Statistical Bulletin: Transport Series: Trn / 2013/ 2: Scottish Household Survey: Travel Diary 2012

Scottish Household Survey: Travel Diary 2012

This bulletin presents analysis of information collected in 2012 through the Travel Diary element of the Scottish Household Survey (SHS).

The SHS Travel Diary asks a random sample of adults (16+) living in private households across Scotland to recount the travel undertaken the day before the survey interview ('the previous day') and asks a selection of questions about their travel.

More detailed Travel Diary statistics are published every 2 years, as this allows for bigger sample sizes and more reliable estimates. Due to changes in survey design, the most recent version of this expanded publication is available on the Transport Scotland website: Scottish Household Survey: Travel Diary 2009/2010

1. Main points

Travel patterns

1.1 The proportion of adults travelling the previous day has remained stable over the last couple of years. Seventy-three per cent of adults reported travelling the previous day in 2012. The level has remained stable over the last couple of years and remains 7 percentage points below the 2007 figure. [Table 1]

1.2 As in previous years men were more likely to have travelled than women. Seventy-five per cent of men travelled the previous day compared to 72 per cent of women. [Table 1]

1.3 Older people are less likely to travel. As has generally been true in previous years, the two age groups least likely to travel were those aged 80 and over (40%) and those aged 70-79 (64%). [Table 1]

Mode of travel

1.4 Half of all journeys in 2012 were made as a driver. As in previous years the most common mode of transport was to drive a car or van (48%). The next most common mode was walking (26%). Note that changes to the survey methodology mean these results cannot be compared directly with previous years. See para 2.7 for more detail. [Table 2]

1.5 Over a third of journeys were made by public and active travel. In 2012 walking, cycling and public transport accounted for 37% of journeys. (Walking accounted for 26% of journeys, Bicycle 1.2%, Bus 8.1% and Rail 1.8%). Note that changes to the survey methodology mean these results cannot be compared directly with previous years. See para 2.7 for more detail. [Table 2]

1.6 During most car stages the driver was the only occupant of the car. In 2012 64% of car stages had only one occupant. This was an increase of 5 percentage points since 2002. Average occupancy has fallen from 1.61 to 1.51 over the same period. [Table 9]

Purpose of travel

1.7 The most common purpose for travel was commuting. In 2012 23% of journeys were made for the purpose of commuting. The next most common purpose of travel was shopping, which accounted for 22 per cent of journeys. Between them, commuting and shopping accounted for almost half of all journeys. Note that changes to the survey methodology mean these results cannot be compared directly with previous years. See para 2.7 for more detail. [Table 3]

Day and time of travel

1.8 Half of journeys start before 2pm. On weekdays the peak travel time is between 7 and 9:30am with 19% of journeys starting at this time. At weekends the peak travel time is between 12 and 2pm with 24 per cent of journeys starting in this period. [Table 7]

1.9 Travel was more likely on weekdays than on a Saturday or Sunday. Three quarters of journeys are made on weekdays. [Table 8]

Distance and duration

1.10 Most journeys were short in distance and short in duration. In 2012, 79 per cent of journeys were less than 10 km (6 miles), almost two thirds (64%) were less than 5km (3 miles) and 42 per cent are less than 2 km. Seventy-two per cent of journeys lasted 20 minutes or less. Note that changes to the survey methodology mean these results cannot be compared directly with previous years. See para 2.7 for more detail. [Table 4] [Table 6]

Distance and mode

1.11 Most car journeys are short. Half of car journeys (drivers and passengers) are under 5km (3 miles). Thirty seven per cent are under 3km (2 miles). [Table 4a]

1.12 For short journeys most people chose to walk or take the car. For journeys under 1km, 97% use these modes (68% walk and 29% use the car) note that some of these short journeys, particulary those made by car will be as part of another journey eg dropping a child of at school on the way to work. For journeys of 1 to 2kms, 31% walk and 57% use the car. 8% use the bus. [Table 2a]

1.13 Active travel journeys are short, rail journeys are longer. Half of walking journeys are 0.6 kms or less. Half of journeys by bicycle are 2.5 kms (1.5 miles) or less. Half of car journeys are less than 5 kms (3 miles) and half of bus journeys are 4.0 kms or less. Half of rail journeys are less than 21 kms (13 miles). [Table 5a]

Congestion & Delays

1.14 Ten per cent of driver journeys were delayed by traffic congestion in 2012. This is a reduction of 1.3% from 2011 and a 4.5 percentage point decrease since a 2007 peak and the lowest proportion recorded in the survey. This figure provides an update to the National Indicator used in the Scottish Government's National Performance Framework. [Table 10]

1.15 Most delays are less than ten minutes. Two thirds of delays are ten minutes or less. [Table 12]

1.16 Most delays are caused by volume of traffic. Seventy three per cent of drivers reporting delay stated volume of traffic as the reason. Road or maintenance works/temporary traffic lights was the second highest reason given (26%). [Table 10a]