Traffic levels down

Traffic levels in England and Wales have fallen slightly in the first quarter of 2005 according to the Office for National Statistics.

Its latest data shows an overall fall of 0.2 per cent. Within this, there was a one per cent fall in car traffic – mainly driven by a fall in the use of A roads.

Motorway traffic was up by two per cent and the most notable rise was in the use of light vans and goods vehicles, up six and five per cent respectively.

Strangely, there was a fall of 12 per cent for buses and motorbikes.