Transport Bulletin September 2021

Source: Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Following the re-introduction of Level 5 restrictions on 27 December 2020, car traffic volumes dropped significantly at the beginning of this year. However, in line with the gradual lifting of travel restrictions car traffic volumes increased over the first half of 2021. Latest available data for week 35 (week beginning 30 August) show that car traffic volumes were 95.2% higher in Dublin and 112.3% higher in selected regional sites compared with week 1 of this year.

Comparing the latest available data for week 35 to the same week in 2020 shows that the traffic volume of private cars was 13.5% higher in the Dublin sites. Car traffic volumes continue to remain below 2019 levels but the gap between 2021 and 2019 figures is gradually declining. Comparing week 35 with the same week in 2019 shows that car traffic volumes in Dublin were still 10.2% lower in 2021, however, in week 1 of 2021 car traffic volumes in Dublin were 41.2% lower than in week 1 of 2019.

A similar trend is shown when looking at the selected regional sites. The volume of private cars in the regional locations was 4.9% higher in week 35 of 2021 than it was in week 35 of 2020. Car traffic volumes were still 12.0% lower than in week 35 of 2019. However, in week 1 of 2021 regional traffic count volumes were 47.5% below 2019 levels. See table 1.1, figure 1.1 and figure 1.2.

The impact on HGV traffic of COVID-19 restrictions has not been as pronounced as for cars. In August 2021 HGV traffic volumes in both regional and Dublin locations have been mostly above 2020 levels. The latest data available (for week beginning 30 August) show that HGV traffic volumes are 3.2% higher in Dublin and 3.6% higher in regional sites compared with the same week in 2020. See table 1.2, figure 1.3 and figure 1.4.