Overall traffic volumes in the UK last year were broadly similar to 2011 and 2010, according to new figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT), at 302.6 billion vehicle miles.

Traffic volumes for cars and light goods vehicles (LGVs) were broadly similar when compared to 2011, while heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), motorcycles, and buses and coaches all showed decreases of -2.4%, -2.0%, and -6.0%, respectively.

In the last 10 years, traffic volumes for all vehicle types have decreased, such as cars and taxis -1.0% and HGVs: -11.6%, except for LGVs which have increased by over a fifth (21.5%).

Traffic on motorways increased by 1% in the last year, but motorways and urban minor roads (0.7%) were the only road type to experience growth in traffic levels during 2012.

In 2012, Highways Agency managed roads - the Strategic Roads Network - were 2.4% of the road network in England, but carried 32.7% of all motor vehicle traffic and 65.5% of all HGV traffic.