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Road Traffic Volumes

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  • In 2013, Irish licensed vehicles travelled a total of 41.8 billion kilometres. Each vehicle travelled, on average, 16,949 kilometres in 2013.

  • Private cars accounted for 78% of the total number of licensed vehicles and 77% of the total distance travelled in 2013. On average, each private car travelled 16,736 kilometres in 2013.

  • Private cars belonging to residents of County Leitrim were driven further on average than private cars of residents of any other county in 2013.

Table 5.1 Road traffic volumes of national fleet by vehicle type, 2002 - 2013
         
YearPrivate carsGoods vehiclesMotorcyclesTractors and machinerySmall PSVsLarge PSVsExempt vehiclesOther vehiclesTotal
 Vehicle population
          
20021,437,985228,65832,83573,35618,2157,05014,85120,7541,833,705
20031,500,123244,63433,92074,70019,9477,20315,90922,2851,918,721
20041,568,619262,32334,76876,06121,2517,37317,17725,5412,013,113
20051,647,331280,21734,37376,00222,3157,48918,67228,7512,115,150
20061,746,845305,74334,41076,90823,6447,77120,23131,4362,246,988
20071,858,906335,71635,84178,86126,1398,18122,34834,4832,400,476
20081,932,729352,23938,06879,40429,1598,63624,40937,7842,502,429
20091,914,924344,67138,74176,00728,9598,67925,64441,4042,479,030
20101,890,110331,77938,04372,01427,5788,37325,58744,2152,437,699
20111,886,421319,53036,53170,46326,0428,20326,17346,1602,419,523
20121,896,184312,86635,43870,28824,7798,24126,09547,9062,421,798
20131,913,939312,57835,67085,80123,6058,30726,16457,6332,463,697
          
Vehicle kilometres (million)
         
200225,1925,3671211,37771426726522933,533
200326,6335,8191271,42179227728724935,606
200428,4186,3671331,47686228931729238,154
200529,5866,7431301,46389729134132639,777
200630,6607,1901271,44692929536134841,357
200731,9737,7361301,4531,00630539137443,368
200832,5927,9581351,4351,10031541940244,357
200932,5727,4551351,37099332943442843,716
201032,0556,8701231,26392031142544242,409
201131,6386,5461141,23297030846041341,681
201231,0766,1671061,31086029845537840,648
201332,0316,3201031,34487329944234541,757
          
Average vehicle kilometres
         
200217,51923,4723,69418,77139,20237,93817,83311,04518,287
200317,75423,7863,74319,02239,72738,44618,07111,19318,557
200418,11724,2723,82019,41140,53939,23218,44111,42218,953
200517,96024,0633,78719,24340,18938,89318,28111,32318,806
200617,55223,5163,70118,80639,27538,00917,86611,06518,406
200717,20023,0443,62618,42938,48737,24617,50710,84418,067
200816,86322,5933,55518,06837,73436,51717,16510,63117,725
200917,01021,6303,47218,01934,28937,92816,92110,33717,634
201016,95920,7083,23817,53633,35237,11216,6299,99217,397
201116,77120,4873,12517,48037,23337,57817,5568,95417,227
201216,38819,7112,99618,63334,69836,14817,4277,88416,784
201316,73620,2202,88715,66536,99436,01416,8805,98116,949
          
Source: CSO
Table 5.2 Road traffic statistics of national fleet by year of registration and vehicle type, 2013
            
Year of registrationPrivate carsGoods vehiclesMotorcycles
VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km
         
2001 or earlier346,2374,61713,38047,84971715,1106,724162,353
2002105,2261,51214,36815,10624015,9032,11852,571
2003112,4211,78015,83118,63537720,2392,11662,650
2004131,5822,10015,96321,70244920,6952,19262,734
2005160,2532,72316,99031,30265220,8242,47672,819
2006180,1333,01416,73038,75082521,2852,86682,908
2007195,2543,31216,96342,04490221,4623,590112,998
2008176,6453,08317,45431,82969421,8023,845123,087
200988,6811,67118,84515,95934221,4503,039103,186
2010119,6432,27419,01013,81930421,9652,29983,283
2011123,7782,44619,76113,76831622,9411,86663,382
2012107,8002,17620,18213,63931823,2911,60063,488
201366,2861,32219,9448,17618522,60993833,582
          
