8  **  6.2 1,460 
11:00 to 11:59 a.m. 93.5 0.7  2.4 1.8 0.6  **  6.5 1,580 
noon to 12:59 p.m. 91.4 3.8 2.6 ** 0.6  **  8.6 1,510 
1:00 to 1:59 p.m. 91.1 0.6 3.6 2.6 0.8  **  8.9 1,360 
2:00 to 2:59 p.m. 90.3 0.5 4.3 2.8 0.7 1.0  **  9.7 1,640 
3:00 to 3:59 p.m. 87.3 0.4 5.0 3.6 1.4 1.7 0.4 12.7 1,860 
4:00 to 4:59 p.m. 76.1 0.9 7.8 6.4 3.3 3.6 1.6 23.9 2,250 
5:00 to 5:59 p.m. 72.5 1.1 8.0 7.9 4.0 5.7 0.7 27.5 2,100 
6:00 to 6:59 p.m. 86.6 4.5 3.2 2.3 1.8  **  13.4 1,400 
7:00 to 7:59 p.m. 97.0 1.6 0.5 3.0 970 
8:00 to 8:59 p.m. 98.0  .  1.4  **   .   .   .  2.0 640 
9:00 to 9:59 p.m. 99.1  **   **   **   .   .   .  0.9 490 
10:00 to 11:59 p.m. 97.7  .   **   **   **   **   .  2.3 460 
Weekend journeys - by start time:
Before 9:30am   96   **   .   **   .  4.3 560 
After 9:30am to before 12noon 94.9 0.5  2.4 0.4   **  5.1 1,220 
12noon to 2 pm 93.4 0.8 3.0 2.1  **   **  6.6 1,460 
After 2pm to before 4:30pm 93.1 2.9 1.9 0.6 0.6  **  6.9 1,090 
4:30pm to before 6:30pm 92.0 4.4 1.4 0.7  **  8.0 830 
6:30pm onwards 97.6  **  1.4  **   **   **   .  2.4 660 
by type of area in which driver lives:
Large urban areas 84  0.6  15.8 6,800 
Other urban areas 86.4 1.1 4.7 3.7 1.5 1.9 0.5 13.6 9,930 
"Accessible" small towns 89.8 0.4 3.2 2.6 1.5 2.1 0.3 10.2 2,900 
"Remote" small towns 96.1 0.4 1.5 0.7 0.3 0.6  3.9 1,980 
"Accessible" rural areas 89.9 0.3  3.5 2.7 0.3 10.1 4,030 
"Remote" rural areas 95.1 ** 2.0 1.3 0.4 4.9 3,810 

1 This information is obtained from the Scottish Household Survey Travel Diary questions about the (stages of) journeys which the respondent had said that he or she made as the driver of a car or van
The table does  not  include those (stages of) journeys for which the questions about traffic congestion were not asked
2 Car drivers were asked "was this part of your trip delayed due to traffic congestion?".  
No definition of "traffic congestion" is given, so respondents can interpret the term as they wish.
3 Those drivers who said that they had been delayed by traffic congestion were asked 
"how much time do you think was lost due to traffic congestion?".
4 Previously split into 'about 20 mins' and '25 to 30 mins' but now combined to be '20 to 30 mins'. If previous split needed please request via Transtat@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk
5 Three years' data are combined, whereas in previous year just one year's data was given. There was little change over the years, and combining gives fewer suppressed values.

Table 5.9a: Percentage of car/van stages delayed by traffic congestion
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2015-17 1
Driver congestion 14.4 13.1 11.0 10.5 11.2 9.9 9.7 11.7 12.4 11.7 12.3
Sample size (=100%) 9,260 9,320 8,680 7580 8,310 9,830 10,200 9,820 9,690 9,790 29,450

Table 5.9b: Percentage of bus stages where passenger experienced delay
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Service Bus 12.5 14.4 9.9 12.3 10.5 11.1 10.2 10.7 9.9 10.0 12.5
Sample size (=100%) 1,674 1,724 1,456 1311 1,439 1,536 1,685 1,630 1,690 1,480 1,480

1. Three years' data are combined, whereas in previous year just one year's data was given. There was little change over the years, and combining gives fewer suppressed values.

