Statistical Bulletin - National Travel Survey 2011/2012: Scotland Results

National Travel Survey 2011/2012: Scotland Results

This Bulletin presents information collected by the National Travel Survey about travel by individuals in private households across Scotland. The Department for Transport publication 'National Travel Survey 2012' (http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/series/national-travel-survey/) provides Great Britain figures and some analysis by country and English Region. For this publication, two years data is combined to achieve larger sample sizes allowing more detailed analysis for Scotland to be carried out. 2011/2012 therefore refers to two years of data combined and not financial year.

As the National Travel Survey ceased to collect data for Scotland from 2013, this will be the last publication of its kind. Similar data to that contained within this publication is available from the Scottish Household Survey Travel Diary and the Transport and Travel in Scotland (TATIS) publication.

Main Findings

Trips and Distance

  • The average number of trips per Scottish resident in the two-year period 2011/2012 was 1,010, an increase of 5% on 2009/2010 and the highest level since 2005/2006 (Table 1)
  • Scottish residents travelled an estimated 19.6 miles per day in 2011/2012, an increase of 2% on the 2009/2010 figure (Table 1)
  • Scottish residents spent an average of 15.3 days travelling per year, almost 3% higher than in 2009/2010 (Table 1)

Mode of travel

  • In 2011/2012, travel by car or van, whether as a driver or passenger, accounted for almost three quarters of the average distance travelled per year and almost two thirds of all trips made per Scottish resident per year (Tables 3 & 4)
  • Public transport accounted for around 20% of the average distance travelled and 12% of trips per person per year (Tables 3 & 4)
  • Trips where walking was the main mode accounted for around 23% of all trips, or 235 trips per person per year, the highest number since 2005/2006 (Table 4)
  • Bicycles accounted for 0.5% of the average distance travelled per person per year and just under 1% of all trips as the main mode (Tables 3 & 4)
  • In 2011/2012, 78% of all trips under one mile were made by foot, 19% by car, van or lorry, and 2% by public transport (Table 7)

Purpose of travel

  • The most frequent trip purpose in 2011/2012 was to go shopping, which accounted for 20% of all person trips, followed by 15% commuting trips and 14% visiting friends (Table 12)
  • More time was spent commuting per year than for any other purpose at 65 hours, although this was the lowest recorded level in ten years, and 9% less than 2007/2008 (Table 15)

Demographics - Economic Status

  • The average distance travelled in 2011/2012 by those in managerial and professional occupations was 45% higher than average, compared to 29% below average for those in routine and manual occupations (Table 17)

Demographics - Car Ownership

  • The number of cars/vans per household increased from 0.95 in 2002/2003 to 1.06 in 2011/2012 (Table 1)

Demographics - Gender and Age

  • Females made more trips than males in 2008/2012 (1,013 vs. 981) but men travelled around 29% further (Tables 28 & 29)
  • 58% of male trips were as car, van or lorry drivers compared to 43% for women (Table 28)
  • The number of trips taken by those aged 60 and over between 2008 and 2012 was 14% below the average for all ages, compared to 6% below average for children and 13% above average for those aged 30 to 59 (Table 28)