Total1,913,93932,03116,736 312,5786,32020,220 35,6701032,887
            
 Tractors and machinery Small PSVs Large PSVs
 VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km
         
2001 or earlier37,61447714,0231,9246232,4651,5524025,744
20023,8946115,6998532934,2113711027,306
20033,9146316,0701,1924335,8554431635,302
20044,3647216,3981,8826936,7855452035,823
20055,0378516,8932,72410538,5196052135,146
20065,4789517,3813,18012138,0449453840,430
20076,04310817,8463,64613938,1969053538,485
20085,76810718,5982,5359437,2351,1134641,572
20093,4716719,2871,3885237,5725322139,257
20102,4114820,0901,4705436,7202911137,003
20113,0906320,4991,1014036,6413021238,569
20122,9796321,0631,2814937,9104482145,844
20131,7373520,2054301534,9942561038,656
         
Total85,8011,34415,665 23,60587336,994 8,30729936,014
            
 Exempt vehicles Other vehicles All vehicles
 VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km
         
2001 or earlier2,1232913,967 31,7421457,867 475,7646,10313,107
20027531215,298 1,294118,585 129,6131,88114,509
20037261115,532 1,472128,155 140,9202,30716,372
20041,0191716,490 1,887157,880 165,1742,74716,634
20051,4482517,381 2,419228,937 206,2653,64017,645
20062,0243617,633 2,922248,339 236,2994,16117,610
20072,9665418,167 3,310278,219 257,7574,58817,801
20082,5104317,109 3,359257,556 227,6054,10518,036
20091,4812516,753 2,818186,473 117,3692,20618,797
20101,7593017,005 2,405156,152 144,0982,74319,039
20112,5194417,487 1,679127,100 148,1022,93919,848
20124,3047417,143 1,520138,420 133,5712,71720,344
20132,5314216,76880556,421 81,1591,61819,934
            
Total26,16444216,880 57,6323455,981 2,463,69641,75716,949
            
Source: CSO

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Table 5.3 Road traffic volumes of national fleet by vehicle type and type of fuel, 2013
                
Vehicle typePetrolDieselOther Total
VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km
            
Private cars1,228,02017,40214,171668,91814,35921,46617,00127015,8901,913,93932,03116,736
Goods vehicles7431216,275311,7446,30720,23091219,244312,5786,32020,220
Motorcycles35,5901032,8862502,9865603,19635,6701032,887
Tractors and machinery37239,09185,3561,34015,6997218,70385,8011,34415,665
Small PSVs7,15525535,56916,28361337,649166634,10923,60587336,994
Large PSVs21136,3368,28629836,0130008,30729936,014
Exempt vehicles8,24612815,54917,72931017,499189316,95426,16444216,880
Other vehicles18,444693,76539,0932757,0309604,46057,6333455,981
             
Total1,298,59117,97314,964 1,147,43523,50220,482 17,67128215,958 2,463,69741,75716,949
                
Source: CSO

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Table 5.4A Road traffic volumes of national fleet by county of owner and vehicle type, 2013
                    
County of ownerPrivate carsGoods vehiclesMotorcycles Tractors and machinery Small PSVs
VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km
               