Table 5.10: Petrol and diesel consumption of road vehicles
2007 2 2008 2 2009 2 2010 2 2011 2 2012 2 2013 2 2014 2 2015 2 2016 2
thousands of tonnes
 by type of vehicle 
Buses 183.0 174.7 175.0 178.4 165.1 157.0 161.9 162.8 156.3 144.2
Diesel cars 675.3 746.9 763.2 768.0 803.6 833.9 869.1 908.8 931.9 969.3
Petrol cars 1,393.7 1,306.6 1,282.3 1,210.9 1,151.1 1,094.7 1,034.1 1,010.5 971.2 937.6
Motorcycles 13.1 12.6 12.9 11.5 11.6 11.2 11.0 11.3 11.2 11.0
Heavy Goods Vehicles 617.0 615.7 571.9 573.1 558.7 549.3 554.4 563.1 566.2 574.1
Diesel Light Goods Vehicles 439.3 445.0 441.7 448.3 452.2 450.0 463.1 490.4 512.6 539.4
Petrol Light Goods Vehicles 38.8 35.2 32.2 29.6 27.2 24.7 23.1 22.1 20.6 19.4
Total 3,360.3 3,336.6 3,279.1 3,219.9 3,169.7 3,120.8 3,116.7 3,168.9 3,170.1 3,195.0
by Council area  1  
 Aberdeen City  101.9 101.2 96.8 95.1 93.1 92.2 91.8 93.3 92.3 92.3
 Aberdeenshire  200.4 198.5 193.9 190.4 185.8 183.0 184.9 190.2 191.2 194.1
 Angus  77.9 78.2 76.8 76.7 75.1 74.3 74.2 75.9 75.4 76.0
 Argyll & Bute  62.8 62.3 60.9 60.0 59.2 58.5 58.9 60.1 61.7 62.6
 Clackmannanshire  21.5 21.6 21.6 21.5 21.0 20.5 20.0 20.5 20.4 20.6
 Dumfries & Galloway  175.7 174.1 166.9 165.6 163.8 161.1 162.3 165.0 170.0 172.0
 Dundee City  67.9 67.7 66.3 64.8 63.8 63.0 61.7 62.1 60.8 60.7
 East Ayrshire  79.6 78.6 78.0 76.4 75.0 72.8 72.8 74.5 74.4 73.7
 East Dunbartonshire  44.0 43.6 43.5 42.3 41.4 40.2 39.7 40.7 39.8 39.9
 East Lothian  66.9 64.7 62.5 61.5 60.6 58.6 58.3 59.9 60.1 61.4
 East Renfrewshire  56.8 57.4 57.0 55.9 54.8 52.4 52.4 53.4 53.0 53.6
 Edinburgh, City of  235.0 231.6 231.5 225.2 220.8 216.1 214.9 216.4 217.5 219.5
 Eilean Siar  14.8 14.7 14.8 14.9 14.7 14.6 14.6 15.0 15.3 15.5
 Falkirk  117.5 116.6 114.5 112.1 111.4 109.8 110.1 113.0 114.0 115.9
 Fife  199.6 197.7 194.7 190.8 187.7 182.5 182.5 186.3 184.4 185.0
 Glasgow, City of  273.7 273.5 267.8 262.4 260.9 260.6 260.3 261.0 255.8 257.4
 Highland  181.4 180.1 181.2 179.1 177.5 175.2 177.0 179.2 183.2 185.5
 Inverclyde  39.1 38.8 38.0 36.8 35.8 34.9 34.6 35.2 34.6 34.7
 Midlothian  48.4 48.3 47.7 46.8 46.3 45.2 44.7 46.0 45.7 46.1
 Moray  51.5 51.4 51.0 50.0 49.2 48.7 48.5 50.0 50.8 51.2
 North Ayrshire  55.7 55.9 54.7 53.8 52.9 50.9 50.4 51.3 51.2 51.2
 North Lanarkshire  246.3 245.8 240.9 236.7 229.1 233.5 230.0 233.4 225.5 226.5
 Orkney Islands  9.6 9.7 9.5 9.6 9.3 9.1 9.3 9.6 9.8 9.9
 Perth & Kinross  184.9 180.4 176.9 172.4 173.0 168.2 169.5 172.6 175.2 177.8
 Renfrewshire  108.2 109.0 106.0 103.8 102.1 99.5 99.7 101.5 101.8 100.8
 Scottish Borders  84.2 83.6 82.6 81.3 80.3 78.6 78.9 80.6 82.1 83.1
 Shetland Islands  13.4 13.4 13.1 13.0 12.8 12.6 12.7 13.1 13.3 13.6
 South Ayrshire  72.3 71.8 71.2 70.6 69.3 66.6 65.8 66.9 67.1 67.3
 South Lanarkshire  211.8 209.7 206.2 202.2 198.9 198.1 198.0 200.2 200.0 202.5
 Stirling  88.8 87.5 85.4 84.0 82.0 79.7 78.9 80.6 81.2 82.3
 West Dunbartonshire  45.0 44.9 45.3 44.3 43.9 43.5 43.1 43.8 43.6 43.5
 West Lothian  123.9 124.3 121.9 120.0 118.3 116.3 116.4 117.7 119.2 118.8
 Total   3,360.3 3,336.6 3,279.1 3,219.9 3,169.7 3,120.8 3,116.7 3,168.9 3,170.1 3,195.0

Source: DECC - Years prior to 2005 are not National Statistics
1.  These estimates are of the total amount of petrol and diesel consumed by vehicles travelling in each Council area 
 (i.e. the estimates are based on where the vehicles were driven, rather than - say - the area of the registered keepers of the vehicles).
2. There have been major revisions to the data due to improvements in the methodology.  For more information please see here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/road-transport-consumption-at-regional-and-local-level#methodology