Road traffic statistics information
Source: gov.uk (2025-06-12)

Guide to road traffic statistics, their source documents, notes and definitions plus supporting technical documents.

Road traffic statistics overview

Road traffic statistics provide estimates of the vehicle miles travelled each year in Great Britain. We release both quarterly and annual estimates. To monitor transport activity on a timelier basis for topical issues relating to transport, daily traffic trends are published monthly.

Road traffic estimates: notes and definitions (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/road-traffic-estimates-in-great-britain-2024/notes-and-definitions)

Annual road traffic statistics information

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. The annual publication provides estimates at the national, regional and local authority level.

Annual road traffic estimates: background quality report (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/road-traffic-estimates-in-great-britain-2024/background-quality-report)

Foreign registered vehicle estimates: methodology note (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63333697e90e0711d7fbfbd2/foreign-vehicles-methodology-note.pdf) (PDF, 146 KB, 2 pages)

Quarterly provisional road traffic statistics information

Quarterly provisional estimates are based on traffic data collected continuously from a network of around 300 automatic traffic counters. The quarterly publication provides estimates at Great Britain level.

Provisional road traffic quarterly estimates: background quality report (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63332bf58fa8f51d20ab2f86/provisional-road-traffic-estimates-background-quality-report.pdf) (PDF, 453 KB, 12 pages)

Minor roads traffic estimate review

As part of our continuous review of road traffic methodology, the Department for Transport’s Road Traffic Statistics Team are undertaking a deep dive into minor road traffic methodology. The report summarises the outcome of the historic minor road traffic estimate review, which has been implemented in the latest publications. It also includes further details of planned areas for further investigation and development on future annual minor road traffic estimates.

Minor road traffic estimates review: frequently asked questions (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/road-traffic-estimates-in-great-britain-2021/minor-road-traffic-estimates-review-frequently-asked-questions)

Minor road traffic estimates review: technical report (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/road-traffic-estimates-in-great-britain-2021/minor-road-traffic-estimates-review-technical-report)

Minor road traffic estimates review annex: benchmark count points (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6332fec2d3bf7f56794d44ca/minor-road-traffic-review-technical-report-annex-count-point-numbers.ods) (ODS, 134 KB)

Daily road traffic trends information

To monitor transport activity on a timelier basis for topical issues relating to transport, daily traffic trends are published as part of the publication Domestic transport use by mode: Great Britain (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-use-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic).

COVID-19 domestic transport data: methodology note (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-use-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/covid-19-transport-data-methodology-note)

General road traffic statistics information

Accredited official statistics status of road traffic statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pre-release-access-lists-for-road-traffic-speeds-and-congestion-series/national-statistics-status-of-road-traffic-statistics)

The department’s road traffic statistics team conducted a review of the traffic estimates for Great Britain, with outcomes published in July 2018. The overview document gives a summary to the review, and the conclusions. Alongside the overview document, detailed reports on projects from the review were published as the projects were completed.

Road traffic statistics methodology review report (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6333371cd3bf7f567eeb5cbe/traffic-statistics-methodology-review.pdf) (PDF, 8.5 MB, 21 pages)

Traffic statistics methodology review: quarterly methods (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6333374dd3bf7f56768dc38e/traffic-statistics-methodology-review-quarterly-methods.pdf) (PDF, 6.95 MB, 20 pages)

Traffic statistics methodology review: stratification project (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63333774d3bf7f567b3e6207/traffic-statistics-methodology-review-stratification-project.pdf) (PDF, 11.6 MB, 30 pages)

Traffic statistics methodology review: alternative data sources (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/633337988fa8f51d2a86317f/traffic-statistics-methodology-review-alternative-data-sources.pdf) (PDF, 5.57 MB, 19 pages)