Carlow25,44146418,2545,36810319,27250112,8281,9722914,811184735,464
Cavan27,87853419,1516,94413719,70737412,9182,8314415,603188738,782
Clare52,14497618,7279,74718819,27583922,8733,2095216,2204681634,017
Cork237,4733,96916,71437,78575219,9024,848142,85711,12917315,5562,2088237,369
Donegal60,7411,12418,50713,05121916,75673823,0143,7706517,1174551839,593
Dublin499,3346,80713,63355,2181,21622,01911,399332,9171,7392614,68411,75442536,187
Galway102,2101,86918,28919,12037319,5241,25242,8925,8509516,2241,0143736,906
Kerry65,0621,14317,56612,53422517,95099032,8454,4156915,6025021835,100
Kildare90,5241,56617,29512,85028221,9261,76652,8842,4053615,1299753839,223
Kilkenny40,28271517,7477,41314519,56780522,8413,9896115,239233938,680
Laois30,02956518,8055,34711822,11944012,8622,8864415,1342411039,533
Leitrim13,20026319,9563,0645517,85513202,8391,0701716,16190338,677
Limerick82,8691,48517,92413,05527220,8121,34242,8593,7915915,5707562836,435
Longford15,72030419,3233,2506620,31521012,8381,3992215,58996440,898
Louth45,36478717,3417,20114520,11770922,9021,1801815,6145862339,501
Mayo53,9801,00818,68214,60626718,26560922,9305,2718115,4523611336,176
Meath75,9701,35917,88813,23129222,0341,52742,8922,8914515,3931,0834339,373
Monaghan23,09145019,5096,79714621,46226212,9711,8683116,468100439,055
Offaly30,05055018,3046,05711819,43255722,8482,6044115,862213839,279
Roscommon28,78856919,7635,65110919,31330112,9182,6034316,542157637,639
Sligo27,09648717,9795,3679617,89937712,8861,7962916,124199736,545
Tipperary North32,88060918,5285,96112220,53455122,8342,7184315,675148639,219
Tipperary South38,82571018,2776,96214020,15776522,8723,1704915,504163638,175
Waterford50,93284016,4837,62114919,5771,07532,8462,3733615,3003351235,997
Westmeath37,12168918,5487,00414020,03954922,8582,2823515,4233451338,779
Wexford65,1741,17418,01513,08529022,1601,32042,8394,6747215,3683131239,191
Wicklow61,7591,01416,4148,29015618,7871,43142,8751,9152915,2004391738,380
 
Total1,913,93932,03116,736 312,5786,32020,220 35,6701032,887 85,8011,34415,665 23,60587336,994
                    
Source: CSO 

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Table 5.4B Road traffic volumes of national fleet by county of owner and vehicle type, 2013
               
County of ownerLarge PSVs Exempt vehicles Other vehicles All vehicles
VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km
            
Carlow97327,109264415,9211,08265,97534,90861817,712
Cavan164637,861350719,1081,21665,31939,94574318,592
Clare182631,3947231217,2571,979105,15069,2911,26318,229
Cork7612532,2623,0404715,5027,587455,905304,8295,10716,754
Donegal4881530,5149321819,8123,750215,55583,9261,48217,656
Dublin2,38010343,2638,78614216,1936,896547,836597,5068,80714,739
Galway4581533,4451,5993018,5014,272296,844135,7762,45318,065
Kerry4251331,4108221316,3703,315154,52288,0651,49917,021
Kildare3411234,2328831617,9862,065115,513111,8101,96617,584
Kilkenny218837,8804841019,9791,32775,40554,75195717,482
Laois132428,044313517,09298466,10740,37275218,639
Leitrim86226,466203316,22078734,37818,63234818,692
Limerick267933,7801,0271716,5552,718145,292105,8251,88817,840
Longford80332,054201418,86477834,46321,73640618,677
Louth160637,3756631217,94792666,82556,78899917,598
Mayo286932,8139321617,5181,831179,47677,8771,41518,165
Meath282930,5977091217,2361,713116,34297,4061,77418,210
Monaghan181738,345296517,89097055,19633,56564919,338
Offaly148428,456290518,2731,44185,42441,36073617,803
Roscommon94331,574380820,1181,51874,52539,49174518,875
Sligo101332,942367616,8041,33575,03836,63963717,380
Tipperary North144531,381393717,5711,11575,85943,90980018,209
Tipperary South160635,491483816,3651,29075,22351,81792817,905
Waterford145639,729571915,5411,32075,60764,3711,06216,500
Westmeath133432,212304515,1721,18675,54548,92389418,283
Wexford213733,0616001016,9592,430145,74487,8081,58318,029
Wicklow182740,377550916,5221,801105,32576,3691,24616,310
                
Total8,30729936,014 26,16444216,880 57,6333455,981 2,463,69741,75716,949
                
Source: CSO

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Table 5.5 Road traffic volumes of national fleet by month of year and vehicle type, 2013
            
MonthPrivate carsGoods vehiclesMotorcycles
VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km
         
