Truck traffic increases as hauliers take five
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II Britain's maximum-weight hauliers still have a strong preference for five-axle artic units, judging by the Department of Transport's provisional traffic .figures for the second quarter of 1987.
Between April and June total road traffic (measured in vehicle kilometres) increased by 8% to 81.7 billion compared with the second quarter of 1986. Light van traffic rose by 8%, while HGV traffic went up by some 6%. PSVs including coaches and mini-buses with over 12 seats recorded the largest increase, up 10%, during the quarter.
Among HGVs, rigid lorry traffic increased by 4% while articulated truck traffic rose by 8%. Growth of the largest fiveaxle artics continues and is up some 30% this year on the first half of 1986. Four-axle artic traffic remains fairly steady but three-axle artic popularity continues to decline.
The relative costs of fuel fell during the second quarter, following small rises in January and February. According to the Dip this may explain some of the increased traffice.
Motorway traffic increased by 17% compared with the second quarter of 1986. Trunk road traffic was 9% higher and traffic on principal roads rose by 7% for the second quarter.