Why is this National Indicator important?
We want to create a Scotland that is the most attractive place for doing business in Europe. Longer and unpredictable journey times, for cars, freight and public transport users, have significant economic impacts (both from higher direct costs of transport and the cost to business of a loss of competitiveness) and cause higher levels of emissions impairing both local and global air quality as well as contributing to climate change. The natural growth in trade that accompanies increased globalisation and economic growth has itself created more demands for transport services and this inevitably has occurred in the context of limited infrastructure capacity. In 2003, 8 of the 44 trunk road routes monitored in Scotland experienced serious or severe congestion for more than one hour per day.
What influences this National Indicator?
The rise in real incomes associated with economic growth influences the increasing demand for personal travel and the ever increasing levels of car ownership that are being witnessed. Changes in land use patterns and lifestyles have also made a significant contribution, for example the rise in long distance commuting and out-of-town shopping centres. As this measure is based on drivers' perceptions, local and temporary factors will also be important. Factors such as road maintenance or construction works, poor weather and accidents, as well as changes in people's sensitivity to delays, will influence whether a journey is reported as suffering congestion.
What is the Government's Role?
To set the framework for the provision of sustainable, integrated and cost-effective public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure as alternatives to the car, connecting people, places and work across Scotland. We aim to decouple ownership and usage of cars, persuading not punishing car users to use other modes. We are encouraging the increased use of flexi working in the public sector, and home working; we are working with local authorities to ensure every effort is made to fast track enhanced park and ride provision by bus or train or both; and we are working with the haulage industry to encourage consolidation of loads when doing deliveries into cities.
How are we performing?
The Scottish Household Survey Travel Diary shows that around 12.8% of journeys were perceived to have been delayed due to congestion during 2006. This was an increase on the previous year, where 11.5% of journeys were perceived to have been delayed.
Source: Scottish Household Survey: Travel Diary
Methodology
This evaluation is based on: any difference within +/- 0.9 percentage points of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change. A decrease in the perception of delays of 0.9 percentage points or more suggests the position is improving; whereas an increase of 0.9 percentage points or more suggests the position is worsening.
For information on general methodological approach, please click here.
Further Information
2007 Spending Review Technical Note
Statistics Topic Page
Who are our supporting delivery partners?
Transport Scotland
Local authorities
Regional Transport Partnerships
Sustrans
Cycling Scotland
Transport Operators
Related Strategic Objectives
Greener
Safer and Stronger
Wealthier and Fairer