January1,903,0012,5571,260311,9445081,49035,8458206
February1,906,0982,5991,292311,6895151,53135,7158213
March1,909,4302,7961,400311,4105521,66035,4979230
April1,911,3102,7831,400310,8835471,66235,2829231
May1,911,9672,8981,462310,3535681,73635,1689242
June1,909,9542,9011,415309,8865491,68235,0349235
July1,912,8732,9751,501310,3755831,78335,1939250
August1,916,4542,9781,498311,8255851,78235,52610250
September1,919,2312,7171,360313,3745361,61935,8849228
October1,921,3732,5311,260315,0225021,50036,1178211
November1,922,5352,3531,164316,4464681,38336,2878195
December1,923,0472,0441,003317,7264081,19036,4927167
          
Total1,913,93932,03116,736 312,5786,32020,220 35,6701032,887
            
 Tractors and machinery Small PSVs Large PSVs
 VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km
         
January78,296991,10824,264732,8908,181242,748
February79,2251011,14524,165732,9428,190242,803
March80,1311101,24724,035783,1658,197263,024
April80,9891101,25423,900773,1468,213263,020
May81,9171161,31823,759803,2688,261273,160
June82,8661141,28523,627773,1538,284263,064
July84,0361231,37323,495813,3268,312283,253
August85,4361251,38223,399803,3068,345283,252
September88,0791171,26823,298722,9878,381262,960
October94,3341181,20423,187672,7568,405242,745
November96,4371121,12223,108622,5398,437222,541
December97,8629997223,021542,1858,474192,198
          
Total85,8011,34415,665 23,60587336,994 8,30729936,014
            
 Exempt vehicles Other vehicles Total
 VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km
         
January24,269331,22356,561284462,442,3623,3291,270
February24,619341,26356,574284572,446,2753,3831,303
March25,059371,38056,557304942,450,3163,6381,412
April25,442381,39156,609304932,452,6283,6201,412
May25,835401,46456,708315142,453,9673,7691,475
June26,124391,42656,789304982,452,5653,6431,428
July26,434411,51957,071325282,457,7903,8711,515
August26,842421,52657,527325292,465,3553,8801,513
September27,099391,39058,202294782,473,5463,5441,374
October27,302361,29259,192284432,484,9313,3131,274
November27,437341,19659,688264102,490,3763,0851,177
December27,511291,03360,104233552,494,2392,6831,014
          
Total26,16444216,880 57,6323455,981 2,463,69641,75716,949
            
Source: CSO

                                     

Table 5.6 Road traffic volumes for private cars by engine capacity and type of fuel, 2013
                
Engine capacity (cc)PetrolDieselOther Total
VehiclesKm (million)Average Km VehiclesKm (million)Average Km VehiclesKm (million)Average Km VehiclesKm (million)Average Km
            
Up to 1000136,5141,65412,115 133319,420 247415,849 136,8951,66012,129
1001 - 1200118,9361,52212,800 1,9944220,963 6,1329515,507 127,0621,65913,059
1201 - 1400530,2167,48914,124 49,3091,03220,920 1,4692315,339 580,9948,54314,704
1401 - 1600262,9474,04615,389 168,7223,52220,872 2,4893915,672 434,1597,60717,521
1601 - 180082,5811,28115,518 40,49385621,142 3,5965816,059 126,6702,19517,331
1801 - 200071,9601,05214,619 327,7897,22722,049 1,4502517,253 401,1998,30420,699
Over 200024,86635714,350 80,4771,67820,847 1,6182716,587 106,9612,06119,272
                
Total1,228,02017,40214,171 668,91814,35921,466 17,00127015,890 1,913,93932,03116,736
                
Source: CSO   

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Table 5.7 Road traffic volumes for private cars by county of owner and gender, 2013
                
County of ownerFemaleMaleCompany Total
VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km
            
