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1. Main Points
1.1 The number of new vehicles registered in Scotland fell by 3% to 243,000 in 2006, but was still the fifth highest figure ever recorded. The total number of vehicles on the roads increased by 2% to 2.59 million in 2006, the highest number ever recorded.
1.2 The volume of traffic on Scotland's roads, at 44 billion (thousand million) vehicle kilometres in 2006, was greater than in any previous year, 3% more than in 2005, and 16% more than in 1996.
1.3 314 people were killed on Scotland's roads in 2006, 10% more than in 2005, but still the fifth lowest number for more than 50 years. The provisional number of people recorded as seriously injured in road accidents in 2006 was 2,611, down by 2%, and the lowest figure since records of serious injuries began in 1950. The provisional total number of road casualties for 2006 was 17,165, 4% fewer than in 2005, and the lowest figure since 1952.
1.4 There were 477 million passenger journeys (boardings) on local bus services in Scotland in the 2005-06 financial year, a slight reduction from the previous year, and the first in seven years. However, there have been large falls over the longer-term. The 2005-06 figure was 9% below that for 1994-95, and considerably less than the totals of almost 900 million for 1975 and almost 1,700 million for 1960.
1.5 The total number of passenger journeys on ScotRail services in the 2006-07 financial year was 77.3 million, 2.2 million (3%) more than the previous year and 46% more than 10 years earlier. Rail passenger numbers are at the highest level for more than 40 years.
1.6 There were 24.4 million air terminal passengers in 2006, about 0.6 million (3%) more than in the previous year, and the highest level ever recorded.
1.7 In 2006, 66% of people aged 17 or over had a full driving licence: 77% of men compared to 58% of women. In recent years, the percentage for men has been fairly constant, whereas the percentage of women has increased.
1.8 Over two-thirds of commuters said that they travelled to work by car or van in 2006 (60% as a driver and 7% as a passenger), 14% walked, 12% went by bus, 4% took a train, 2% cycled and 2% used other modes of transport. In recent years, it appears that the percentage driving to work has remained steady whereas the percentage walking have increased slightly within recent years.
1.9 In 2006, 51% of pupils walked to school, 24% went by bus, 22% by car, 1% cycled, 1% went by rail and 1% used other means of transport. In recent years, the percentage walking to school has fallen and the percentage going by car has increased slightly within recent years.
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