Several authorities also refer to other Council policies such as economic development and environmental policies. Some strategies place the objectives within a long term 'vision' and these tend to be those with the clearest objectives and, overall, the most effective strategies. High level objectives may relate to issues such as widening travel choices, reducing environmental impacts of travel, enhancing safety, ensuring effective maintenance of transport infrastructure and reducing social exclusion. Least effective are those strategies which present lengthy or poorly-structured lists of objectives. The Guidance suggests that strategies will need to describe existing travel patterns and the level of service offered by the transport network, examine future travel demands, including the effects of land use changes, and identify problems and opportunities.
Strategies vary considerably in the extent and depth of analysis of issues.
Most strategies present at least basic information on factors influencing travel demands in their areas, particularly population structure, car ownership and traffic growth, and in some cases information on modal shift derived from travel surveys. Most authorities have a considerable amount of information available on road accident casualties which informs their Road Safety Plans. Those strategies which contain a comprehensive analysis of issues tend to be those which are the best developed overall. It presents a tabular overview of problems and opportunities. The Guidance indicates that strategies should provide an overview of how the measures making up the strategy interrelate, contribute to addressing problems and opportunities and meet objectives.