Carlow12,13121517,74212,76123818,6145491221,18025,44146418,254
Cavan13,60325818,98213,78626419,1184901224,74327,87853419,151
Clare25,97447318,19425,50249019,2096671421,07852,14497618,727
Cork113,5651,81115,946118,2772,02417,1165,63113423,763237,4733,96916,714
Donegal28,94552718,22330,67757218,6491,1192521,92560,7411,12418,507
Dublin234,9582,84312,102232,8163,22213,84131,56074223,498499,3346,80713,633
Galway51,26291417,83649,13591218,5521,8134424,004102,2101,86918,289
Kerry31,73454917,31132,23857117,7161,0912220,51165,0621,14317,566
Kildare44,21472716,44343,73777617,7442,5726324,32890,5241,56617,295
Kilkenny19,17933017,19420,33736818,0937661722,40640,28271517,747
Laois14,42926318,20115,13129219,2944691021,58630,02956518,805
Leitrim6,70713219,6416,37812920,216116323,89913,20026319,956
Limerick39,23567317,14741,24075518,3072,3945824,06182,8691,48517,924
Longford7,46314018,8007,90515519,566353924,93515,72030419,323
Louth21,94436416,60422,55940417,8918601921,75545,36478717,341
Mayo26,42248618,39026,51449818,7751,0452523,73953,9801,00818,682
Meath38,00965217,16336,85168318,5331,1112421,25975,9701,35917,888
Monaghan11,49021919,08511,13222019,7934701123,15623,09145019,509
Offaly14,25825217,64915,34528818,7584471123,62930,05055018,304
Roscommon12,97624819,12512,93625519,7262,8776622,81028,78856919,763
Sligo13,64723617,29613,01124218,5644381021,87227,09648717,979
Tipperary North15,50528018,02916,66631318,7527091724,18032,88060918,528
Tipperary South18,25632317,68619,79536918,6457741822,82838,82571018,277
Waterford24,12638115,79225,21242416,8111,5933521,74450,93284016,483
Westmeath17,87932117,95018,31634618,9039262123,06837,12168918,548
Wexford31,15954517,47731,65358018,3222,3625021,00165,1741,17418,015
Wicklow30,73848215,68829,97050816,9501,0512422,35761,7591,01416,414
             
Total919,80714,64515,921 929,88115,89617,095 64,2521,49023,195 1,913,93932,03116,736
                
Source: CSO   

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Table 5.8 Road traffic volumes for goods vehicles by year of registration and unladen weight, 2013
                
Year of registrationUnladen weight
0 to 2 tonnes 2 to 5 tonnes 5 to 7.5 tonnes 7.5 to 10 tonnes
VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km
            
2001 or earlier40,33453713,373 5,1199518,714 6971522,300 6422031,861
200212,45117514,048 1,9093719,613 195523,053 181633,248
200314,55927418,795 2,9746020,068 223523,859 247833,259
200416,51531218,918 3,6347320,084 288725,356 3511132,601
200523,56244618,926 5,56911320,301 343926,409 4461534,094
200627,24651819,003 8,47817420,497 5181427,181 5832136,125
200728,47254519,130 10,55821920,775 4551225,941 5812135,441
200821,44641719,446 7,84216220,604 4801225,184 4971836,189
200910,74520418,954 3,8277820,499 309826,425 3171133,512
20109,35718419,653 3,3146920,723 222626,923 2631036,516
20119,55919320,238 2,9626321,375 170425,748 236835,960
20129,34618619,949 2,8115921,084 226627,136 231937,113
20135,44210419,203 1,7353520,117 122325,431 163533,452
              
Total229,0354,09517,880 60,7321,23820,378 4,24910725,267 4,73816334,504
                
 Unladen weight 
10 to 12.5 tonnes Over 12.5 tonnes All vehicles 
VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km VehiclesKm (million)Average km 
           
2001 or earlier6122541,497 4442453,557 47,84971715,110 
2002216941,585 154854,536 15,10624015,903 
20033151342,074 3171753,796 18,63537720,239 
20044602043,312 4542555,177 21,70244920,695 
20056913043,637 6913855,597 31,30265220,824 
20068954045,253 1,0315855,913 38,75082521,285 
20077833645,572 1,1957058,821 42,04490221,462 
20085822745,769 9825959,736 31,82969421,802 
20092901344,825 4712860,309 15,95934221,450 
20102541246,411 4102457,601 13,81930421,965 
20112641246,102 5783458,979 13,76831622,941 
20123071445,207 7174360,469 13,63931823,291 
20132611244,154 4532555,982 8,17618522,609 
             
Total5,92826344,316 7,89645457,505 312,5786,32020,220 
             
Source: CSO

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